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You don’t need “pro lighting” to look good on Zoom or Teams. You just need the light in the right place.
Best ring light placement (the sweet spot)
- Height: slightly above your eyes
- Angle: aimed down about 10–15 degrees
- Distance: 18–30 inches from your face
Brightness (avoid the washed-out look)
Start at 30–50%. If your face looks shiny or blown out, reduce brightness and increase distance.
Color temperature (what looks most natural)
- Neutral is best for most people (especially on calls).
- If your room lighting is warm (yellow), choose warm/neutral.
- If you have daylight from a window, neutral/cool often looks better.
Two fast fixes if you still look bad
- Kill overhead lighting that creates shadows under your eyes.
- Move the ring light closer and lower brightness for a softer look.
If you don’t have a light yet, start here: Best ring lights under $40.
Next upgrade after lighting: Best webcams under $80 and Best USB microphones under $100.