If making TikTok or Reels videos is your thing, how do you light them so they look great? We’re going to take a look at the top 8 TikTok or Reels photography lighting setups and equipment 2023 so you can be sure that your videos are always on fleek - just like you!
If you want viewers to be super-impressed by your slick vids, then good lighting is a must-have to make you look flawless and professional.
What is TikTok?
If you don’t know what TikTok is - where have you been hiding?! Seriously though, TikTok (formerly known as Musical.ly) is a media platform for users to make short videos, edit them with the in-built tools, and share them. You can also upload longer videos you have recorded outside the app.
TikTok can be a useful platform for honing your video filming and editing skills, and it’s used by all manner of celebrities and brands like Coca-Cola, Nike, Google, and ABC. Also a bonus hack, it also offers itself as a cool free video editing application on mobile too, where you can export the videos you make and post them on Instagram!
If you want to make seriously watchable video clips for TikTok, you’ll have to ditch the idea that you can make them using the window light or ordinary overhead lights. You don’t have to spend a fortune, but you need to have some form of lighting for your home studio that was made to do the job.
We’ve put together 7 pro-spec video and photography lighting setups that you can use to make your TikTok or Reels videos.
Spectrum Aurora 18” Diamond Luxe III Ring Light
Ring lights like the Spectrum Aurora 18" Ring Light are the go-to lighting setup that is used by lots of professional YouTubers, and now those in the know are using them for their TikTok videos.
The Spectrum Aurora 18" Diamond Luxe II LED Ring Light gives a soft, even spread of light that is almost shadowless. This means that it reduces skin imperfections and wrinkles that are normally seen in poor lighting setups. The Spectrum Aurora also features:
- Adjustable brightness settings so you can adapt your lighting to suit the kind of video you want to make
- Change the colour temperature between 3000-5500K - this gives you the flexibility to mimic daylight or change to a warmer tone for a golden glow
- Each Spectrum Aurora ring light comes with a smartphone bracket to allow for hands-free filming
- The Spectrum Aurora Ring Light range comes in a variety of sizes - this 18” one is a perfectly-sized lighting setup for TikTok or other videos
- Comes with a removable mirror, camera ball mount, adjustable light stand, and carrying bag
Spectrum Aurora 13” Mini Pearl III Ring Light
If portability matters to you, then the small (but perfectly formed!) Spectrum Aurora 13" Mini Pearl III LED Ring Light Kit is ideal. This ring light is the perfect size to pack up and go - so you can shoot video or photo wherever you can find a plug socket.
Like its big sister the Spectrum Aurora 18” Diamond Luxe, the Spectrum Aurora 13" Mini Pearl III LED Ring Light Kit gives soft and beautiful light and has many of the same features:
- Adjustable brightness control for ultimate flexibility while shooting
- Change the colour temperature to mimic daylight or a warmer, golden glow
- Smartphone bracket and camera ball mount for hands-free videos
- Adjustable light stand, mirror, and carrying bag
Spectrum Aurora Crystal Luxe 9” LED Light
As an alternative to a ring light, the Spectrum Crystal Luxe 9" LED Light is an LED panel that is great if you want simple lighting that you can rotate vertically or horizontally.
The Spectrum Crystal Luxe 9" LED Light can be used on its own or bought as a duo kit (using two lights on each side of your setup will reduce harsh shadows - all the better for showing off your best angles!).
- A ball head attachment allows up to a 60 degree vertical tilt and 360 degree horizontal tilt so you can get the light exactly where you want it
- Comes with an adjustable light stand and carry case
- Features a removable diffuser filter to soften the light for a different effect
- Battery and charger included for cable-free shooting anywhere
Spectrum Aurora Crystal Luxe 13” LED Light
The big sister to the Spectrum Aurora Crystal Luxe 9” light, the Spectrum Aurora Crystal Luxe 13” LED Light also features vertical and horizontal rotation. It’s larger at 13”, which allows you to have a bigger spread of light if that’s something you are looking for - ideal for full-length body shots!
- A ball head attachment allows up to a 60-degree vertical tilt and 360-degree horizontal tilt so you can get the light exactly where you want it
- Comes with an adjustable light stand
- Features a removable diffuser filter to soften the light for a different effect
- Battery and charger included for cable-free shooting anywhere
Spectrum Aurora Firefly Selfie Phone Ring Lights
If you want something small and low-key, the Spectrum Aurora Firefly Selfie Phone Ring Light is ideal for shooting videos on the go - indoors or out. It’s small enough to fit in a pocket or handbag, ready for you to whip out whenever you feel the need to make a video or take a selfie!
These ring lights clip to your smartphone easily, and offer 3 levels of brightness so you can shoot in different lighting conditions and still look flawless.
If you and your bestie love making videos together, then grab the Spectrum Diamond Luxe Firefly (2X Bestie Bundle) so you can rock those duet challenges together!
Light Stand and Smartphones or iPad Holders
If you decide to go with the last two lighting setups and want to go hands-free, then you’ll need to invest in a stand like the Spectrum 180cm Collapsible Portable Light Stand to hold your phone or iPad safely upright while you’re filming.
You’ll also need a ball mount such as the Spectrum Aurora Camera / Phone Ball Head Bracket Mount to let you adjust the angle of your phone or camera to horizontal or vertical.
The adjustable Spectrum Smart Phone Holder will securely hold a variety of phones or tablets, and the Spectrum Advanced Multi-Device Smartphone Tablet Bracket will take larger devices like iPads as well as smartphones.
10" LED RGB Ring Light
When you need a versatile light for your desktop, this 10-inch RGB light is perfect for TikTok, Reels, and other forms of social media content creation. The circular shape reduces shadows and produces flattering light, so it’s ideal for makeup tutorials.
This portable 10-inch LED RGB ring light can be used as a main light, for accent illumination, or placed behind the subject to turn a plain background into a colourful setting. Perhaps use two or three Unicorn ring lights to get creative with a mix of colours for videos or unique selfies. You will adore the setting that sends a cycle of RGB colours around the ring light. It produces a kaleidoscope of hues across your face and body. Or place it behind you for a swirling psychedelic background.
It’s a versatile ring light because it has a range of three main colour temperatures: warm 3200K, neutral 4400K, and daylight 5600K. However, the best feature of this ring light is its ability to display any colour from the RGB spectrum to create stylish photos and videos. Colours affect moods, so match the hue with the feelings you want in your video and press record to start a project that will connect with your viewers.
'Dream Light' 3" Rainbow Sunset Light Projector
It used to be challenging to discover a new way to stand out from the noise on social media, but not anymore! Our ‘Dream Light’ 3-inch rainbow sunset light projector helps you create eye-catching videos for TikTok.
Bring a portable rainbow into your life. Use it to light up your studio or have it as a feature light in a living room by projecting its colourful beams across a plain wall. Its diffused glow makes it perfect for adding atmosphere to photos and videos. It can even be used as a bedroom decoration or night lamp. With a choice of colours, you can turn your home into a stylish recording area with a cozy ambience.
It produces a circular rainbow of 1 to 3 metres in diameter. You control the light with a remote which mixes the four main colours: Blue, Yellow, Orange and Orange/Yellow. The lamp head features a 180-degree rotation, bringing different effects to your room. Simply adjust the distance from the wall to see a larger or smaller rainbow on your wall or ceiling for a funky and dreamy experience. Or choose sunset tones, and this projector will give your videos a calming ambience while adding creative flair to selfies.
Conclusion
We’ve looked at why it’s important to have good lighting setups for TikTok, and the variety of ring lights, LED panels and accessories that you can get. Your choice will depend on how much cash you’ve got to spend, and what suits you and your video filming best, but hopefully you’ll have a better idea of the great lighting options there are.
Once you’ve got your lighting squared away, you’re ready to rock on TikTok or Reels!
