Lighting plays an important role in the image quality of your videos and photos, second only to the quality of your camera. But you don’t have to invest in a complicated lighting rig to get better close-ups. A ring light is an easy-to-use tool for anyone who takes part in many Zoom calls, snaps selfies for sharing on social media, or makes TikTok, Twitch, or YouTube videos for fun or profit. Ring lights are also helpful for teachers and other video presenters who work remotely, since high-quality video is important if you want to be well understood—particularly for audience members who have hearing loss and read lips. Ring lights aren’t just good for video, either: Some people use them for macrophotography or makeup application.