As a small business owner, you know that high-quality photos and videos are essential for engaging your audience on social media. But taking great selfies or recording effective video messages on Snapchat can be a challenge, especially in poor lighting conditions.
That‘s where Snapchat‘s built-in ring light feature comes in handy! By evenly illuminating your face, ring light gives your Snaps a professional, polished look that wows viewers.
As a consultant who assists small and medium businesses with their social media marketing, I‘ve seen firsthand how ring light takes Snapchat content to the next level. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share everything small business owners need to know to master Snapchat‘s ring light and create stunning visual content.
The Power of Good Lighting for Small Businesses on Snapchat
With over 319 million daily active users, Snapchat is a powerful platform for small businesses to reach new audiences and drive growth.
But simply posting random Snaps isn‘t enough. To stand out from the crowd, you need visually appealing content. According to Social Insider, posts with better lighting, resolution and framing generate:
- 87% more engagement
- 72% more comments
- 51% more shares
This makes proper lighting crucial. Unfortunately, built-in phone cameras don‘t always provide flattering results, especially in dim environments.
This is where Snapchat‘s ring light feature comes to the rescue! Here are some key benefits for small business owners:
- Even, flattering lighting – Ring light smooths textures and conceals flaws for social media-ready skin.
- Enhanced video content – Increased illumination improves video quality in darker settings.
- Eye-catching visuals – Posts grab more attention with ring light‘s soft glow.
- Convenience – Easy to access ring light anytime, unlike external lighting gear.
- Appealing selfies – Creates lively headshots that personalize your brand and connect with followers.
- Works on all devices – Availability on both iPhones and Androids means universal access.
Now let‘s dive into how to unlock the advantages of Snapchat ring light for your small business!
Activating Snapchat Ring Light in 3 Easy Steps
Thanks to Snapchat‘s user-friendly interface, enabling the ring light filter is simple. Just follow these three quick steps:
Step 1: Open Snapchat‘s Front-Facing Camera
Start by launching Snapchat and swiping to switch to the camera mode with the front-facing lens. This allows you to view yourself on the screen.
Step 2: Tap the Lightning Bolt Icon
Next, tap the small lightning icon in the upper right corner of the camera screen.
Step 3: Select the "Ring" Lighting Effect
Lastly, select the "Ring" option if you‘re on an iPhone, or tap one of the colored circles if using an Android.
Once ring light is activated, you‘ll see a bright, halo-like effect around the selfie camera. Your face will be bathed in a soft, diffused glow, ready for snapping flattering photos and videos!
Customizing Your Ring Light for the Perfect Glow
One of the best things about Snapchat‘s ring light is the ability to customize the lighting to your needs. Here are some quick tips for dialing in the ideal brightness and color temperature:
- Adjust brightness – Drag the slider left or right to increase or decrease ring light‘s intensity.
- Change color – On iPhones, tap the different color options like Warm, Cool or Neutral. Android users can tap the various colored circles.
- Toggle off – Return to normal lighting by tapping the lightning icon again and selecting "Off" or the white circle icon.
Take a few test snaps to experiment with the settings and find your preferred ring light style. The customization options ensure you can achieve just the right glow to complement your complexion.
Using Ring Light to Level-Up Your Snapchat Strategy
Integrating Snapchat‘s built-in ring light into your social media strategy is easy and effective. Here are some of the top ways small businesses can utilize ring light:
- Product demos – Showcase inventory clearly by filming ring light videos in darker backrooms or warehouses.
- Behind-the-scenes – Bring production areas to life with flattering illumination for BTS content.
- Educational content – Look polished and professional for how-to videos and tutorials.
- Promotions – Spotlight sales in vibrant selfies and announcements.
- Responses to DMs/comments – Record quick video replies with ring light for one-on-one outreach.
- Live streaming – Enhance visibility and engagement for in-the-moment video broadcasts.
- Employee takeovers – Let your team snap fun ring light selfies to humanize your brand.
Ring Light vs. Other Lighting Options
Of course, Snapchat‘s integrated ring light isn‘t the only lighting choice available. Here‘s how it stacks up against some other popular options:
- Dedicated ring lights – More adjustable with multiple settings, but bulkier and not always accessible. Can cost over $100.
- Phone flash – Provides a quick burst of light but tends to be harsh and uneven. Limited control.
- Natural light – Beautiful if near a window, but depends on time of day and weather. Can‘t adjust brightness/color.
- External lighting – Offers creative possibilities like string lights, but requires extra gear and trial-and-error.
For most small businesses, Snapchat‘s built-in ring light hits the sweet spot, providing adjustable, flattering lighting whenever you need it completely from your phone. But feel free to get creative and experiment with other lighting too!
Pro Ring Light Tips for Snapchat Selfies
Become a ring light pro with these handy selfie photography tips:
- Get close to the camera for ideal illumination. Fill the frame with your face.
- Angle the phone higher or lower to find the most flattering positions.
- Turn on portrait mode for a blurred background drawn attention to you.
- Use rear camera ring light to brighten up dark product photos.
- Find good ambient lighting to complement the ring light glow.
- Maintain a subtle, natural look. Don‘t overdo the brightness!
Ready to Light Up Snapchat?
Well there you have it – everything small business owners need to unlock Snapchat‘s ring light capabilities! With this flattering, customizable lighting at your fingertips, you can take your Snapchat content to the next level.
So grab your phone, turn on that ring light, and start snapping eye-catching selfies that attract customers and drive real business results. Your followers will be amazed at how polished and professional you look.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to provide lighting tips and tricks to help small businesses succeed on social media.
