Low-cost, Convenient, Portable Lighting Solution for Video Conferencing

There's nothing worse than bad lighting on a video call or while recording a video. Experts will tell you that you should buy a nice ring light, which provides a nice diffuse glow on your face as you record. However, most ring lights are eyesores on a modern desk and are generally pretty inconvenient, especially if you regularly use a laptop as your recording rig. For example, a good quality ring lamp might require clamping onto the edge of a desk, which might not be ideal for your desk setup. Fortunately, I've found a cheap solution (far cheaper than most ring lights) that does a great job, is super portable, and looks great on a desk.

This Sailstar Rechargable Reading Lamp is great. 

It is cheap (at the time of this post, it is $16.99 on Amazon and has an additional 10% coupon that can be applied), and it has an array of features that are great for any Zoom call or camera session in general. For example:

• 3 Lighting Modes
  (5000K, 4000K, and 3500K – pick your color temperatures for your complexion and camera)
• Continuously dimmable (800 lumens max)
  
• Diffuse disc of LED light (not a point source)
• Flexible gooseneck and weighted base allows for tipping up to vertical
• Uses a rechargeable battery, and so:
• It can be plugged in continuously
• It can be unplugged and moved for the best lighting experience (very portable!)

I don't know how long this little thing will last, but it seems pretty sturdy. My wife has an older version of what appears to be the same OEM product, and it is still going. I have several colleagues who have purchased this one after my recommendation, and they tell me it's working great for them.