Two side lights keep the glare off shiny items.
Typical price
£45 to £75
Why we pick it
- Typical price
- £45 to £75
- Works with
Holo cards, foiled boxes and glossy packaging reflect a ring light straight back at the camera. With two panels angled in from each side, the glare falls outside the frame.
Good for
- Desk card and collectables shows
- Glossy packaging and toploaders
- Weekly shows
- First pro-style setup on a budget
Not for
- Full-length clothing shots
- Desks with no floor space for stands
Our approved alternative for the same job: 18 in ring light with stand
The guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Holo cards, foil and chrome on camera
You sell shiny items on camera: holo cards, foil boxes, glossy beauty packaging, chrome trainers. A ring light in front bounces straight back into the lens. Panels at the sides send it past the frame.
As a first lighting kit it works on any platform, from Whatnot card breaks to Vinted photos at the desk. If you later buy app-controlled panels, keep this pair as fill.
Colour temperature, CRI and stands
You want adjustable brightness and adjustable colour temperature, usually around 3,200 to 5,600 K, to match daylight. A CRI of 95 or higher keeps red and skin tones true on camera.
Buy stands that extend above head height and panels that run from mains. Some budget sets need batteries bought separately, so read the listing for what's in the box.
Angling both panels at 45 degrees
Stand one panel each side of the item at about 45 degrees, a little above it, angled down. Tilt a holo card on camera and adjust until the bright reflection falls off the edge of the frame.
Set both panels to the same colour temperature and lock your camera's white balance to it. If your face looks flat, raise the panel on your face side a notch brighter than the other.
Ring light, softboxes or app-controlled panels
The 18 in ring light with stand works for faces and matt items but glares on foil. Two softbox lights with stands give softer, wider light for clothing and full-body shots, at the cost of floor space.
An app-controlled desk panel costs more and fits on a desk. A small pocket LED light is the lowest-cost fill if you only want one light.
Running costs and care
The pair costs £45 to £75, and you use it on every weekly show for years. LED panels draw little power and run cooler than halogen lights.
Store the stands folded and the panels in their bag between shows. Check the stand locks each time; a falling panel can mark a slab or crack a display case.
Common mistakes
Each one costs you money or reviews, and each has a fix.
- Both panels straight in front of the item bring the glare back. Move them to the sides.
- Match colour temperature on both; a warm panel beside a cool one tints the shot two ways.
- Batteries often aren't in the box. Read the listing and plan for mains power.
- Tighten every lock and test each joint before you leave a stand raised.
- Tilt one panel to cover your face as well as the item, or your face stays dark.
Ranked in
Where it places in our rankings, and the reason.
- #1Ranked #1Best lighting for Whatnot and product photosTwo panels from the sides light cards and glossy packaging without glare, so they suit most desk shows.
- #3Ranked #3Best pro lighting for Whatnot and live streamsThe budget alternative. Two panels on stands light a mat from both sides for well under half the cost of one pro panel; you lose app control and clamp mounting.
Setups that use it
Complete kits this product is part of.
Guides that use it
Step-by-step help where this product does a job.
Questions
Are two panels better than a ring light for cards?
For holo and foil, yes. Side light keeps the reflection out of the lens.
Do I need daylight-balanced panels?
Bi-colour panels that run from warm to cool let you match daylight or your room light. Pick those over fixed-colour ones.
Can they run on batteries?
Some take camera-style batteries as an option. Check the listing for whether a mains adapter is in the box.
Will they work for clothing photos?
Flat lays and small items light well. A full outfit on a rail lights more evenly with softboxes.
Alternatives
Other picks for the same job, cheaper and pricier.
Pocket LED video light
Clips to a phone mount or sits on the desk to lift the shadow side of a card or a piece of jewellery. It costs little as a first light and works as a fill once you add panels.
Typical price£15 to £25
See on Amazon18 in ring light with stand
Daylight in a spare room shifts through the day. Set the ring light once and your items look the same in the evening show as in your photos.
Typical price£35 to £60
See on AmazonTwo softbox lights with stands
Softboxes spread light over a big area, so a whole outfit or a rail of stock gets even light with soft shadows. They take more floor space than panels and suit a spare room better than a desk.
Typical price£50 to £90
See on Amazon
Elgato Key Light Air MK.2
A mid-sized desk panel with app control, sized to sit either side of a rip camera without crowding a narrow desk. Two of them light a card mat from both sides at about 45°, which keeps a bright reflection off holo foil. Pick the full-size panel instead if it’s your only light and you also want your face lit across a wide table.
Typical price£110 to £130
See on Amazon