Electronic device that mitigates ambient lighting loss during video communication

A method comprising:

• receiving an image stream from an image capturing device of an electronic device, the image stream incorporating at least one object in a communication session;
• communicating during the video communication session using a network interface via a network to one or more second electronic devices;
• monitoring, during the video communication session, a current lighting level within the image stream;
• determining whether the current lighting level within the image stream is greater than at least one light level threshold that indicates that the participant is sufficiently illuminated;
• communicating, via the network interface, a live version of the image stream to the video communication session in response to the current lighting level being above the at least one light level threshold that indicates that the participant is sufficiently illuminated;
• and
• in response to the current lighting level not being above the at least one light level threshold and the controller having control of a light source that can augment ambient lighting and is not currently on turning on the light source to illuminate the at least one object that is being presented within the image stream.

A computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable storage device;
• and
• program code on the non-transitory computer readable storage device that when executed by a processor associated with an electronic device, the program code enables the electronic device to provide functionality of:
• receiving an image stream from an image capturing device of an electronic device, the image stream incorporating at least one object in a communication session;
• communicating during the video communication session using a network interface via a network to one or more second electronic devices;
• monitoring, during the video communication session, a current lighting level within the image stream;
• determining whether the current lighting level within the image stream is greater than at least one light level threshold that indicates that the participant is sufficiently illuminated;
• communicating, via the network interface, a live version of the image stream to the video communication session in response to the current lighting level being above the at least one light level threshold that indicates that the participant is sufficiently illuminated;
• and
• in response to the current lighting level not being above the at least one light level threshold and the controller having control of a light source that can augment ambient lighting and is not currently on turning on the light source to illuminate the at least one object that is being presented within the image stream.