Human beings are more receptive to videos than to any other form of content. Ever since videos have dominated the industry everybody prefers to watch a video rather than read a text. But sometimes, even videos fail to make the mark. One of the primary reasons why this happens is improper video lighting. Video lighting is very critical as it sets the mood for the video. The proper use of lighting can change the way people and objects are projected on the screen.
The human eyes perceive light differently as compared to a camera lens. Therefore, planning your lighting properly can probably make your dull video look much better with proper lighting. Good video lighting is very important for a video shoot even more than cameras. A quality image can be created using an ordinary camera, but lighting cannot be compromised. Lighting can put a great impact on the environment and scenes by making them more attractive. So, if you want to make your content looking sharp and professional it is time to include effective lighting in your videos. Read on to know more about lighting and how it can be done properly. We will also be sharing some essential tips, equipment, and more in this article!
This is the most important and first light in a video lighting setup. This light is considered the brightest light and it provides the bulk of light to the main subject of the shot. It is placed around 45 degrees above and 45 degrees to the right or left. For videos and live streams a powerful LED key light with a big diffuser works best. We will talk about some lights in each budget later in the article.
This is a light that is softer as compared to a key light. It helps reduce shadows on the subject's face. It is usually positioned opposite to the side of the key light, which is pointed at a 30-degree vertical angle.
This separates the subject from the background. It is very helpful in preventing a flat-looking shot by creating depth. The back light shines on the subject from behind and eliminates any shadows that have come from key and fill lights. The back light can be as bright as the key light as it does not create shadows visible to the camera.
This is a single light that is very powerful. It is shaped like a ring and is placed behind the camera. It can evenly light up everything in front of it. This is great for beginners as it is easy to set up. For YouTubers who create content and do not have a movement like makeup tutorials, then ring lights are the best option. LED bulbs are fluorescent bulbs that are used in ring lights but most people choose LED ones as they last longer.
Natural light is the light from the sun. If you are shooting outdoors or indoors where you have large windows natural sunlight is the best way to illuminate the subject. There is a term "golden hour" used by photographers for early morning or late evening for its soft light. But, we cannot always rely on natural light as it is not reliable. Natural lighting is subject to change in intensity and this affects the color quality and light of the video. Direct sunlight can be too harsh sometimes therefore using some lighting kits along with it can create the perfect lighting.
A three-point lighting setup is a common setup of three lights; the key light, fill light, and the backlight. To get this clear we have to imagine a clock and the subject at its center. The camera location has to be at six and the key light approximately at four. The fill light can be placed at eight and the backlight somewhere between one and two. This type of setting works well for YouTubers, promos, webinars, and streamers where one person is speaking to the camera. The back light source can use a diffuser in three-point lighting to soften the light for a more natural look.
If you have two lights, a bounce card can be used instead of fill light. A bounce card will shoot the light from your key light onto your subject’s face, while a fill light will add more light in general. If you have a window and some nice daylight handy, you could also substitute the window for fill light. If you are doing video work with natural lighting, place two lights at eye level on either side of the set to evenly illuminate your subject. This will also work if they get up and move.
Natural lighting is the easiest to work with. Window light is usually the cheapest option, and it’s easy to set up. Position yourself in front of a window, then face the window itself rather than having your back face it. You can also maximize natural lighting by positioning yourself so that your side faces the window while you place a reflector on your other side.
Move over from three lights to four lights now! You know what they say- "Three points light the whole scene bright". And adding another light in the background will create the best lighting. This light is on the right side of the subject, just behind it, and illuminates the background so that it is more visible than before. It stands about shoulder-high, behind the subject, just enough to brighten up the wall behind them to remove shadows.
Loop lighting involves two lights but is different from the two camera setup. You can do loop lighting if you have one key light and one fill light. The key light is positioned slightly above eye level on one side of the camera, while the fill light is placed on the other side to prevent shadows. You can use loop lighting to make your video look more professional.
Let us now take a look at some of the factors involved in video lighting
Light source
You want to ensure that you have the right lighting for your shoot because natural lighting can be either make or break your video. It’s not consistent if the weather changes and direct sunlight can sometimes be too intense; therefore you should stay away from overhead lighting. Large light sources are always softer than small ones. The right light source is important in video production and can create professional-looking videos.
Color temperature
The light appearance provided by a light bulb is called color temperature. This can be measured on a scale of 1000 to 10,000 kelvin. The higher the number, the colder the lighting. Warm lights are yellow, and cool lights are white or light blue. It can be any color temperature that you chose for your shot but take care that it is consistent across all light sources. by mixing color temperatures we can spoil the video quality. Therefore, always choose the right color temperature for your video.
Intensity
A lot of videos can turn out to be bad quality if the right intensity of light is not used. Intensity refers to the amount of softness or hardness of lighting. Light comes in many forms, but it's all made of photons — little particles of energy. The intensity is how much light there is and how widely spread out those photons are.
Hard light can be bright but too intense, like taking a photo in full sunlight at noon. To soften the lighting, you can put a diffuser in front of your light source.
Shooting outdoors no doubt gives you the best light source - the sun. But, the conditions can be uncontrollable, it might be overcast and after some time you can get really bright light. Therefore, using some tricks you can make the best videos.
Reflectors
A lot of sunlight can create shadows and that is not good for filming, while the sunlight behind can wash out the subject. So, if you want to have control over these lighting issues while filming outdoors use reflectors for more control. These types of reflectors come in five colors, white, gold, transparent, silver, and black. Moreover, a reflector stand is needed for stability along with a light stand too. A natural way to create diffused light is to stand under a tree if the sun is bright or shoot in shaded areas. Shoot during times of the day when you can steer clear of harder light which is during early mornings or late afternoons that can give you a softer light. Avoiding direct sunlight on the face will let you clear of shadows and a reflector is a great way to do that.
ND filters
These are Neutral density filters(thus the name ND filters) that fit over the lens of your camera and darken the image. There is no way you can mess with the exposure while using an ND filter. These are not attached with all cameras so you can get an external one. They work by reducing the intensity of wavelengths, colors of light equally from entering the camera in measured amounts. This is a great way of solving the problem of overexposure in bright lights. Now we know how good lighting can create the best shooting environment.
You’ll find so many fancy features, such as full-range dimmers, wireless control, the ability to change color on the fly, better diffusion, and stronger output in these high-end lighting kit options. Therefore, we would advise you to rent it and analyze if you really need them. After that, if you still feel it can be a good bet go and purchase it. We suggest you stick to less expensive options if you can get your work done with cheaper options. Let us take a look at some of those too.
You can find these options in the mid-range and can give you as much control as high-end ones. These mid-range options are great if you are thinking of setting up your little studio. Some can be handy to let you go for an outdoor shooting video.
These lights are inexpensive and very versatile. Better to use these with diffusers to create the softest light you need for your video. They provide enough light for shooting and also avoid harsh shadows.
Now, that you know a lot about video lighting and also some video lighting tips start your video production process by using our Video maker from OFFEO that lets you create and edit your videos in just a snap without the need for any professional help. The drag and drop interface is very easy to use and the wide range of templates are perfect for any theme or occasion. So go ahead and create your next online video with our video maker.
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