Finding the ideal lighting for your videos can be difficult. Your shot may not be bright enough, or it's too bright. The colour temperature might not be correct, or the shadows are so sharp that you can't tell what's what.
If you don't know how to provide good video lighting, your work will appear unprofessional and amateurish, and you don't need to invest in everything that a professional shoot entails!
There are simple, effective methods to provide adequate lighting in videos without having to carry around a lot of equipment. Here are 7 tips to get the perfect lighting for your video.
1. Use windows during the day for the best indoor video lighting
When it comes to finding the ideal lighting for videos indoors during the day, windows are your greatest ally. And they should ideally be in the shadows to provide you with a gentle, diffused light.
When filming, make sure the window is in front of you. This will provide you with the balanced lighting you are seeking.
2. Turn on a lamp at night for the perfect lighting indoors
A lamp is the ideal source of illumination while filming indoors at night. It should be bright, but it should also be diffused. Your lamp doesn’t need to be a professional one. It can even be a simple, inexpensive desktop one.
It's important to make sure you have diffused light. This will provide you with the delicate video lighting you desire while minimising shadows.
3. Seek shade when filming outdoors in the sun for the best video lighting
Avoid harsh sunlight when recording videos outdoors in the sun. Look for shaded areas to shoot your videos. Avoid direct sunshine, which will create heavy shadows on your face and cause you to squint.
On overcast days, you'll have easy, diffused video lighting to work with, so this won't be a problem.
4. Avoid mixed video lighting
It's critical to minimise the amount of mixed video lighting you use. When you have competing colour temperatures in your shot, this is when things get complicated. So, if a lamp gives off a warm tungsten light while also receiving colder light from a window, your face will receive an odd mix of lights.
If your camera is struggling with the different colour temperatures, turn off the lamp and stick with natural lighting.
5. Don’t go overboard with backlight
The backlight is an extremely artistic and cinematic filming technique. However, it isn't required for simple video.
If you're recording videos with a webcam, it's almost certainly set to auto exposure. As a result, if there is too much backlight, your camera will adjust the exposure to the light behind you. Your appearance will be left in the dark.
Creating the perfect lighting for your videos can be a difficult task. But by following these simple tips, you'll be on your way to producing great videos that look professional!
Giant Leap Video and Photography specialise in all areas of video and photo production, delivering high-quality content across the South Coast and beyond! Get in touch with us today!
