Light for filming video makes the footage on the screen look natural. But not every lighting can achieve this. It requires a specific setup for optimal results. No matter what kind of videos you are filming, you can read on to acquire the following information about video lighting.
- Steps to set up lighting for filming video.
- What light fixtures to use in video filming
- Explain video lighting basics from exposure, direction, and quality.
How to set up lighting for filming videos?
Here are the steps you can follow to light up the scene in the video filming.
Look around to see what kind of video lighting is needed
Look around the area where you'll be capturing footage. How many windows are in this area? Are there any curtains, shades, or other light-blocking panels on these windows? What does all of this imply for how natural light will or will not affect your videos? Then, fill your recording space with light settings that address any issues you discover.
Think about brightness and shadows
Light sources without coverings or filters are usually too harsh or bright for filming a video. These lights, dubbed hard lights, are essentially table lamps without lampshades. Instead, use soft lights, which are any light sources that have some kind of cover. They are excellent for lighting up dark nooks or walls.
Position light for filming video appropriately
To create high-quality illumination, most video lighting professionals adopt three-point lighting. The three points are as follows:
- A key light is positioned directly in front of and to the right of the camera. This should be the brightest light in your setup.
- A fill light is placed directly in front of and to the left of the camera. In order to avoid overpowering the key light, the intensity should be at most half that of the main light.
- A backlight is positioned behind the camera and to the right of it.
Set proper color temperature to create the right mood
The mood the video creates might vary greatly depending on whether your surroundings are lit in warm or cold tones. Warm lighting, which frequently appears off-yellow, has a color temperature of less than 4000K and may provide a relaxing atmosphere. For lighting that simulates the noon sun, choose cool lighting with a color temperature of 4000K or above (higher color temperatures signify cooler lighting that is closer to daylight).
Fight glare to avoid distraction
Glare is your adversary when it comes to excellent lighting. It's especially noticeable when filming someone wearing glasses. It may be avoided by moving your fill and key lights further away from the camera. It also helps to elevate the light stands to make the lights shine down on the scene from a higher place.
What light for filming video do you need?
Here are two pieces of advice for you.
LED light for video filming is a good choice
LED is an abbreviation for light-emitting diode. An electrical current must travel through semiconductor material for the diode to emit light.
Filming LED lights are much more energy-efficient and, as a result, physically cooler and compacter than incandescent types. They are also significantly more adaptive and versatile than standard fluorescent, tungsten, or HMI light sources.
It brings the following pros and cons to video filming.
Pros
- Easily adjustable: It is adjustable at color temperature and brightness with onboard buttons or App, while other traditional types need to use gels to change color.
- Energy efficient: LED lights use significantly less energy than incandescent types and can create far more intense light while consuming far less electricity.
- Staying cool: LEDs won’t create much heat after long-time video filming. It allows you to shoot videos in a comfortable environment.
Cons
- Flicker: LED light sources might occasionally cause flickering in your filming.
- Color quality: Some LED lights (especially cheaper types) might create unfavorable hues.
Build light kit for filming video to shoot more professional videos
Video lighting kits are a kind of video equipment used to make a video look more professional. They can be difficult to use, but when you're ready to move your footage from amateur to professional, they're invaluable.
To build such a light kit for filming video, you will need some essential equipment. First of all, you need light for filming video and decide the number of fixtures to use according to the setup. Next, get a reliable power supply, such as an AC power adapter or battery. Some products like COLBOR CL60 can even be powered by power banks. Finally, a control system, such as a smartphone app, will let you change the colors and brightness simply. For best lighting management, don't forget about durable stands and modifiers.
Basics: Understanding lighting for video film and photography
Here are three aspects to understand video lighting.
Exposure
The exposure is the amount of light in your video. When a video is said to be underexposed, it suggests that there was insufficient light, resulting in darkness and lost shadow features. The footage's dark portions are "muddy" and cannot be separated from the black regions.
Overexposed footage also exists. In addition to not having enough light, your photo might also have too much light. An overexposed video is overly bright, and the details in the brighter regions of the video are lost.
Direction
The direction in which the light enters the frame is critical for creating a suitable atmosphere for your video. Unless you're filming a thriller, try positioning your light sources slightly above your subject to avoid casting too many shadows. Three-point lighting is a common setup. It comprises of one powerful key light diagonally across the subject, a fill light opposite the key, less intense, just to reduce shadows on the other side, and a backlight.
Quality
Quality is another aspect to learn about light for filming video. It relates to two main qualities of light, soft and harsh. Unless it's purely aesthetic, the light should be soft. In other words, soft light produces a smooth gradient transition between bright and dark areas, but hard light produces a sharp change.