Home studio lighting for video usually contains 3 point lighting setup, light boxes, reflectors, and soft boxes. These can all be created or swapped out for inexpensive home items. There's no need to spend thousands of dollars on pricey equipment that you can DIY yourself, whether you're a beginner photographer trying to set up a basic home studio or an experienced professional looking to save some money. Below we talk about how to set up a simple home studio. Read on and we hope they can work for you. Below is a list for quick view.
- How to set up lighting for video at home?
- Tip to DIY lighting modifiers
- Suitable devices for upgrading home video studio
- How to brighten small home studio?
Arrange lighting for home video studio on a budget
Video lighting is everything in the home studio. Without it, the frame will be unattractive and flat. Three-point setup is common and standard to set up lights for video studio. You can make it a homemade studio lighting for video by following the steps below.
Set up home studio video lighting with a standing light and 2 lamps
Professional photographers typically use a three-point lighting setup in the studio. It entails positioning one light above and behind your subject, as well as two lights on either side of the camera. You can use two desk lamps with LED or CFL bulbs and a standing light to set up light for streaming.
- Backlight: Position your standing light above and behind the subject.
- Key light: Place the more intense lamp or bulb on one side of the subject and underneath your camera.
- Fill light: Place the other desk lamp on the opposite side.
Set up home studio next to a window to replace a key or fill light
The key light is the primary light source you apply to illuminate a subject and the fill one is the opposite-side light source that softens shadows. Position your studio area directly next to a window asn you can avoid needing an additional light source. Depending on whether the natural light is brighter or weaker than your lamp, you can utilize the window as key or fill light.
The window light is able to make your subject appear clean and natural, which daylight LED studio lights sometimes struggles to replicate. If you want to shoot in the morning, pick a window that faces east, and a west-facing window is ideal for filmmaking in the evening.
Lay a foam core board on a table to reflect home studio lighting for video
When shooting videos of items on a table, place a piece of white foam core below your subject. Secure the foam board with clamps to the table, then tilt your camera to capture your subject. The foam board will serve as a smooth, uncluttered background for your compositions and will reflect light to make it simpler to acquire a nice exposure at a faster shutter speed.
White paper can have a comparable impact, but it is easily ripped and destroyed.
Create your own modifiers to modify studio lighting at home
Modifiers play an important role in setting up the best lighting for home video studio. And it is also feasible to make it by yourself.
Downspout funnel can work as diffuser
Light diffusion is the technique of uniformly diffusing light from a focused source across a surface. It's crucial in photography, particularly when utilizing a conventional flash. A white downspout funnel can be used to make a light diffuser for your flash. To use it as a diffuser, slip it over the body of the flash and cover the bulb with the hollow aperture. As you shoot, the form of your flash will hold it in place.
If the funnel will not fit over your flash mount, shoot with the flat surface area 2-4 inches (5.1-10.2 cm) away from the flash bulb.
Make a reflector by attaching an umbrella to the tripod
Another way to soften hard home studio lighting for video is blasting it off of a mirrored surface. By taking a black umbrella and pasting plain printer paper to the interior of the umbrella, you can create a straightforward reflector for your flash equipment. Layer the paper to ensure it to lie flat and cover all exposed surfaces. Away from your subject, focus your flash at the interior of your umbrella to employ the reflector.
Depending on the angle at which you're holding the umbrella, the light will fill the space. Adjust the position according to the intensity of the light you want.
Make a light box with empty plastic box and white paper
A light box is also important for home video studio lighting setup. It is a tiny box with reflecting sides that bounces light in all directions, causing it to disperse and soften shadows. A translucent plastic box and white paper may be used to make your own light box. Turn your box around so that the container's entrance faces your camera. The highest portion of the container's back should then have a huge piece of white paper taped to it. To prevent sharp angles or crumples, let the paper extend over the bottom of the container at a gentle drop.
Level up your home video studio by investing in studio lights for video
Studio lights are a wide concept that encompasses all lights utilized in the studio. There are various types of studio light for video shooting, and you can pick the one that suits your home studio to level up the lighting system.
Continuous lighting kit - Top choice for video shooting and live streaming
If you're a novice or a seasoned photographer looking to make studio lighting at home more simple and smooth, this type of studio lights for home can be your top choice. It allows you to retain your subject pre-lit and use that light level whether photographing or filming a video. It is necessary because, unlike other flashing lights, it allows you to choose your brightness intensity before shooting. Furthermore, it is suitable for a video shot or a live broadcast because it maintains a consistent lighting angle during recording.
Check the video to see how COLBOR CL100 performs in home video studio lighting.
Pros:
- What you see is what you get
- Easy to modify
- Cinematic look
Cons:
- Lower power
- Slow shutter speed
Speedlight lighting kit - Use-friendly system for still pictures, motion shots at events, and product shots
A speedlight is a kit for home studio video lighting that provides a faster flash than a standard camera flash. It is frequently used in combination with umbrella lighting systems. It is extremely light and portable, making it ideal for a variety of photography. Furthermore, it is simple to put up and take down for on-the-go studio photos. If you need to operate speedlights from a distance, they are suitable for use with remote control. This lighting package is ideal for performing still pictures, motion shots at events, and even product shots.
Pros:
- Perfect in small home video studios and for portable setups
- Lightweight and compact
Cons:
- Low power
- You can't fine-tune your focusing since you can't see where the flash beam is going.
- Long recycle time, especially at maximum power, makes burst shooting difficult.
Monolight lighting kit - One-stop lighting solution for ongoing studio projects
This system for home recording studio lighting is a must-have if you're seeking for an all-in-one lighting solution appropriate for ongoing studio work. It is a self-contained strobe lighting system with a light, stand, and dependable power source. Because of its strong construction, it is incredibly portable and simple to move around in your home studio. It is also an excellent choice for saving space in your studio.
Pros:
- Powerful light
- Inbuilt modelling light
- AC plug included for batteryless operation
Cons:
- Price
- Heavy and bulky
- Sturdy light stands needed
- Cheap devices can overheat and cease to function until they cool down
Small home studio lighting ideas
Don't give up if your place is extra-tiny! Small areas, when properly set up, may be perfectly useful photo studios. Here are some tips:
- Keep additional lighting to a minimum. Use window light wherever feasible to avoid taking up valuable space with light stands.
- Use light modifiers, particularly reflectors. It's remarkable how a pair of reflectors can make your portrait seem as if it were lit with a three-point light setup. Experiment with reflectors and light bouncing to determine what works best in your limited space.
- Select the best portrait lens. If there isn't enough room to zoom, a high-quality prime lens that allows you to capture the whole subject from the distance you have accessible in your home photo studio will suffice.