More and more video creators use LED light for video shooting to create mood. It is lightweight and simple to use on location. Additionally, they have a long lifespan of up to 100,000 hours. There are several fundamental methods and equipment that may help you elevate the appearance of your videos, enhance your lighting, and differentiate yourself regardless of your budget or experience. Keep on reading and step into the lighting world.
What types of light for video shooting should you use?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach since every video creator has his or her unique style, from simple vlogs to elaborate studio settings.
A compact and portable choice would probably work best for you if you frequently shoot on the go. You should look for one that can be powered by batteries and maybe one that can connect to your phone or camera directly. In this situation, you are advised to use portable light for video shooting like ring lights and small LED panels.
Moving up, you might choose a mains-powered light if you're working in a temporary studio outside of your house. Larger LED panels are suitable since they provide respectable levels of brightness and easy to pack down after shooting. Larger diameter ring lights are also a wonderful option to take into account since they may provide excellent one-light solution and can illuminate objects from all angles.
For more permanent settings, you are advised to use a more robust studio light for video shooting as you won't likely be as concerned about mobility. This offers the highest output and the largest choices of modifiers and accessories, allowing you to customize the light to meet your unique requirements. However, it usually calls for bigger stand and heavier diffuser, which means it will require more room to set up.
How to set up lighting for video shoot?
Basically, three point lighting is the most commonly used setup. It emphasizes the main subject and makes it distinct from the background. This setup plays a big role in the creation of high-quality video since it creates a balanced and controlled light distribution. To set up your LED light for video shooting properly:
- Key light: It is the leading and most powerful illumination source, casting a light shadow on the opposite side of your subject's face. Place it to either side of the subject at an angle of 45 degrees about to the right or left. It should be over the head slightly.
- Fill light: It illuminates the darkness and lessens jarring contrast. It's on the opposite side of the key light to illuminate the subject's other side of the face. It should be a bit softer and set to around half the brightness of the main one.
- Back light: It is also known as hair light or rim light, which is positioned behind the subject and out of frame. It emphasizes and defines the outline of the subject, making them stand out from the backdrop.
Five tips of lighting for indoor and outdoor video shot
Setting up video camera light necessitates trial and error. Experiment with 3 point lighting, soft and harsh light, and so on to achieve the suitable balance between light and shadow for your videos. Below we list 5 tips to guide you to the studio lighting quality.
Look around the location
Before you get the best lighting kit for shooting YouTube video, take a look at the space where you are going to film videos. How many windows are set in that location? Are there any curtains, shades, or other blocking panels on these windows? Will the natural light affect your shooting? Then, fill your filmmaking space with settings that solve any issues you discover. Just keep in mind that the greatest shooting conditions are those in which you can control the lighting as much as possible.
Think about brightness and shadows
LED light for video shooting without coverings or filters might be too harsh or bright for your video shot (but this is not always the case), which is know as hard light. Instead, soft lights are any sources that have some kind of cover.
Considering your video purpose help you make a choice between the hard and soft light. For example, makeup tutorial videos usually show close-up details thus bright lighting is demanded, whilst a gloomy documentary interview will most likely require something softer.
Mind color temperature
White balance, which measures the temperature of white light, aids in accurately presenting colors on your video camera. Without the ability to adjust color temperatures, you could have undesirable color casts that seem odd on camera.
Despite the fact that many digital cameras or video recorders include an auto white balance (AWB) capability, you are still advised to adjust the color temperature of the camera light for video shooting yourself to make sure that your films accurately depict colors based on the circumstances. This is also important for setting up lights for green screen video.
Look out for glare
Glare is the adversary of all things that require proper lighting. If you're shooting someone who is wearing glasses, it will usually be an issue. To counter it, move your fill and key lights farther away from the camera. Similarly, raising your stands also helps. It allows your lights to illuminate the shooting location from a higher vantage point.
Be careful with natural light
As the sun travels across the sky, daylight may cause shadows and erratic illumination. Avoid depending on the sun as your light source when shooting outdoors, especially when you are going to take long-term shooting. For high quality video output, you need video lighting equipment that is capable of providing continuous and consistent illumination for outdoor shoot.
Conclusion
For videos, lighting is an important consideration. Your choice may make the difference between an engaging, high-quality video and a disengaging, amateurish film. Consider your setup and try out various stylings. If you’re just starting out as a video creator, just use LED light for video shooting and follow the aforementioned tips to create attractive video frames.