Indoor video lighting is an important part of professional videography, offering illumination and lighting control for recording great videos in indoor settings. It provides filmmakers and videographers with the tools they need to regulate and improve the visual aesthetics of indoor video projects, resulting in professional-quality outcomes. In this article, we will focus on the following aspects to dive into the world of indoor lighting.
- Why lighting is crucial in indoor video recording?
- What lighting equipment for indoor videography can you use?
- How to set up indoor video lighting?
- FAQs
Why do you need indoor video lighting?
You need lights for indoor video shooting for a variety of reasons:
It illuminates indoor environments when natural light is not enough.
Lights provide essential brightness in interior settings, particularly when natural light is not bright enough or unavailable. They make sure that the subjects and the filmmaking areas are well-lit, allowing the camera to record clear and detailed footage.
It gives video creators more control over indoor illumination.
Lights provide filmmakers and videographers more control over lighting setups. They can create a certain ambiance, emphasize specific components, or reduce shadows and undesired reflections by employing various lighting types, such as key, fill, and back lights. You may also change the color temperature, direction, and intensity to suit your needs. They enable filmmakers to alter the setup in accordance with the intended impact, creative vision, or scene-specific needs.
It ensures a consistent look in indoor video recording.
Indoor lighting for video shooting can vary greatly based on factors such as time of day, weather, and architecture. Using artificial lights helps to maintain uniformity throughout the production, ensuring that the illumination is consistent from one scene to the next.
It can supplement natural light to enhance visual quality.
Occasionally, interior spaces may have glaring or inadequate illumination. By offering sufficient lighting, improving the visual quality, and improving the audience's perception of the picture, lights can make up for such shortcomings.
All things considered, indoor video lighting is essential for indoor video production because it offers stability, control, flexibility, and the ability to make up for any lighting deficits.
What lighting equipment can you use for indoor videography?
Lighting for filming indoors and outdoors can be different. The majority of podcast, vlog, and educational videos, as well as many business videos such as training films, are shot inside. Videos, particularly those with the presenter speaking directly to the viewers, are usually shot while seated in an office or interior location. What lighting equipment do you need for the above videos? Here are some options, ranging from low-budget daily fixtures to somehow costly professional studio lights.
Ring light: A good choice if you use only one fixture for indoor videos
This source of indoor video lighting is the most commonly used for video creators who sit in front of the camera to capture videos. A ring lamp is a circular light (typically around 20 inches in diameter) that can be mounted on a tripod and positioned with your camera in the open middle space.
Ring lights work nicely. They distribute illumination evenly and remove harsh shadows. They come in a variety of sizes and budgets. They may cost as little as $20 for beginners or more than $100 for high-end models. You may also select the one that works effectively with your smartphone.
LED studio light: Flexible and energy-efficient option for indoor vlogs, live streaming, etc.
LED lighting is another choice for the best lighting for indoor video since it can be adjusted to various brightness levels and color temperatures and produces less heat than other lighting equipment. They are also cost-effective for videographers searching for the best studio light for video on a budget.
They are great for vloggers, live streaming, and short-form video creation like TikTok and YouTube Shorts. Many LED studio lights include wireless controls, allowing you to change settings without moving out of frame. This is especially useful for video creators who operate independently.
Softbox Light: It offers soft lighting for indoor video recording
Softbox light provides excellent indoor video lighting. It employs diffusing panels to make the light appear softer and less artificial. It's a great alternative to natural lighting because it's not as harsh and doesn't cast undesirable shadows. It enables filmmakers to illuminate a precise place, making it easier to emphasize things in videos. It comes in a variety of sizes, shapes, and price ranges and is essential for YouTube video makers, vloggers, TikTok creators, and others.
Umbrella Light: It offers indoor video lighting to properly illuminate a large filmmaking area
Umbrella lights are ideal for properly illuminating a full area. They are utilized in two ways: reflecting lighting and light dispersion via the umbrella.
While they are frequently used in conjunction with softbox lights, they may also be utilized alone by content creators who want to control light levels across a larger area. This is perfect for those who are looking to emphasize a larger shot for context or a scenario with several subjects. They can also employ umbrella lights to provide additional lighting on a specific subject as needed.
A lantern setup: A more affordable option to offer soft lighting
Another smart idea is to place two white paper lanterns just over your desk, largely behind your PC. Perhaps you'll need a light socket and a platform to hang them.
This equipment produces a wonderful soft illumination. It is also a reasonably inexpensive technique to provide excellent lighting for a home video studio using LED lights. It may also be used for various interior recording and filmmaking, as well as for lighting effects in color.
Two simple office lamps: The best indoor video lighting for saving money
Office lamps are readily available in most homes and may be the best option for saving money on lighting.
Place the lamps on each side of the camera, pointing the light at your face. If the lighting is too intense, use some diffusing material (such as a white kitchen roll) and put it over the lamps with clothespins.
This setup works well for live streaming and video recordings, but it does need some effort to get it perfect. Experiment with it until you obtain the desired outcome!
Lighting setup for indoor video shoot: 5 common setups to adopt
Here is a brief introduction to the 5 common setups for your lights for indoor video shoot and how to achieve them.
Three-point lighting
This is the most popular for YouTubers and streamers since it allows for one person to talk directly into the camera. It includes the following light sources, and you can customize this basic setup by diffusing the back light to soften it and make it appear more natural.
- Key: It is placed in front of and to the side of the subject and offers the primary illumination.
- Fill: Positioned opposite the key light to minimize harsh shadows and soften the overall illumination.
- Backlight: Placed behind the subject to generate a highlight around their borders, distinguishing them from the backdrop.
Two lights
If you are limited to two lights, you have the option of using a bounce card in place of a fill light. This kind of reflector redirects the light from your key light onto your subject's face. Alternatively, if you have a window with natural daylight available, you can use it as a substitute for a fill light. Another approach is to position two lights on either side of your set at eye level to ensure even lighting as you move around within the space.
Four lights
Building upon the three-point lighting setup, you have the option of adding a background light. This light is positioned at waist height directly behind the subject, illuminating the background. While not essential for every background, this enhances the backdrop behind the subject, reducing unnecessary shadows.
One light
As previously stated, if you opt to utilize just one light source, the most suitable choice for a YouTube video or live stream would be a ring light positioned directly behind the camera.
Natural light
If you can make it work, natural lighting is always preferable for indoor video lighting. It is also the least priced. Uses available natural light from windows or skylights as the major source of lighting. Reflectors or diffusers can be used to shape and regulate natural light, improving its quality and direction.
FAQs
What is the best light temperature for filming video indoors?
If natural light were entering through the windows, a setting of 5100k would be suitable. However, as this is not the case, adjust the setting to a lower value. While a camera's white balance can be adjusted to 3200k, 4500k, 5600k, or even 7500K to make a white object appear neutral, subjects do not appear as flattering or natural in a studio environment above 5000k. To achieve a healthy appearance, it is easier to use warmer/redder light on subjects.
What is the best lighting method for a small indoor video studio?
The optimum lighting approach for a small indoor video studio is based on the production's specific requirements and the budget at hand LED panels, softboxes, and ring lights are some of the most common options for tiny indoor video studios. LED panels offer adaptable and flexible lighting, while softboxes produce gentle, diffused illumination. Ring lights are frequently employed for close-up shots, yielding a flattering and uniform light. Factors such as color temperature, CRI (Color Rendering Index), and the capacity to regulate and modify the lighting should be taken into account.
What can I do if the indoor video lighting is too harsh?
Light quality is crucial, as harsh and soft lights create different shadows. People generally look best under soft light. Using a lamp dimmer and dimmable bulbs allows for better lighting control. Diffusion materials or bouncing light off surfaces can soften harsh light. Additionally, increasing the size of the light source can also create softer lighting.