- In this video you will learn how to use lighting
properly when shooting your video content.
Your lighting set-up is a super important part
of your video production,
and something that a lot of content creators
tend to overlook.
The thing about lighting is when it's done well,
no one will ever notice.
Done badly, and it can be all that people notice.
To help you get it right, I'm going to be sharing
with you the top three simple lighting set-ups
that we use here at Spiel and how you can build them.
I'm also gonna be recommending
some of our favorite lighting equipment
for different budget ranges.
By the end of this video, you'll be able
to light your videos like a pro.
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Welcome, I'm Jess.
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To start with, let's go through the three main
lighting set-ups that you need to be aware of.
Three-point lighting.
When it comes to lighting set-ups,
you'll find that three-point lighting
is one of the most simple and effective
set-ups you can use.
As you've probably guessed, it involves
using three different light sources
to light the subject of your video:
a key light, fill light, and a backlight.
The key light is the most important
and strongest light in this set-up
and will provide most of the light for the shot.
The fill light is there to fill in
the shadows cast by the light of the key light.
It's a much softer light,
around half the intensity of the key light.
The backlight is there to add depth to the scene
by providing a soft glow behind the subject.
If you are on a tight budget, the backlight is optional.
You can get by with a two-point lighting set-up
with just a fill light and a key light.
Now, let's move on to our second lighting set-up,
outdoor lighting.
If you plan on shooting your videos outdoors,
you can use the natural light from the sun
to light your shots.
There are a few distinct advantages
of using natural lighting,
like the fact that it's free and it's stylistic.
During the early morning just as the sun is rising
and late evening just before it sets,
natural light from the sun is softer
than the more harsher afternoon sun,
and if it's caught right it looks really elegant.
These times of the day are actually so popular
with professional filmmakers
that they have been dubbed as the golden hours.
The most important drawback with natural light
on the other hand, is that it is inconsistent
and even slight changes in the weather
can lead to inconsistencies in your lighting
and cast shadows.
To try to minimize inconsistencies in natural lighting,
you can mimic the three-point lighting set-up
we already talked about using different equipment.
So the sun can be your key light,
and you can position reflectors
on the other side and behind the subject
to function as fill and back lights.
Soft light is more flattering than hard light,
so when you're shooting outdoors,
try to film on an overcast day
or during those golden hours and use large reflectors.
This all helps to soften the light.
So if you're shooting outdoors, take this into account.
A final lighting set-up worth knowing about
is clamshell lighting.
This type of lighting is characterized
by very soft light with faint shadows
and lovely catchlights.
It's most commonly used by portrait photographers
because it's great for highlighting
and accentuating the subject's facial features,
as well as providing a soft glow to images.
Although this type of lighting is a firm favorite
amongst photographers,
it can also work really well for shooting videos.
If you're looking to create a piece-to-camera set-up,
clamshell lighting can be a great option.
It produces excellent results for an affordable price.
So it's kind of like a two-point lighting set-up,
but with a few important differences.
For example, the lights used in clamshell lighting
are typically blue lights
paired with reflector umbrellas or cards.
It's also set up a little differently.
Your key light is directly in front of and pointing down
at your subject at a 45-degree angle,
while your fill light is directly in front of
and pointing up at your subject at the same angle.
It's set out like an open clamshell, or a crocodile mouth.
(crocodile chomps)
Then, you can enhance or direct the light as you see fit
by using a reflector umbrellas or cards
to create different lighting looks.
I'd recommend using softboxes as the light sources
for both your fill and key light
to create a nice glow effect.
Now you know the three main lighting set-ups.
Let's move on to the best lighting equipment.
You don't need a Hollywood budget
to achieve Hollywood-quality lighting.
It is possible to build your own
awesome lighting setup on any budget.
That being said, the more you're willing to spend,
the better results you'll be able to achieve.
Here are my personal recommendations
on the equipment to use,
based on different price ranges.
If you're working with a large budget,
you can get yourself very professional,
studio-quality equipment for around $2-3,000.
I'd recommend the Arri 650 Light Kit,
which includes everything you need
for a three-point lighting setup,
including three 650-watt Tungsten lights,
filters, barn doors, and other accessories.
High-end equipment like this is essential
for professional video production and filmmaking,
but if you're more of a casual hobbyist,
or you're looking for a basic YouTube setup,
you probably don't need to spend this much.
If you've got a more mid-range budget,
I would recommend looking at kits
in the range of $1-500.
You can find some pretty good ones
that offer a balance of quality and affordability.
In this price range, I would recommend
StudioFx's three-point softbox kit for most filmmakers
as it includes everything you need
for a great, versatile setup.
If, however, you're a beauty or makeup vlogger or brand,
I would recommend Stellar's ring light kit instead.
Ring lights are well-suited to beauty vloggers
as they completely eliminate shadows
and produces a pleasing halo catchlight
in the subject's eyes.
If you don't have a big budget,
you can still build a great lighting setup
for under $100 that will do the job.
For less than $50, you can get
a three-point umbrella lighting kit
complete with bulbs, stands, diffusers, umbrellas,
and other accessories from Fancierstudio.
As this kit comes complete with umbrella reflectors,
it can help you to build a functional
clamshell lighting set-up for under $50.
Well, there you have it.
Now you know exactly how to light your videos
and create a professional lighting setup.
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So which of the three lighting set-ups
do you plan on using for your videos and why?
Let me know in the comment section below.
Or, if you have any other questions
about video lighting, ask away.
I love hearing from you guys
and I'll do my best to answer.
For more help with your video production
you can also get in touch with Spiel.
Just head over to www.spielcreative.com and get in touch.
Thanks for watching.