How to Light a Video

Why Does Lighting Matter So Much?

Light has the ability to drastically change how we see things. It can add focus to a particular element of a scene or even change the tone or feel of an entire video. If there’s one thing everyone can agree on, it’s that bad lighting is very noticeable to even the untrained eye and essentially impossible to fix after your video’s been shot. If you’re going to go through the process of make a video, it only makes sense to invest in the very element that makes all of your hard work visible: lighting!

Using Three-Point Lighting

There are endless possibilities on how to light videos, however one of the most popular and basic techniques is three-point lighting. Three-point lighting is a go-to set-up for corporate videos, films and photography; it’s main components include a key light, a fill light and a back light:

KEY LIGHT

Your key light is where most of the brightness falling on your subject comes from.

FILL LIGHT

The fill light is considerably less powerful than your key light and is used to fill in any harsh shadows.

HAIR (BACK) LIGHT

Lastly, the back light (also referred to as a hair light) is used to add some accent and depth to your subject so they stand out from the background.

There is unlimited potential when it comes to lighting. Even within a basic three-point lighting set-up, there are many other techniques that can be used to get the look you’re going for, such as:

• Side lighting
• Hard lighting
• Soft lighting
• High lighting
• Low lighting
• Practical lighting

Lighting can make or break a video. Whether it’s simple interviews or a series of complicated scenes, using the appropriate lighting is a must. At 5Gear Studios, we have the tools and experience to ensure that your video is lit perfectly.

For more information on our services, visit our website!: https://www.5gearstudios.com/