It consists of a key light, a fill light, and a backlight (sometimes called a “hairlight”). The most common setup for lights is called three-point lighting. But unless you have specific requirements for these fancier features, it’s a waste of money to invest in such expensive lights when something cheaper will work just as well for basic shoots. If you plan to shoot high-end camera video on a regular basis, it may be worth the higher price. In turn, you’ll find many more fancy features, such as full-range dimmers, wireless control, ability to change color on the fly, better diffusion, and stronger output.īefore purchasing these lights, it’s a good idea to rent them locally or online and ensure they’ll suit your needs before fully investing in them. In the higher price range of video lighting kit options, you’ll likely pay as much for one light as you would for a whole mid-range kit. These lights can also be bounced off a surface like a wall, ceiling, or reflector to create soft light, which is significantly more preferable to blinding your subject and creating an unflattering image. You can buy diffusion paper and tape it over your lights, or even cut up a frosted shower curtain. So when working with clamps lights, we highly suggest using some type of diffusion material. Without the shade, it’s brighter, but the light can be harsh and cast deep shadows.ĭiffusion helps spread light evenly, creating soft light, and can be improvised even on a budget. Think of the difference between a lamp with a bare bulb and one with a lampshade. Light with no filter is known as hard light. There are a few types of lighting to be aware of as well. If you choose this option, use lightbulbs of the same temperature and brightness in each lamp to ensure consistency. Unfortunately, the lack of dimming control and diffusion can lead to harsh brightness. At around $10 each, these lights are versatile and can be mounted in a variety of ways.
If you choose natural light, make sure it illuminates your face evenly and doesn’t cause unwanted shadows.Īt TechSmith, we have a drawer full of cheap clamp lights. However, if you don’t have access to natural light or you find it especially inconsistent for your shooting purposes, there are plenty of other lighting types to choose from. Ultimately, if you have some amazing natural light in your shooting location, that’s by far the best (and cheapest) option. If not, there are plenty of cheap ring light setups that will work just fine.įor more information specific to webcam lighting, check out this great video: Using natural light is a great option if it’s available. You may have to adjust the position or location of your light sources to do this.įor a low-budget solution, try shooting with a window behind your camera and the light shining on your face. Make sure your face is lit evenly and doesn’t have unwanted shadows. If you don’t, add some! We discuss the different types of lighting you can purchase later in this blog.Ģ. Setting up lighting for your webcam doesn’t have to be difficult.
Here are some great tips and tricks for how to get the perfect lighting for video.
But some extra production could be helpful.
Not all videos need professional lighting.
Watch this FREE online course by TechSmith Academy to learn the basics of lighting your video.