How to Enhance Your Photos and Videos With Affordable Lighting
The big difference between beautiful photos and videos and bad ones comes down to how well the subjects are lit. Whether you’re an amateur home studio photographer or an aspiring YouTube star, here are some simple tricks to get your light right without spending a fortune on professional gear.
Learn the basics of three-point lighting
The three-point lighting system is the most important aspect of object lighting in cinematography and photography. In the video above, YouTuber DiCasaFilm explains how 3-point lighting works and how important it is for drawing attention to objects in the frame. This is called “three-point” lighting because there are three main light sources used. To make your photos and movies look professional, you will need at least one of these:
- Key Light: The strongest light directly falling on the subject (usually above and in front of it) and the main light in the frame. In a scripted scenario, this light source usually comes from a light source that is in the room, such as a window. However, for a simple photo shoot or vlogging, a 45-degree angle from the subject’s face is a good starting point for key lighting.
- Fill Light: Strikes an object from any angle other than the main light to fill the shadows on the subject. For example, if the key light hits an object at a 45-degree angle to the left, the fill light can enter at a 45-degree angle to the right to fill in some of the shadows and make the lighting more uniform. Depending on how much shadow and definition you want from your subject, the fill light can be filtered, reflected, or placed further away to diffuse it.
- Backlight (hair light): falls on an object from behind or from above. Separates the object from the background, making the edges of the object’s body protrude. Using backlights (in combination with other light sources) can make your photos and videos look professional almost instantly.
You will be amazed at how these three sources can dramatically improve the quality of your images . If you need a specific type of shot, you can adapt the three-point system by adding or removing lights to achieve different effects, but you always start with this basic setting and start working from there. For example, removing fill light from the equation produces a more dramatic shot with shadows covering half of the subject . As another example, by simply using a hair lamp, the object looks angelic or dream-like . No matter what kind of shot you want, the three-point system is more than capable of handling it when you’re first starting out. It just depends on how you want your shots to look.
The purpose of lighting is not only to make your objects visible, but also to direct the audience’s attention. If you don’t light your subject well, chances are that you won’t be able to focus the audience where you want. Of course, there is no absolutely wrong way to light something, because it always depends on which style you choose. However, the basic rules of a three-point lighting system are widely considered standard. Just think of them as rules to be broken creatively.
Learn the basics of soft and hard lighting
Imagine lighting a photo or video is like painting a picture, and hard and soft lights are two different brushes that you can use to paint the type of shot you want. Hard lighting creates harsh shadows for a darker or darker look. Softer lighting is softer and more neutral in tone, while softer shadows are better for emphasizing beauty. In the video above, cinema accessories company Zacuto explains that it boils down to two main types of light:
- Hard light: Created from a single point light source, with all the light rays hitting the object at the same angle. This creates sharp, distinct shadows and edges.
- Soft Light: Created from a wide light source that strikes an object at different angles. This creates soft shadows and edges, and the light bounces off the subject.
The type of shot you want determines whether you want to use hard or soft light, but in most cases it is recommended to use soft light for key and fill lights. For example, softer lighting is the most beneficial for creating beautiful pictures. This will prevent your shadows from being too clear and will make the photo more evenly lit. Hard light is effective for highlighting hair and highlighting because you want crisp, crisp edges with them. Hard lighting also provides the contrast you find in natural light, so it’s best for scenarios in which you want your lighting to look like it’s not coming from light sources.
If you need very even, flat lighting (like in a TV show), you need to use soft lighting that comes from both the main light and the fill light. If you want a more film noir feel, you need to keep the harsh shadows that harsh lighting creates. Again, it all depends on what you want to achieve in your shot, so experiment with your own 3-point setting to determine the right look for your project.
Buy (or design) your lighting cheap
Now that you understand the basic types of lamps you need, you will want to get the most out of your investment when purchasing them. A professional lighting kit can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, but there are many ways to make your own lighting kit for much less.
In the video above, YouTuber Shanks FX explains how to create your own three-point lighting kit using powerful LED lights. He uses these Kobalt Hypercoil work lights , but they are no longer produced and prices have climbed to nearly $ 45 per headlamp. Fortunately, you can find alternatives to LED flashlights for much cheaper. The UltraFire Mini XPE Q5 only costs about $ 4 on Amazon, and if you want a rechargeable version, the OxyLED MD20 can be bought on Amazon for $ 14. Both of these LED bulbs can be used in the same way, they are more compact and even slightly brighter. They do not have an adjustable neck, but this is optional.
When you have LED lights, you can use the swivel clamps on the light stands to hold and tilt the lights, and use magnifiers to focus the lights. You can even take an optional LED flashlight to create stunning icy light for softer, more even lighting. For the battery-free light rod, you can also make it with white glow sticks and PVC tubes . If you have additional camera tripods, you can easily use them to save money instead of buying new light stands. This entire setup is very portable and you can put the entire lighting kit in your gym bag to take with you wherever you go.
Clamping lights or aluminum bowls with socket and clamp are another effective option that won’t break the bank. You can buy clip-on aluminum sockets for between $ 5 and $ 15 apiece from any hardware store or online on Amazon , and you can also get decent bulbs for them at reasonable prices.In a YouTube video, Curtis Judd asks you to look for fluorescent white light bulbs with a high color rendering index (CRI) of 90 or higher. A high CRI means the colors you capture in your photos or videos will appear more realistic to the average eye in natural light. These bulbs can be expensive (up to $ 25 per bulb), but they are still cheaper than professional bulbs. LED lamp SlimStyle the A19 Philips , for example, has an index of color at least 90, a brightness adjustment and emits a soft white light at the price of $ 24 per lamp on Amazon. You can use docking lights as your main lights and fill lights with little diffusion, and they are especially useful as backlights. If you have something to clamp down on a light, you can put together an entire lighting kit for less than $ 100.
Alternatively, building halogen work lights can be a good choice if you don’t have racks and need a cheap high-intensity light. At most hardware stores, you can find a work lamp stand with two lamps for about $ 35. They are not ideal for key lighting because they are too bright and harsh, but asYouTuber, a light film maker suggests , you can use them as a bounce light, softened enough to be used as a fill light. Before using them, you will probably want to remove the protective grill so as not to cast shadows. Also, remove the glass to prevent the light from burning as hard as usual (just be careful not to touch the light bulb while it is on). Halogen work lights aren’t the most portable option, so if you need to shoot more on the go, you’ll need something more portable .
Last but not least, it’s important to mention the cheapest light source of all: daylight. If you can take photos or videos during the day and can mount your camera near a window, daylight can be just as effective for illuminating the frame. In the YouTube video above, Curtis Judd explains the benefits of shooting in daylight and explains how to get the most out of it. Window light is soft, natural and illuminates colors in their true form. With just a few reflectors, you can illuminate your entire scene without the need for additional lighting. You only have a certain time frame in which you can shoot, for example, and the weather can make a difference on the fly. However, this is a good alternative if you are looking to save some money.
Soften your lighting with diffusers and reflectors
To create the right soft lighting and correct uneven lighting in your shots, you need to use diffusers and reflectors. Diffusers are materials that light rays pass through to diffuse them. Think of it as a light firing a single light bullet, and the diffuser turns that bullet into a shotgun that spreads the light beams. Reflectors allow light to be reflected from primary sources, creating secondary light sources. A reflector can even be used as a fill light option , bouncing light from your main light to fill in shadows.
You can find a reflector / diffuser combo for about $ 20 online, but you can always make your own from things that are likely lying around in your house. The video above from the video maker’s YouTube channel suggests using a sheer shower curtain to diffuse the light. You can also make your own reflector out of cardboard and aluminum foil, or even a Pringles can . In addition, any semi-reflective white surface can be effectively used to reflect light. Whiteboard for posters, whiteboards, and even walls and ceilings can be used to reflect soft light.
If you want to create a key light that will always be diffuse and only produce soft light, you can make a homemade softbox . A softbox is a light around which a diffuser is built, allowing all light rays to pass through some material. If you know you’ll need softkey backlighting for most of your shots, softbox backlighting can make things a little easier for you. For around $ 20,YouTuber MediaFi shows you how to assemble a softbox from light bulbs and shower caps. Instructables user jemduff also demonstrates how a clear plastic storage container can be used as one. However, if you’re looking for an easier method, John DeMaio of Production Apprentice explains that you can never go wrong with a paper Chinese ball lantern :
… you probably want to stick with whites unless you have something particularly creative. Best of all, they are very cheap! The paper provides good diffusion of light, and the sphere creates a circular pattern that will provide light in all directions. They are perfect for placement between two actors who are talking to each other, or they just create a nice soft light source for your main talent.
They can usually be found for about $ 10 apiece, so they are easy to replace if damaged. You can also use a black cloth to wrap the lantern and control the direction of the light. When you need a little extra fill lighting, Chinese ball lights are best. When you diffuse and reflect light, always make safety your number one priority. Never try to diffuse light with tissue paper, paper towels, or other flammable materials. The light gets very hot, so if you know that something is not a personal and personal item with such warmth, always keep scattering materials at a distance.
Make your own sandbags to stabilize light stands
Regardless of which kit you are trying to ignite, safety is important. Lightweight struts can be quite heavy and can be easily knocked over. Sandbags rest on the base of the lamp posts to resist the weight of the lanterns. That way, if you run into them, they won’t roll over and start a fire. In the video above, YouTuber Digitaldreams321 shows you how to make a simple sandbag at home using Ziploc-style bags and duct tape.
When they are collected, fill them with sand, which you can buy at the hardware store, and you’re done. It may seem like you don’t need them, but sandbags are like insurance for your lighting system. If your lights cannot fall, they cannot break and cannot cause a fire.