Lighting Techniques for Video Production

In the realm of video production, lighting plays a pivotal role in setting the mood, conveying emotions, and highlighting the subject matter. Whether you’re shooting a film, a commercial, or a YouTube video, proper lighting can make all the difference in the world! Let’s delve into lighting setups of three of our shoots to explore techniques used to achieve different looks!

Lighting Setup 1

What we used:

• Practical Light Fixture

• Amaran 200x

How we used it:

This first shot is a cozy environment using only two lighting elements. We placed an Amaran 200x light on a Jib Crane so the light is above the table the models are sitting around. This top-down lighting setup accentuates the models’ features, enhancing their facial expressions and highlighting the contours of their bodies, thus making them look softer and more appealing on camera. Additionally, placing a light above the models can add a catchlight to their eyes, which brings life and sparkle to their gaze, making them appear more engaging and drawing the viewer’s attention. Additionally, the compact and lightweight design of the Amaran 200x makes it easy to position above the models without being obtrusive, allowing for creative lighting setups while maintaining a sleek and uncluttered visual presentation. In this shot we also included a practical light fixture in the background. Incorporating practical light fixtures (like lamps, ceiling fixtures, decorative lighting elements) into the background of a shot for a commercial-style video can add depth, realism, and visual interest to the scene. While they certainly contribute to the visual appeal of the scene, they can also provide additional illumination, especially in situations where the existing lighting may be insufficient. This can help enhance the overall brightness and visibility of the scene, ensuring that all elements, including the models and key features are well-lit and clearly visible to the viewer. Moreover, practical lights can add depth and dimension to the shot, creating a more dynamic and visually engaging composition.

Lighting Setup 2

What we used:

• Aperture 1200D

• Aperture 600D

How we used it:

In this second shot, we created a comfortable living room gym, accompanied by a beautiful light peering in through the window – except that isn’t the sun! Using an Aperture 1200D on the outside of the house blasting in through the window, we were able to replicate the look of sunlight shining into the living room. The grid lines on the window created a beautiful shadow on the floor which helped visualize the look of a morning workout at home. On the opposite side, we used an Aperture 600D to brighten up the inside of the room. Its powerful output ensures sufficient brightness even in challenging lighting conditions, allowing us to maintain image quality without compromising on visibility or detail. With no overhead lights on in the living room, we were able to brighten up the shot with two strong and powerful light fixtures. Lastly, using these two powerful lights together creates a more commercial look which the client was looking for. 

Lighting Setup 3

What we used:

• Black board

• Quasar light tubes

• Aperture 600D

• Garage Door Daylight

How we used it:

For the third lighting setup we were located in a garage gym. It was a sunny summer day which would push in a lot of light if the garage doors were open, in order to block out the light coming from the garage we used a black board in front of the door blocking any excess light that would potentially leak in. The light tubes offer versatile lighting solutions for a shot, delivering soft, diffused light that minimizes harsh shadows and accentuates subjects. Additionally, many light tubes allow for color customization, enabling us to easily change hues to suit different scenes or add visual interest – which is what we did in this shot with the red color. Their slim design makes them space-efficient and their energy-efficient nature ensures cost savings while maintaining high-quality lighting for enhanced visual appeal in the shots. As seen in the previous lighting setup, the Aperture 600D light is a powerful tool, offering high-quality illumination and versatile features. It ensures that the subjects are well-lit and the scene is properly exposed, even in challenging conditions – like a dark garage in our example. Lastly, we had some garage door daylight peeking in the shot, this provided a natural, flattering light source that enhances the visual quality of the shot. It creates a more dynamic and vibrant look compared to artificial lighting on its own.