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Using some form of video lighting in your videos really will make your videos stand out in the crowd, and it doesn't have to cost a fortune.
You can buy a basic desklamp and a 30W 'Daylight' fluorescent bulb for less than $40, and it will transform your video, making it look very professional.
But before we look at video lighting equipment, let me give you some top video lighting tips and techniques that will give your videos that 'pro' look.
[1] Never point your camcorder at any light source that is brighter than the presenter or object you are shooting. The classic example of this is when you shoot a video of someone stood in front of a window.Even though all that light seems like a good idea, the camcorder actually only picks up all the light coming from the window and your subject will appear dark.
[2] The brightest light source must be shining on the presenter or object you are shooting, and not on another area of the room. This will avoid your subject looking 'washed out' and a little grey.
[3] If shooting outdoors, never shoot into the sun. Make sure the sun is always behind the camera. Avoid shooting in direct sunlight if you can and use some shade from trees etc. to give a more even light.
The best times of the day to shoot outside are in the morning and late afternoon. Avoid noon if you can, as the sun is very bright and produces glare and intense shadows.
[4] Always shoot some test video first and play it back, as what you see on the camcorders LCD screen can be very different to what it actually recorded.
This will ensure you shoot the very best video quality according to the lighting conditions. This simple task can make a huge difference to the quality of your video.
[6] Always diffuse any lights you are using to shoot your video. 'Diffusing' the light just means to make the light soft and even, rather than bright and strong (which produces shadows and glare).
You can easily diffuse any light by placing some plain white paper or cloth in front of it (WARNING: Lights can get hot and placing anything near them is a potential fire risk, so please be very careful).
Another way to diffuse your light is to simply reflect it off the wall or ceiling, rather than shining it directly at your subject.
[7] For best video lighting results, use two light sources placed at head height in front of and at 45 degrees either side of your subject.This ensures even lighting and reduces shadows (Which you've probably guessed by now are to be avoided).
So let's now move on to the video lighting equipment that will make our video look like a Hollywood blockbuster.
The 30W Daylight Full Spectrum 5100K fluorescent bulb creates lovely natural light, is cheap to buy and run and doesn't get too hot.
You can buy them from most large hardware stores, or you can Google 'daylight fluorescent bulb' to find online suppliers. They cost around $10-$20 each and can be placed in normal light fittings, desk lamps and floor lamps.
If you want the best lighting set up for producing your videos, then I recommend you buy two softboxes.A softbox consists of a stand, a light fitting (using a daylight fluorescent bulb) and a small tent assembly over the light source to diffuse the light.
Two soft boxes will produce outstanding results and very professional looking video. You can also get great results by using 'umbrella' type video lights, which use white or silver umbrellas, instead of the softbox to reflect and diffuse the light.
Both do an excellent job and you can buy a set of two lights for less than $200 on Amazon. Check out some of my personal recommendations below.
If you have any video related questions, please click HERE to ask Mr Video!
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