Lighting is everything. Good lighting plays a critical role in determining your video’s aesthetics and making it visually appealing. If your videos are poorly lit, you’re most likely going to have a hard time boosting your view count.
You don’t have to be a professional photographer to have a solid lighting setup. There are plenty of professional lights that are cheap and easy to use. Here are a few options you can choose from.
1. Ring lights
Ring lights are one of the most popular lights YouTubers are using today. Its circular shape with a hole in the middle captures the most flattering facial features and creates the riveted “halo catchlight” in the eyes. Since it’s great at reducing shadows, it’s a staple lighting in most beauty channels. The best way to use this lighting is to place your camera within the centre of the ring light and angle it right in front of you at face level. Some rings lights let you play around with the colour temperature and balance the light according to the environment you’re in.
2. Umbrella lights
Umbrella lights are affordable and simple to use. You don’t have to put in too much work to set it up, as it requires less control. All you have to do is place the umbrella in front of the bulb and aim it at yourself. Shoot-through umbrellas are better than bounce umbrellas for shooting YouTube videos as the light spreads around naturally.
3. Softbox lights
Softbox lights are brilliant at creating a natural-looking light. The diffusion panel in front of the softbox reduces the harshness emitting from the light source. For best results, use two softbox lights on either side and place it next to a natural light source, like a large window. This will enhance the lighting and make it look more realistic. You can place the softbox lights at 45 degrees or above to add dimension to your video and eliminate shadows.
4. LED camera lights
LED camera lights are super easy to use and carry around with you when you’re travelling outdoors. They are battery-powered and can be mounted on to your camera. These cameras have hundreds of LED bulbs and emit powerful lighting. The best part about LED cameras is that it creates even lighting, leaving no room for “hot spots”.
The perfect results can only be achieved through trial and error, so be prepared for a run. If you’re worried about finding the best lighting fit for your YouTube channel, look for companies that let you rent video equipment by the hour. Use a combination of these lighting gadgets until you find one that works best for you.
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