Filmmaking Techniques - 3 Point Lighting

As I have said previously, there are two things that can kill good video:

Poor audio and poor lighting.

The video below takes a look at how to properly set up lights for any filming situation.

As a video or fimmaker you will often here the term 'three point lighting'. This describes the main positions to place lights when taking video and can be broken down as thus:

Key Light - as the names suggests this is the main light positioned above and at a 45degree angle in front of your subject.

Fill Light - This light is used to soften harsh shadows cast by the key light (can also be reflective light).

Back Light - Positioned behind the subject to give it depth.

The video below explains the use of video lighting:

With video lighting you are trying to re-create a natural look.

Try not to use lights that are too bright and harsh on the subject. Use them at an angle and not front on to give the subject depth with subtle shadows.

You can play around with softening the lights by using diffusers or bouncing the main lights off walls or background objects.

Proper lighting can give your videos a professional finish and make them stand out from the crowd.