In this blog post, I will share my tips on lighting for YouTube videos and how to create amazing video lighting effects on a budget, even if you’re new to video lighting and don’t have access to professional video lighting kit yet. Whether you are filming with your smartphone or a DSLR camera, proper lighting can elevate the quality of your whole production and lead to more engaged audiences – which is the route to YouTube success.

Let’s start by addressing a common misconception about lighting. There is no absolute right or wrong when it comes to video lighting setup. Your videos and the lighting of them, is a creative process, and you should go with the look that feels right for you. However, understanding the basics of lighting and learning how to use and shape light to your advantage can help you avoid some of the common pitfalls and make your own informed choices.

The three main types of lighting are key light, fill light, and backlight. The key light is the main source of light for your subject.

The fill light helps to reduce shadows and add dimension, and the backlight adds separation between the subject and the background giving depth.

The most important and versatile light for any beginner on a budget is a key light, which just means the main light. This can be achieved with a simple softbox or umbrella with a continuous light source such as a fluorescent bulb or LED light. This light should be positioned in front of the subject, slightly above eye level, and angled to point down on the subject. This will provide a basic and even illumination of the subject.

To achieve a slightly more dramatic or cinematic look, you can experiment with moving the light slightly off to one side, which will give a darker shadow on the opposite side, creating some depth and contrast.

Adding a fill light can help reduce shadows and add dimension. This can be achieved with a small LED panel light. Position this light on the opposite side of the key light, and make sure it’s not quite as bright as the key light. These two lights plus a background light will give you a really professional studio look.

If a third light is available, then this can be used to light you up from behind and above, to create some depth to your scene. It’s often called a rim, or hair light. This combination is often referred to as a three point lighting set up, and while it can add some definition to your outline and help separate you from the background, it’s not essential to have all three.

The colour of the lights you use affects the overall look and feel of the video. For a natural and warm look, you can use daylight-balanced bulbs. For a cool and more cinematic look, you can use tungsten-balanced bulbs. This is also sometimes referred to in Lumin. For a natural warm look, you want around 3200 Lumin, going all the way up to 5600 Lumin for a cooler cinematic look.

Once your main lights are set up, if you want to take things a step further, you can light up the background a little. This doesn’t have to be over complicated; you can introduce a background light source simply by having your computer screen on behind you, or you can use a desk lamp. Any soft light will warm up the background area and help add a little more colour and interest to the scene.

But what if you don’t have access to any professional lights to create this type of lighting set up? You can still get amazing results using natural light plus the practical lights you have around your house. Start by finding a window. In fact, natural light can be your best friend, so start by finding a spot facing a window, and diffuse the light using blinds, curtains, or even a white bed sheet.

To further improve your lighting, add a couple of fill lights at 45-degree angles using soft, diffused light from desk or bedside lamps. You can also add a backlight for depth and use the screen of your laptop or monitor as an extra light source.

If you don’t have access to natural light, you can still achieve good lighting by finding a neutral-colored wall and using a single bright light to bounce diffused light off the wall.

Remember to focus on lighting yourself or your subject first, and then play around with the rest until you achieve the desired look. With a little experimentation and basic knowledge of lighting, you can create great YouTube videos on any budget. So, don’t overthink it and have fun with it.

More importantly, make sure 2023 is the year that you take your Youtube videos to the next level. If that seems easier said than done, there are SEVEN things you can do right now that will help you make better videos AND grow your channel faster – and all you need to do is watch this video next..

Check out my playlist for Video Content Creation Tips

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