Lighting for Video

Who it's for

Anyone filming interviews, talking-head, or indoor video. You can buy a better camera, a sharper lens, a wireless mic — and none of it will make your video look expensive. Lighting will. The single biggest difference between footage that looks amateur and footage that looks paid-for is not the camera; it is where the light comes from, how soft it is, and what color it is. This guide takes you from one lamp to a full setup, and it works with whatever lights you already own.

What's inside

• Light Is the Whole Game
• Soft vs. Hard Light
• Direction & the Key Light
• One-Light Setups That Look Great
• Three-Point Lighting
• Free Light: Windows & Natural Light
• Background & Depth
• The Color of Light
• Avoiding Flicker & Common Mistakes
• Setups by Scene