Lighting is key when producing videos for social media such as YouTube, TikTok or Instagram Reels. It is not enough to just highlight the content visually, but it is necessary to effectively capture the audience’s attention. In addition, adequate lighting conveys professionalism and quality in the audiovisual piece you share.
While camera quality plays an important role, the success of a well-produced video depends largely on how you handle lighting, as well as the instruments you use.
Therefore, it is essential that you take into account a series of factors that will help you create quality videos, even if you are not an expert in the area.
Tips to better illuminate your videos
In order to create well-lit videos for social media, you should keep the following tips in mind:
-Know your recording space: Before you start recording, you need to assess the location where you will be shooting your video. Ideally, you should be able to identify the natural and artificial light sources you will have available, as well as the shadows and reflections that could interfere with the recording process.
-Take advantage of sunlight: Try to shoot in sunlight, especially during the morning hours or even at dusk, to get a soft, flattering source of lighting for your videos. If you’re shooting indoors, it’s best to position your subject near a window so they can get more natural light.
-Choose a suitable background: It is recommended that you choose backgrounds that contrast well with your main subject and do not compete visually. A simple and clean background is the best option to keep the focus on the content of the video.
-Includes spotlights: You can use three spotlights: one main one positioned at 45º from your subject or object, another fill light that you will place on the opposite side to soften the shadows, and a third one that will serve as backlight so you can highlight the outline of the subject. You can also consider an extra spotlight to illuminate the background if necessary.
-Use diffusing fabrics: These are semi-transparent fabrics that will help you achieve soft, professional lighting. They disperse light evenly and reduce harsh shadows and excessive glare. They also allow you to create a pleasant, enveloping atmosphere.
-Apply the color temperature: It is essential that you apply some color temperature techniques so that you can achieve success in lighting your videos. In this case, you must choose a temperature that complements the content and the desired environment.
Use warm tones for personal and intimate narratives, and cool tones for tutorials or technical content. You can also use colored gels to maintain consistency across all the light sources you have, thus achieving a much more uniform visual appearance.
-Integrates light rings: Ring lights are one of the best lighting accessories for mobile devices. With them, you can get soft, enveloping lighting around your main subject. You can also use them to reduce harsh shadows or highlight facial details.
-Use household lamps: It’s an inexpensive solution to improve the visual quality of your videos. You can use table, floor or ambient lamps to illuminate the subject and improve the clarity of the content you’re recording. However, try to adjust the position and intensity of the lamps using improvised diffusers that help you soften the light, thus minimizing harsh shadows and obtaining more natural results.
-Experiment with your tools: Last but not least, you need to try out the different lighting setups you have and do a lot of testing before you officially record the content. You can also learn from other creators and continuously improve your technique so that you can upload eye-catching videos that can grab your audience’s attention.
