A short thread on the importance of lighting for looking good in videos - this setup was for an interview over videochat.
Since most videoconferencing is effectively bad television, let’s use techniques from TV to make things better… let’s go!
Since most videoconferencing is effectively bad television, let’s use techniques from TV to make things better… let’s go!
Here’s what I look like just the available light in the room.
I’m using the built-in camera on my 2015 MacBook Pro.
Note the grainy colour-speckle on the ceiling? That means there’s not enough light - we’re seeing noise from the camera automatically adding gain to the image.
I’m using the built-in camera on my 2015 MacBook Pro.
Note the grainy colour-speckle on the ceiling? That means there’s not enough light - we’re seeing noise from the camera automatically adding gain to the image.
Okay, so we need to add more light. In TV world, we first add a “key light”, which is placed at 30-45 degrees off-angle from the subject’s face.
In this case, I used a small desk lamp.
See how my face is bright on one side and there’s a shadow cast by my nose? That’s good.
In this case, I used a small desk lamp.
See how my face is bright on one side and there’s a shadow cast by my nose? That’s good.
The key light is intended to cast shadows on one side of the face. This makes your face look more three-dimensional, and hence more realistic. If you just shine a light from directly beside the camera, you end up with the subject squinting and their face looks flat.
A keylight should have a “small” emitting area - so a traditional light bulb or LED spotlight is great. If you are shooting outside on a sunny day, the sun is your keylight!
Okay, so I’m now better lit, but what about the dark side of my face? Well, time for another light on the other side. This is known as a “fill light”.
The fill light is big and less intense than the keylight. In this case I used an LED strip light.
The fill light is big and less intense than the keylight. In this case I used an LED strip light.
Now the fill light is softening the shadows cast by the keylight - we still get the 3D effect, but you can also see both sides of my face.
You will probably find this slightly uncomfortable because you are throwing a lot of light onto your face, which is quite unnatural.
You will probably find this slightly uncomfortable because you are throwing a lot of light onto your face, which is quite unnatural.
Just to compare and contrast - one picture with no extra lighting, and one with key and fill lights.
See how the extra light also makes me stand out from the darker background? That’s also good.
Shame about the reflection in my specs, but it was okay on video.
See how the extra light also makes me stand out from the darker background? That’s also good.
Shame about the reflection in my specs, but it was okay on video.
A couple of extra hints: your fill light can be softened by reflecting it off a light-coloured wall or a sheet of card.
I used “warm” coloured lighting (tungsten bulb and warm-white LED) because that makes my face look less pale.
I used “warm” coloured lighting (tungsten bulb and warm-white LED) because that makes my face look less pale.
Hope this is useful!
/ends
/ends
