How to Up Your "Video" Game: Lighting Basics
Video Transcript[Instructor] If you have photo video lights already, make sure you play around with the color temperature. This makes a huge difference. You generally want a nice warm, even light and more dim light in the background. Move your lights around. Practice so that you have a good idea of where you like your lights to be, what light works best for you. 45 degrees from the right or left is usually the best area to place the light for the most flattering light.
If you don't have photo or video lights, that's okay. Just use some lamps that you already have lying around in your house. You may have to buy daylight bulbs, though, to match light coming in from your windows. You can buy these bulbs very, very inexpensively at your local hardware store. If you want to invest a little bit of dough for some lights, you can get China balls. China balls are great. They are inexpensive light-diffusing balls that give off just the right amount of soft light and they are very easy to place. All you need then is a little light fixture and maybe a stand to put the China ball on and place that where you want it. Also, there are ring lights. Ring lights are at most stores and they are moderately priced.
Diffuse your window. This one's pretty simple. Use curtains to cut down on harsh sunlight coming in through your window. Avoid back lighting. Avoid having a window or light source behind you. The light is coming in from behind you, you will look silhouetted. Instead, have the light more to the side or in front of you.