"2024 Approved Indoor Natural Lighting Tips"
Mastering Indoor Brightness: Sunlight Strategies Inside
Indoor Natural Lighting Tips
Richard Bennett
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A great looking vlog is a well-lit vlog. Not everybody can afford professional lighting equipment for their YouTube channels. It’s a big investment, especially if you think of your channel as a hobby. Sometimes even if you have a lighting kit you do not want to set up multiple lights and stands to every time you shoot a vlog entry. You might be shooting them every day. It is great to have lighting equipment, and it is also great to know when you can get around it.
How to Get Best Natural Lighting Indoors
Using a window as your main light source is a simple way to get high quality lighting on a budget. When it is bright outside a window is as powerful as any light you might have. So, besides just being cheap, windows can actually make your YouTube videos look amazing.
1. Windows as Key Lights
When you shoot near a window you can treat that window the same as the key light in a three-point lighting set up.
In three-point lighting you have a key light, a fill light, and a main light. Your key light, in this case your window, is off to one side. It will cast a shadow over half of your face which you soften using your fill light. Your backlight is a light you put behind you to help you pop out of your background.
Another thing that can help you pop out from your background is focusing your keylight so that its light is only landing on you, not your background.
Rather than setting up professional lights for your fill and backlights try using household lamps or reflectors. Reflectors are used to bounce light from another source, so if you set one up opposite to the window it will redirect light back at the shaded side of your face.
Reflectors are very affordable, often around $20, but if you do not have one then you can use a sheet of aluminum foil.
2. Windows as Front Lights
Vlogging while facing a window is a great way to get even lighting over your entire face. This is a great set up for makeup tutorials or other beauty vlogs. It can also work for opinion vloggers, or any other vlogging genre where the focus is on a stationary host, though.
The only issue that can arise when you use a window as a front light for your vlog is that you do not stand out from your background because the lighting is even on both you and it. This is not difficult to get around; you just need a backlight.
You can use a household lamp or a reflector as a backlight. The idea is that the light hitting you from behind will create a boarder around you that will make you pop out from the background of your shot.
3. Windows as Backlights
It is usually a bad idea to use a window as a backlight because they are too bright. Shooting with a window behind you will not just give you a dark boarder, like a lamp or a reflector; it will completely transform you into a silhouette. This is an interesting effect in some situations, but not in a vlog where your viewers are expecting to be able to see you. It is sometimes possible to make this kind of shot work by increasing your exposure, but then you might end up with over-exposed footage. Pushing the ‘info’ button a couple times will allow you to check you exposure on most DSLRs.
4. Diffusers
A diffuser is a screen of translucent fabric you can use to soften your light. The light coming from your window might be hard on your eyes, and setting up a diffuser between you and your window can help you not to blink. Often when reflectors come in colored sets one of the ‘colors’ will be translucent and you can use it as a diffuser.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A great looking vlog is a well-lit vlog. Not everybody can afford professional lighting equipment for their YouTube channels. It’s a big investment, especially if you think of your channel as a hobby. Sometimes even if you have a lighting kit you do not want to set up multiple lights and stands to every time you shoot a vlog entry. You might be shooting them every day. It is great to have lighting equipment, and it is also great to know when you can get around it.
How to Get Best Natural Lighting Indoors
Using a window as your main light source is a simple way to get high quality lighting on a budget. When it is bright outside a window is as powerful as any light you might have. So, besides just being cheap, windows can actually make your YouTube videos look amazing.
1. Windows as Key Lights
When you shoot near a window you can treat that window the same as the key light in a three-point lighting set up.
In three-point lighting you have a key light, a fill light, and a main light. Your key light, in this case your window, is off to one side. It will cast a shadow over half of your face which you soften using your fill light. Your backlight is a light you put behind you to help you pop out of your background.
Another thing that can help you pop out from your background is focusing your keylight so that its light is only landing on you, not your background.
Rather than setting up professional lights for your fill and backlights try using household lamps or reflectors. Reflectors are used to bounce light from another source, so if you set one up opposite to the window it will redirect light back at the shaded side of your face.
Reflectors are very affordable, often around $20, but if you do not have one then you can use a sheet of aluminum foil.
2. Windows as Front Lights
Vlogging while facing a window is a great way to get even lighting over your entire face. This is a great set up for makeup tutorials or other beauty vlogs. It can also work for opinion vloggers, or any other vlogging genre where the focus is on a stationary host, though.
The only issue that can arise when you use a window as a front light for your vlog is that you do not stand out from your background because the lighting is even on both you and it. This is not difficult to get around; you just need a backlight.
You can use a household lamp or a reflector as a backlight. The idea is that the light hitting you from behind will create a boarder around you that will make you pop out from the background of your shot.
3. Windows as Backlights
It is usually a bad idea to use a window as a backlight because they are too bright. Shooting with a window behind you will not just give you a dark boarder, like a lamp or a reflector; it will completely transform you into a silhouette. This is an interesting effect in some situations, but not in a vlog where your viewers are expecting to be able to see you. It is sometimes possible to make this kind of shot work by increasing your exposure, but then you might end up with over-exposed footage. Pushing the ‘info’ button a couple times will allow you to check you exposure on most DSLRs.
4. Diffusers
A diffuser is a screen of translucent fabric you can use to soften your light. The light coming from your window might be hard on your eyes, and setting up a diffuser between you and your window can help you not to blink. Often when reflectors come in colored sets one of the ‘colors’ will be translucent and you can use it as a diffuser.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A great looking vlog is a well-lit vlog. Not everybody can afford professional lighting equipment for their YouTube channels. It’s a big investment, especially if you think of your channel as a hobby. Sometimes even if you have a lighting kit you do not want to set up multiple lights and stands to every time you shoot a vlog entry. You might be shooting them every day. It is great to have lighting equipment, and it is also great to know when you can get around it.
How to Get Best Natural Lighting Indoors
Using a window as your main light source is a simple way to get high quality lighting on a budget. When it is bright outside a window is as powerful as any light you might have. So, besides just being cheap, windows can actually make your YouTube videos look amazing.
1. Windows as Key Lights
When you shoot near a window you can treat that window the same as the key light in a three-point lighting set up.
In three-point lighting you have a key light, a fill light, and a main light. Your key light, in this case your window, is off to one side. It will cast a shadow over half of your face which you soften using your fill light. Your backlight is a light you put behind you to help you pop out of your background.
Another thing that can help you pop out from your background is focusing your keylight so that its light is only landing on you, not your background.
Rather than setting up professional lights for your fill and backlights try using household lamps or reflectors. Reflectors are used to bounce light from another source, so if you set one up opposite to the window it will redirect light back at the shaded side of your face.
Reflectors are very affordable, often around $20, but if you do not have one then you can use a sheet of aluminum foil.
2. Windows as Front Lights
Vlogging while facing a window is a great way to get even lighting over your entire face. This is a great set up for makeup tutorials or other beauty vlogs. It can also work for opinion vloggers, or any other vlogging genre where the focus is on a stationary host, though.
The only issue that can arise when you use a window as a front light for your vlog is that you do not stand out from your background because the lighting is even on both you and it. This is not difficult to get around; you just need a backlight.
You can use a household lamp or a reflector as a backlight. The idea is that the light hitting you from behind will create a boarder around you that will make you pop out from the background of your shot.
3. Windows as Backlights
It is usually a bad idea to use a window as a backlight because they are too bright. Shooting with a window behind you will not just give you a dark boarder, like a lamp or a reflector; it will completely transform you into a silhouette. This is an interesting effect in some situations, but not in a vlog where your viewers are expecting to be able to see you. It is sometimes possible to make this kind of shot work by increasing your exposure, but then you might end up with over-exposed footage. Pushing the ‘info’ button a couple times will allow you to check you exposure on most DSLRs.
4. Diffusers
A diffuser is a screen of translucent fabric you can use to soften your light. The light coming from your window might be hard on your eyes, and setting up a diffuser between you and your window can help you not to blink. Often when reflectors come in colored sets one of the ‘colors’ will be translucent and you can use it as a diffuser.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A great looking vlog is a well-lit vlog. Not everybody can afford professional lighting equipment for their YouTube channels. It’s a big investment, especially if you think of your channel as a hobby. Sometimes even if you have a lighting kit you do not want to set up multiple lights and stands to every time you shoot a vlog entry. You might be shooting them every day. It is great to have lighting equipment, and it is also great to know when you can get around it.
How to Get Best Natural Lighting Indoors
Using a window as your main light source is a simple way to get high quality lighting on a budget. When it is bright outside a window is as powerful as any light you might have. So, besides just being cheap, windows can actually make your YouTube videos look amazing.
1. Windows as Key Lights
When you shoot near a window you can treat that window the same as the key light in a three-point lighting set up.
In three-point lighting you have a key light, a fill light, and a main light. Your key light, in this case your window, is off to one side. It will cast a shadow over half of your face which you soften using your fill light. Your backlight is a light you put behind you to help you pop out of your background.
Another thing that can help you pop out from your background is focusing your keylight so that its light is only landing on you, not your background.
Rather than setting up professional lights for your fill and backlights try using household lamps or reflectors. Reflectors are used to bounce light from another source, so if you set one up opposite to the window it will redirect light back at the shaded side of your face.
Reflectors are very affordable, often around $20, but if you do not have one then you can use a sheet of aluminum foil.
2. Windows as Front Lights
Vlogging while facing a window is a great way to get even lighting over your entire face. This is a great set up for makeup tutorials or other beauty vlogs. It can also work for opinion vloggers, or any other vlogging genre where the focus is on a stationary host, though.
The only issue that can arise when you use a window as a front light for your vlog is that you do not stand out from your background because the lighting is even on both you and it. This is not difficult to get around; you just need a backlight.
You can use a household lamp or a reflector as a backlight. The idea is that the light hitting you from behind will create a boarder around you that will make you pop out from the background of your shot.
3. Windows as Backlights
It is usually a bad idea to use a window as a backlight because they are too bright. Shooting with a window behind you will not just give you a dark boarder, like a lamp or a reflector; it will completely transform you into a silhouette. This is an interesting effect in some situations, but not in a vlog where your viewers are expecting to be able to see you. It is sometimes possible to make this kind of shot work by increasing your exposure, but then you might end up with over-exposed footage. Pushing the ‘info’ button a couple times will allow you to check you exposure on most DSLRs.
4. Diffusers
A diffuser is a screen of translucent fabric you can use to soften your light. The light coming from your window might be hard on your eyes, and setting up a diffuser between you and your window can help you not to blink. Often when reflectors come in colored sets one of the ‘colors’ will be translucent and you can use it as a diffuser.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Also read:
- 2024 Approved Full Insight Into VSCO Image Editing
- [Updated] Identifying Top Economical iOS/Android Live Streaming Tools
- Full Review of the Latest Facetune Features and Fixes for 2024
- From Beginner to Expert with a Complete FCP Guidebook for 2024
- In 2024, Innovative Editions Windowed Film Editing Software
- Film's Best Shot Techniques Top 5 Essentials for 2024
- [Updated] From Snap to Stream A Complete YouTube Picture Upload Manual
- 2024 Approved Frugal Flight Experts' Choice Under $500 Drone Guide
- 2024 Approved GoPro Hero5 Black Evolution From Hero4 Silver
- Healthcare Marketing Mastering FB Ad Strategies for 2024
- [New] Expertise on iPhone Image Softening Dive Into the Fourfold Approach
- In 2024, FastTrackPodcastLive Your Straightforward Guide to Livestreaming Success
- In 2024, Hourly Video Footage GB Needed Per Day
- [Updated] Guidelines to Gradually Reduce Audio Amplitude in Logic Pro
- [New] Expertly Engineered Earbud Egress
- Humorous Horizons in the Virtual Realm - Your Meme-Making Map for 2024
- In 2024, Friends First Gaming Metaverse’s 10 Best Picks
- Flying Innovations Unveiling the New Hubsan X4 Drone Review for 2024
- [Updated] Gripping Phrase Generator Device
- [New] Expert Approach to Master Multi-Window Video on Edge
- [New] In-Depth Theta S Evaluation Overview
- Guide to Preferred Applications Vtuber's Sonic Transformation Journey for 2024
- 2024 Approved How to Polish Your TikTok Edits Advanced Strategies for Success
- 2024 Approved Explore Novel Editing Techniques The Synergy of StoryRemix & Windows 11
- [New] From Today to Tomorrow The Drone Evolution Story
- Explore 5 Superior Ways to Record Sound with Windows 11 for 2024
- 2024 Approved Improving Video Quality During iPhone Shoots
- In 2024, Groundbreaking Photo Editor PhotonShift Tech
- 2024 Approved Express Originality Craft Professional Logos From Template Designs (Free)
- [Updated] Forge Funny Online Content on the Fly
- Future of Storage Top Picks and Prices in Clouds for 2024
- [Updated] From Grayscale to Glamour Professional Color Adjustment
- [Updated] Expertise in Windows Media Player for Streamlined Audio Conversion
- In 2024, GoPro Max 360 VS Hero 11 Which Is the Best GoPro Video Camera?
- Updated In 2024, The Truth About VN Video Editor APK A Detailed Review
- [Updated] EyeSharp Record ChromeOS Native Cam
- [New] Facebook Video Vanishing Act? Here's How to Perform the Counter with 12 Steps for 2024
- [Updated] Decoding Your Disrupted TikTok Experience
- [New] 2024 Approved Ps5 Expansion Leading External Drives Unveiled
- Top 10 Samsung Galaxy A34 5G Android SIM Unlock APK
- [New] Real-Time Visualizer for 2024
- Safekeep Stories The Unlimited Save Service
- 2024 Approved Best Free iPhone Video Rotation Apps Top Picks
- 2024 Approved Instagram Victory Tackling Video Tribulations Head-On
- Prevent Cross-Site Tracking on Oppo A1x 5G and Browser | Dr.fone
- [New] Expert Advice on Valheim Seed Selection for 2024
- New Achieving Harmonized Images Incorporating Music Into Photography on PC/Mobile Without Payment for 2024
- In 2024, The Ultimate Key to Capturing and Preserving Your Favorite Streamed Shows
- Your Account Has Been Disabled in the App Store and iTunes From iPhone 13?
- In 2024, Does Life360 Notify When You Log Out On Vivo V29? | Dr.fone
- Title: "2024 Approved Indoor Natural Lighting Tips"
- Author: Jeffrey
- Created at : 2024-05-26 12:50:05
- Updated at : 2024-05-27 12:50:05
- Link: https://some-knowledge.techidaily.com/2024-approved-indoor-natural-lighting-tips/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.