Capture Video – Pro Video Tips Pt3

Pro Video Tips Pt3 – Lighting

Many of us are now communicating on a daily basis via Zoom, Facebook Live, or other video apps, and trying to present a professional appearance while working from home. In many cases, we can’t purchase equipment that might make these video calls look sharper. Over the next few blog posts, I’m going to be sharing some ways to make the videos you’re making on your computers and phones look as professional as possible using the stuff you already have around the house.

Lighting seems to be a big challenge for people – some because they perceive it as such, and some because they’re not sure how to accomplish the right kind of lighting for a video conference call. Watch the below video for some basic tips on lighting.

To summarize and reiterate, here are a few basic lighting tips.

1. For work-from-home lighting, the key is really about having enough light, and having it in the right spot.
2. Avoid backlighting. Don’t have more light behind you than in front of you – unless you’re trying to look like you’re in the witness protection program!
3. You don’t need a professional light kit. 2 lamps – one on either side of your camera – should provide enough light so we can see your face.
4. Don’t shine the light into the camera and don’t blind yourself.

In corporate video production, we try to have: an eye light to make your eyes sparkle; a hair light to separate your head from the background; a background light or two, to give the scenery some depth; and at least 3 point lighting to fully light the subject. For the next month or two, we’re all going to have to make do with what we have available to us. Thankfully, for video calls, conferences, and demonstrations, enough light, in the right spot, is, well, enough.

Stay tuned for more pro video tips to come.

About Jessica Robinson and Capture Video, Inc.:Jessica started Capture Video, Inc. in March of 2000 and has since produced training and promotional videos, videos recorded or shown at live events, and more recently videos to be used in phone apps for such clients as Celerity, DPR Construction, the Public Risk Management Association, and T-Rex Solutions, to name a few.

Jessica founded the storytelling organization Better Said Than Done in 2011, producing 2 monthly live storytelling shows and leading storytelling workshops – now all online!