Good video light without a studio

01

Start with a window

Daylight from a window is soft, flattering and free. Sit or stand facing the window, or at a slight angle to it, so the light falls on your face. Avoid direct sun, which is harsh; north-facing windows or a cloudy day give the softest light. Film at the same time of day if you are recording a series, so the videos match.

02

Never put the window behind you

The most common mistake is sitting with your back to a bright window. The camera exposes for the bright background and your face becomes a dark silhouette. If the only nice background has a window in it, close the curtains on that window and light your face from the front.

03

Soften harsh light

Hard light, from direct sun, a bare bulb or a small LED, creates sharp shadows and shiny skin. Soften it by bouncing it or diffusing it. A thin white curtain over a sunny window, a white bedsheet hung in front of a lamp, or light bounced off a white wall all spread the light and soften shadows.

The bigger the light source relative to you, the softer the light.

04

Fill the shadow side

With one light source from the side, one half of your face may fall into deep shadow. A white surface on the other side, such as a sheet of white chart paper, a reflector or a white wall, bounces some light back and gently fills the shadow. A little shadow is good; it gives shape. A completely dark half of the face is distracting.

05

Do not mix light colours

Daylight is bluish, most household bulbs are warm yellow, and office tube lights are often greenish. Mixing them on a face gives patchy, odd skin tones that are hard to correct. Either switch off the room lights and use the window, or close the curtains and use lights of the same colour. If you buy a video light, choose one with adjustable colour temperature.

Switch off overhead tube lights when filming close-ups; they add flat, unflattering top light.

06

Separate yourself from the background

A small light behind you, such as a lamp in the background or light falling on the wall behind, adds depth and stops you blending into the background. Move a little away from the wall, a metre or more, to avoid your shadow on it and to let the background fall slightly out of focus.

07

If you film often, buy two things

A soft LED panel or a light with a softbox, with adjustable brightness and colour, and a lapel microphone. Together they cost less than many people spend on a camera upgrade, and they make a much bigger difference. Ring lights are popular and fine for close-up phone videos, but they leave a ring reflection in the eyes and flatten the face; a larger soft light to one side often looks more natural.

Test with a ten-second clip

Before recording anything important, film ten seconds and watch it on the phone. Look at the eyes: can you see a little light in them? Look at the skin: natural, or grey, orange or shiny? Look at the background: is anything brighter than your face?

If your face is the brightest, clearest thing in the frame, the light is right.

Adjust, test again, and only then record. Two minutes of testing saves an evening of trying to fix lighting in the edit, which can only do so much.

What is the cheapest way to improve video lighting?

Face a window for soft daylight, close curtains behind you, and use a white sheet or wall to fill shadows. It costs nothing and beats most cheap lights.

Is a ring light good for business videos?

Ring lights work for close-up phone videos but can look flat and leave ring reflections in the eyes. A larger soft light to one side often looks more natural.

Why does my skin look strange in videos?

Usually because of mixed light colours, such as daylight and yellow bulbs together, or harsh overhead tube lights. Use one type of light and soften it.