Never underestimate the importance of video lighting when creating content. Lighting plays an important role as it can be used to enhance, highlight, or even hide specific stuff on your video. That’s why, in this article, we’ll be discussing the A to Z of TikTok Video lighting!
People on TikTok enjoy video content that is creative, entertaining, and informative, yet if your video doesn’t have proper lighting, anyone just gonna skip it!
If you want the best video lighting, you must first learn about different types of lighting that work well with your surroundings. Let’s find out what they are.
The Importance of Video Lighting
Nobody wants to watch video content that strains their eyes, regardless of how creative, funny, or informative it is. The best video lighting should look natural while emphasizing the subject featured in the video. So how can you do this if you are new to video lighting?
Look no further, natural sunlight is one of the best video lightings when you know how to utilize it. Another way to get the best lighting can be using proper video lighting equipment in a controlled environment such as a studio or even in your room.
If you are new to video lighting, don’t fret. We will walk you through the different aspects that impact lighting.
It takes practice to perfect lighting techniques, but you’ll find it easy to figure out the best video lighting for your TikTok video.
The Concepts of Video Lighting: A Quick Overview
There’s a lot more to lighting and how it can be used to produce high-quality content. Here are four lighting concepts to consider when creating the best video lighting for your TikTok video.
Color Temperature
If you’ve ever visited a hospital, you may have seen different types of light bulbs used in the emergency room and at the patient’s bedside. Have you ever wondered why they are using different types of lamps? Yup, it’s the temperature!
The temperature of lighting is measured in kelvins on a scale of 1000K to 10,000K. Warm light is at the low end of the scale, with candlelight being the warmest light on the spectrum. A clear blue sky, on the other hand, is the coldest type of light during the day.
The same goes for your videos. You can select between warm and cool lighting. All you need to remember is that all of the lights should have the same color temperature.
Light Source
Your light source determines how you record and when you record your video. If you want to use natural sunlight for lighting, you must plan ahead of time and understand how the sun’s movement will affect your video shoot.
You can also use artificial lighting to gain more control over your video shoot and flexibility in terms of where and when you can record.
Video Lighting Specs
Specs are important, especially if you’re going to use video lighting equipment like light stands. It doesn’t make sense to spend time adjusting lighting every time you shoot one video, does it?
Alternatively, if you would like to record your video in a studio or on a computer, make sure the light is physically compatible with the room.
Soft Light vs. Hard Light
Which is advantageous? Is it better to use soft or harsh lighting? Since the choice between these two will affect the angle and harshness of the light in video recording, here’s how they work and when they should be used.
Soft Light
Soft light is produced by using a large light source and positioning it close to the subject while filming. This lighting style creates soft edges that wrap around the filming subject.
Because soft lighting does not cast shadows, it can be used to supplement other lights without adding shadows to your shot. In general, soft light is preferable when filming people because it provides a more flattering light source.
Hard Light
Hard light is produced when a smaller light source is placed further away from your subject with more defined shadows.
In general, you won’t want to use hard light on its own, but rather incorporate it into your lighting setup to supplement another lighting. Experiment with combining soft and hard light to achieve natural-looking lighting without visible shadows caused by artificial lighting.
Types of Video Lighting
Let’s go over the various types of lights and how to use them to get the best video lighting for your shoots.
Key Light
The key light produces the most light of any of the light sources in your setup. To get the best results, set up the key light at an angle in front of you or your subject.
Fill Light
The intensity of your fill light is roughly half that of your key light. To avoid a flat-looking shot, keep your fill light away from your key light to remove the shadows cast by it. You can experiment with the intensity of your fill light by keeping it away from your key light.
Back Light
A backlight can add depth to your shot as long as you separate your subject from the background. The intensity of your backlight should be similar to or slightly lower than your fill light and you need to position your backlight behind or above the subject.
The Best TikTok Video Lighting
When it comes to making a successful TikTok video, lighting is crucial. Better TikTok video lighting can help you achieve the mood and atmosphere you want in your videos while also instructing your audience on where to focus their attention.
It only takes a few pieces of inexpensive equipment to improve the quality of your lighting and audio. Good lighting and audio can increase the appeal of your content, resulting in more views and engagement.
If you notice your favorite creators frequently sharing videos in which they address the camera, chances are you’ll spot the tell-tale circular reflection of a ring light in their eyes. Yup, ring lights are one of the most straightforward steps you can take to improve your videos!
They’re easily accessible and reasonably priced, and they can provide bright, even lighting even if you’re filming in a dark room or one with little natural light. Some include useful extras such as softboxes to make the light more flattering, or clips to attach them to.
If you don’t want to spend money on lighting, natural light is your best friend! It might take some time and practice to get used to. However, you can still produce high-quality videos without spending money on artificial lighting.
Real Examples of Good vs Bad TikTok Video Lighting
We’ll take a look at some examples of good and bad lighting on several TikTok videos, so you’ll have a better idea and can start right away after you’re done reading this guide.
Showcasing Yourself
If you want to showcase yourself on TikTok, make sure you have good lighting so that every TikTok user can see your face and pay attention to your video. Here’s an example of good and bad video lighting.
Showcasing Your Product
The same is truly the case when attempting to showcase your product. You don’t want your target audience trying to figure out what product you’re showcasing or what shades of makeup you’re wearing because of poor lighting.
Consider watching a video shot at 3 a.m. in the darkest room of the house, where you can barely see what the creator is attempting to show you. That is why you must select the appropriate lighting for your video.
To get the best lighting for your TikTok video, shoot it near a large window or outside during the golden hours of the day.
Key Takeaways from TikTok Video Lighting
In light of this guide, how do you feel about the lighting in your next TikTok video? As a rule of thumb, we at Ampfluence prefer window light to warm artificial lighting, since it makes your videos more natural.
However, it’s all coming back to the subject of the video that you are filming and artificial lighting could also be more beneficial for certain types of videos. Finally, good luck and keep creating great content!
