So you've outlined your web video, have all of the information that you need and you're ready to go out and begin filming the video that will increase traffic to your site and inform millions of people about a certain topic. However, there is only one problem. As you sit outside, or in your living room, you look through your camera's viewfinder only to find that the lighting is off. While you see that the lighting needs help, you don't know what to do. However, there are a couple of quick tips for lighting your web video that will give you the light you need, and get rid of the light you don't.
If you want to have a beautifully lit web video, than you will want to engage in 3-Point Lighting. This is a great way to light any type of web video, and it also ensures you will stay away from hotspots and shadows, which can ruin a video. 3-Point Lighting stands for the three main type of lights that you will be using. These lights include Back Light, Key Light and Fill Light. It doesn't matter what type of light you use, as long as you follow the rules that are associated with this type of lighting process. After you have followed the process of lighting your video in this manner, you will have a gorgeous outcome.
First of all, you need to understand what the Key Light is, and how you can use it. The Key Light is a light that you place in front of your main subject. Of course, you will never want to place the light directly in front of your subject, because this would ultimately wash the subject out and create unattractive shadows. When you are placing your Key Light, you will want to put it at a 30 to 45 degree angle in front of the main subject you're shooting. Make sure that the Key Light is to the side of the camera. This light will give you perfect lighting for the subject, without washing it out.
The next light in the 3-Point Lighting concept is the Fill Light. You will place this light directly across from the Key Light, on the other side of the camera. How you know you have the Fill Light in the correct position is the light will be parallel to the Key Light, and it will soften the shadows that the Key Light has created. You must be careful in how bright the Fill Light is, because you do not want to put too much light on the subject. Normally, when you are using a Fill Light, you only use 50% of the light's power, or you use a soft light. It is suggested that you do use a soft light instead of a spotlight, because it provides a beautiful contrast without being too bright.
The last light in the 3-Point Lighting design is the Back Light. The Back Light is exactly what it sounds like, it is lighting the back of the subject. This is very important because it will literally separate the main subject from the background by creating a nice outline of light around the rim of the main subject. You will want to place the Back Light directly behind the main subject, and also make sure that it aligns directly with the camera. Some filmmakers decide to place the Back Light above the subject; however, this can be dangerous.
Make sure that when you do this it is tied down appropriately; also make sure that the Back Light does not create awkward shadows on the main subject. This is a common mishap and can cause the subject to look sickly. The purpose of the Back Light is to allow the subject to seem three-dimensional and to also separate it from the background itself. If you want to light your background, you will need to use a separate light.
When you're making a web video, you need to treat it like a major motion picture. Although, you will most likely not have to go to the extremes that Hollywood professionals do, there are some traits that you must pick up from them. The most important out of all these traits is designing and planning your web video. Making a web video that is powerful, entertaining and informative does not just "happen." It takes time to plan out what you want to say, how you want to say it and the overall look that you want your web video to be. The post effective web videos are those that are composed and shot with care. The more time that you put into your web video, the better it will look.
However, it is understood that many people who want to make powerful web videos simply don't have the time to sit around and map out every detail of the video. While doing so guarantees that you will have a aesthetically pleasing video, there is a simpler way to organize your web video. Before you ever begin to film, you must first have a shooting, or concept, script. Whether you literally write down dialogue that you want to say, or if you just need to organize your thoughts, always write a shooting script for a web video. If you are making a video for a product that you are selling, than you will want to explain the product clearly, and also demonstrate the product. This is one of the greatest aspects of web video, individuals are actually able to see the product in action before purchasing it.
With your shooting script, you will also want to lay out where you want to film the video and how many people are needed. You may find that you can do this all yourself, however, usually the more people that you have helping you the easier the project will be, and the better the ending result will also be. While many people do not understand how to compose a professional shot, it is very easy to learn. When you are looking through your camera, what you see in the screen is what will be recorded. Take a moment before you begin filming to make sure that everything in the "frame" is what you want to be seen.
Make all of the surrounding objects neat, or simply take them away. If you're going for a unique look to your web video, make sure that all of the elements that you want to be seen are visible within the frame. A great way to make sure that you have a beautiful shot every time is to follow a simple rule, that even Hollywood filmmakers follow, and that is the Rule of Thirds.
When you're filming in the Rule of Thirds, imagine that the screen is split into a basic tic-tac-toe formation. Always make sure that the person you are filming has their head placed on either the right or left side of the screen. Instead of filming a person that is precisely in the middle of the frame, move them over to the right or left section of the screen pattern. This will provide the viewer with a sense of balance, and will give your web video a professional appeal to it. You can see the Rule of Thirds in action within almost every web video or even in movies.
Next time you watch an interview, or a character in a film is giving a monologue, 90% of the time they will be positioned either on the right or left side of the screen, following the Rule of Thirds. Also, the most important part of filming a web video is to make a story out of the video. This doesn't mean that there needs to be dramatics involved, although this can make for an interesting addition to your video, it simply means that you will want to create a sense of flow to the information that is being given out.
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