From the course: Video Production and Post Tips

Three-point lighting

From the course: Video Production and Post Tips

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Three-point lighting

- Hey there, I'm Robbie Carmen, and in this week's episode, we're lucky to have DP Kevin Bradley join us on set. Hey Kevin, how are you? - How are ya? - And we're gonna be talking about sort of an essential concept when it comes to video shooting and video lighting, and that is a three point lighting setup. Now Kevin, everybody's probably heard this phrase before, three point lighting, but what does it really mean? - Well three point lighting is the go-to setup to do an interview, or as we call it in the industry, a talking head. - Sure. - Okay, and the reason it's the go-to setup is it's generally the best looking setup you can do. It gives you nice skin tones, nice modeling of the face, so you know, it's really kind of a basic skill set for anyone who's out there doing video production. - [Robbie] Now, I'm guessing because it's called three point lighting we actually have three different lights, or three different instruments? - [Kevin] Yep. Yep. - [Robbie] What do those lights do, what are they called? - [Kevin] So there's three lights, there's a key light, a fill light, and a back light. And each of them has a specific purpose. The key light is obviously the key, it's keying our subject and lighting up their face. The fill light is balancing out that key, so that it's not so dark on one side and so bright on the other. And then the backlight is separating the person from our background. - All sounds good, Kevin, and this week, we're gonna break down the role of each one of those lights so you can understand not only the positioning of that light, but we're also gonna cover some aesthetic considerations in a three point lighting setup.

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