Lighting for YouTube Videos

Dec 14, 2011

Becca H.

Hey everyone I was just wondering if anyone could give me any lighting tips for my beauty videos on youtube. Does anybody use daylight bulbs in lamps and if so are they any good? also any other tips and tricks would be greatly appreciated thanks!

Dec 16, 2011

Kelly M.

if you look under the articles in the community section their is an article about getting good lighting. good luck

Dec 16, 2011

Jaclyn S.

i film by my window to get natural lighting. sometime si have to use artificial lights like a lamp if it gets too dark out. hope this helps! come check out my beauty channel :) http://www.youtube.com/jaclynsmyname

Dec 16, 2011

Becca H.

Thanks for the tips ladies Jaclyn I subbed your channel xoxo

Dec 16, 2011

Brenda R.

natural light is good, but it can be kind of a bummer in the winter and later on when it gets darker, if you film during the time the sun is nice , then filming in front of a window would be great, if not then some daylight bulbs would be good to get, or some bulbs that show true to color , instead of yellow or too bright that it washes out the colors

Dec 16, 2011

Nikki B.

I like to mix incontinence light bulbs and florescent light. it gives the perfect mix between warm and cool toned light. 

Dec 17, 2011

Drea L.

Natural lighting is always the best way to go. Usually, using artificial lighting can be really harsh on your camera's lens. Not in a damaging way, but if it's an automatic camera, chances are the white balance is going to go crazy, & you'll either have a very grey/blue or a very yellow/orange video w/ unnatural shadows. Also, bulbs are usually really harsh unless you use defusers. Natural lighting is best.

Also, you could manipulate your camera's white balance settings to accommodate the bulbs - but again, it can be very harsh on your look. F liming during the day time by a window creates the best, more flattering lighting. 

Dec 17, 2011

Rikki P.

Personally, I'd go with natural lighting. I used to do it in my room but there's so much stuff going on in my room plus I have blinds and curtains. So now I film in front of my front screen door, haha. It can be annoying because I have to carry all of my stuff into the living room, but hey, it works.

Dec 17, 2011

Myshel D.

I read in an article that said an inexpensive way to get better lightening is to use "Painters lighting with clamp" that will cost you about $8 each. You can buy it at any hardware store.

Dec 17, 2011

Joyce W.

yeah home depot has flood lamps with clamps.
but i just got daylight bulbs and put them in a regular lamp, and it's worked great with the photos i'm testing out. :) 

Dec 19, 2011

Becca H.

Thanks for all the tips I live in the UK so no home depot here but I'm sure I can find a hardware store here in England that sells the same things 

Dec 19, 2011

Rai C.

I personally use natural lighting. 

Dec 19, 2011

Taylor V.

Painters lights are extremely hot...so maybe think about that... natural lighting is the best. Funny you ask cause I was about to mention how many videos are made that are low quality... using the right camera, and lighting is the key to a great video... I haven't any for tutorials...but when I'm looking at one...it makes a huge difference... in how you learn from the artist.

Dec 21, 2011

Becca H.

Yer it does make a huge difference when I lived at my other apartment I used to film in front of the window but now I've moved and can't because there is no space for my vanity in front of it and no pluga as the radiator is also in front of the window so I have to film just over from the window so the light is hitting the left side of my face but not the right causing a shadow over one side and making the videos grainy so getting some lighting is the only option for me to light up the right side of my face thanks for all the tips everyone I really appreciate it xxxx

Feb 16, 2012

Nyla N.

Im a Photographer and Ive been a Photographer for years
the lighting thing is WRONG!
people who are originally light toned to begin with will appear light in cam,OBVIOUSLY!..Alek wek still looks dark in any bright lighting,so does wesley snipes and others.. the brighter the better when it comes to lighting because it brings out your true tones.Personal preference. WE HUMANS ALSO DONT TAKE PICS IN THE DARK! Ive seen pics where its a group photo and the light people appeared pale and darker toned people still appear darker toned. Its a basic concept.
Dark skin will appear dark skkin regardless, light skin will appear light on cam regardless! Lighting doesnt change skintone, if that were the case wesley snipes and the rest of black celebrities would be looking caucasian. please dont say "lighting" it is not lighting! Pale people will appear pale on cam, dark skinned people will appear dark. lighting only brings out the true tones.

White or Light skin shows out better in front of the camera then dark skin. It has to do with reflection of light. White or light skin reflect light 100 fold better then dark skin (which absorbs it). And if you know anything about cameras u know the object that is being captured by the camera has to reflect the light projected unto it in order to be caught by the camera lens.
So terms such as "Washed " are inappropriate! and natural lighting shouldnt even be called natural because it looks jaundice/yellow. the brighter the better. Go to any movie set or when they shoot commercials

Jun 11, 2014

Ashley B.

That comment about skin tone is so ignorant. What does skin tone have to do with anything?! Lol check out Candee Johnson's video or itsjudytime beauty channel. They give good info about lighting and filming :)