{"id":50800,"date":"2020-05-03T12:00:40","date_gmt":"2020-05-03T16:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=50800"},"modified":"2023-07-14T14:38:36","modified_gmt":"2023-07-14T18:38:36","slug":"best-lighting-for-youtube-videos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/best-lighting-for-youtube-videos\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Lighting for YouTube Videos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You\u2019ve got the camera, external microphone, and story all set up\u2014now all you need is the proper lighting equipment to create a professional YouTube video. If you’re ready to start a YouTube channel<\/a>, the best lighting will help you elevate your video look even more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While YouTubers often rely on natural light when creating their videos, turning to daylight can limit your recording times. If you want the freedom to record wherever and whenever you want, the best thing to do is to purchase some great artificial light sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But where do you even start looking for the right camera lighting equipment?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, we\u2019ve taken the guesswork out of choosing video lighting so that beginners like you can more easily perfect your YouTube lighting setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Types of Lighting for YouTube Videos<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"vlogger
Image via Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In a nutshell, there are five basic types of lights that you can choose from. Affordable yet functional, these video lights can help you produce clear and visually engaging videos that will leave your subscribers hungry for more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Softbox Lights<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Umbrella Lights<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Ring Lights<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. LED On-Camera Lights<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Natural Light<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Most of the lighting for vloggers are the same equipment used in studio photography<\/a>, except they\u2019re continuous light sources<\/a>. Continuous lights are great for beginners since they let you manually control your light. On top of that, they\u2019re cost-efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But you don\u2019t have to get lost in the technicalities of lighting: you just need to single out which lights produce your desired effect for your videos. Once you\u2019ve got that down, you can get the camera rolling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Softbox Lights<\/h3>\n\n\n
    \n
    \"softbox<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Softbox lighting emulates natural light coming from a window, which makes it ideal for frontal lighting. Its broad coverage makes it great for softening shadows and lighting up the area where it\u2019s placed. Its reflective silver or neutral white interior lining can be used to alter the quality of light it produces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Softbox lights are usually square or rectangular, but there are also octagonal, hexagonal, long strips, parabolic, and round ones, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How It Works<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Just as the name implies, a softbox is a box built around a continuous light source, made of reflective internal material and a diffusion panel in front of it to reduce the harshness of the light. You can use at least one softbox and place them at a 45 degree angle to add dimension to your set. You may also choose to use two on each side of your set-up to eliminate shadows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When to Use Softbox Lighting<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Softbox lights emit natural-looking light in a single area, making it perfect for indoor video shoots. It\u2019s widely used for product reviews, cooking shows, room vlogging, and other videos that rely on diffused light. Here\u2019s how it compares to standard room lights:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Characteristics of Softbox Lights<\/h5>\n\n\n\n