© 2025 NEEDaFIXER
Lighting is, without a doubt, one of the most crucial aspects of any visual production. Whether you’re working on a commercial, music video or TV programme, lighting highlights critical details, sets the mood, and delivers a visually engaging experience.
So, without further ado, let’s explore the art of lighting and how it can enhance your project.
To create a visually attractive production, pre-production planning is key. This is when you unite with your video production services team to formulate a plan on how you’ll light your project.
During the pre-production phase, you need to talk about the lighting methods that’ll work best, the equipment you’ll need, plus the mood, tone and feel you want to set.
Another essential part of lighting is the colour temperature – it creates the ultimate atmosphere for your production and is measured in Kelvin (K), which refers to the shade of the light.
Lesser Kelvin temperatures of roughly 2700K emit a warm, relaxing, yellowish light, which is terrific for intimate or romantic scenes. An increased Kelvin temperature of approximately 5000K gives off a bluish, cooler light, perfect for producing a cleaner, more contemporary look.
Whether you’re trying to achieve a refined, elegant look or a fuzzy, warm tone, the colour temperature you pick can make a ton of difference in setting the ambience for your project.
Arguably the most fundamental lighting method is the three-point lighting technique, which involves using three lights: the fill lights, backlight and key light.
The key light is the main light source that brings your subject to life – it’s the star of the show. So, it must be the most intense light in the scene, situated off to the side of the camera and somewhat above your subject’s eye level. With its vibrant chemistry of shadow and light, the key light brings a touch of drama and depth that makes your shots pop.
Meet the fill light – your key light’s best friend. If the key light is Batman, then the fill light is Robin. Located on the opposite side of the camera and a little below the subject’s eye level, the fill light is a rudimentary associate that helps even out the shadows produced by the key light. It’s almost like a secret weapon that helps create the ideal look.
Don’t be deceived, though, because the fill light knows its place. Its purpose isn’t to steal the show from the key light. It’s purely there to create that symphonic balance of shadows and light and provide support. So, make sure it’s consistently less bright than the key light.
Last but not least, the backlight is perhaps the unsung hero of the three-point lighting method. Located behind the subject and above their head, the backlight’s main job is to bring a sense of intensity to the scene and build division between the background and subject. Consider it the icing on the cake of your lighting masterpiece.
However, unlike the other two lights, you don’t want the backlight to be too bright. While it isn’t as luminous as the other three, it still plays an imperative part in generating a visually mesmerising masterpiece. So, don’t neglect this little guy – the backlight’s a central participant in the lighting game.
Now, let’s get into hard light versus soft light. A large light source delivers soft light, generating a more mellow shadow appearance. On the other hand, hard light is all about that defined, sharp shadow game and is created through a small light source. In the end, it boils down to the vibe and mood you’re going for.
Gels and filters alter the intensity and colour of light – they’re almost like the makeup artists of lighting. If you’re up for creating a little urgency or drama, slap on a red gel. Need to create a moonlit effect? A blue gel will work its magic. Filters are also excellent for creating a particular mood or matching the colour temperature of different lights.
Partnering with your video production services team can help you play around with various colour schemes and lighting methods to accomplish your preferred ambience. So, get imaginative with your lighting!
Once you gain an awareness of the principles of lighting, be bold and experiment with all the lighting techniques. With a whole gamut of ways to light a scene, the only trouble you’ll have is choosing the right one for your specific project and mood.
Here are some of the most popular lighting techniques:
Silhouette lighting: For a theatrical, mysterious mood, opt for this method which uses backlighting to generate a shadowy, ghostly outline of the subject.
Working alongside a specialist video production company like us here at NEEDaFIXER can help you establish the right lighting methods for your project. Our team of professionals can provide pre-production services, like lighting design and location scouting, to ensure your project looks its best.
Lights, camera, action! Lighting is the secret ingredient in getting the atmosphere for your project bang on. With a little imagination and experience, you can wow your audience with a perfectly lit scene.
If you want to take your lighting to dazzling heights, speak to our team at NEEDaFIXER. We offer an assortment of video production services, such as lighting design, location scouting, pre-production, and post-production editing. From corporate films and music videos to feature-length movies, we’re here to help bring your vision to life. Speak to us today.
Ready to bring your project to life with our professional video production services? Get in touch with our team to discuss what you’re looking for, along with any additional notes you wish to share. Simply fill in the form and we’ll get back to you shortly.
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© 2025 NEEDaFIXER
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