Its called three-point lighting because there are three main lights used.
Backlight (Hair Light):Hits your subject from behind or above.
Separates the subject from the background by making the edges of the subjects body pop.
Youll be surprised at how those three lights can dramaticallyincrease the quality of your shots.
For another example, just using the hair lightmakes the subject look angelic or dream-like.
It just depends on what you want your shots to look like.
The basic rules of the three-point lighting system are widely considered the standard, however.
Just think of them as rules that are meant to be broken in creative ways.
Hard lighting creates stark shadows for a more moody or gritty appearance.
Soft lighting is more forgiving and neutral in tone, with softer shadows that are better for emphasizing beauty.
This creates sharp, distinct shadows and edges.
This creates soft shadows and edges, with the light rolling off of the subject.
Beauty shots, for example, benefits the most from using more soft light.
This keeps your shadows from being too distinct and makes a for a more evenly lit shot.
Fortunately, you could find some some LED flashlight alternatives for much cheaper.
They dont have the extendable, adjustable neck, but you dont necessarily need that.
you might even grab an extra LED flashlight to create anawesome ice lightfor more soft, even lighting.
In most hardware stores, you’re free to find atwo-light work light standfor somewhere around $35.
Last, but not least, its important to mention the cheapest light source of all: daylight.
Window light is soft, natural, and illuminates colors in their truest form.
With just a few reflectors, you could light an entire scene without the need for any additional lighting.
Still, its not a bad alternative to consider when youre looking to save some money.
Diffusers are materials that light rays pass through to spread them out.
Reflectors let you bounce light from main sources to create secondary sources of light.
The video above, from thevideomaker YouTube channel, suggests using a clear shower curtain to diffuse light.
Additionally, any semi-reflective white surface can be effectively used for bouncing light.
White poster board, whiteboards, and even walls and ceilings can be used to bounce off soft light.
Best of all theyre extremely cheap!
As you go about your light diffusing and bouncing, always keep safety as your number one priority.
Never attempt to diffuse lighting with tissue paper, paper towels, or other highly flammable materials.
Light stands can get pretty top heavy, which makes them easy to knock over.
Sandbags rest on the base of the light stands to counteract the weight from the lights.
That way if you bump into them, they dont topple over and start a fire.
They might not seem like theyre necessary, but sandbags are like having insurance on your lighting setup.
If your lights cant fall over, they cant break and they cant start fires.
Illustration by Sam Woolley.
