Lighting Options for Home Studio Productions

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of video production. It affects mood, tone, and the audience's perception of the characters on screen. While the lighting process may initially seem intimidating when considering budgetary and equipment constraints, there is an array of easily accessible and affordable lighting solutions to choose from. Check out three essential lighting tools for media makers on remote sets.

Paper Lanterns: If you are looking to cut down on harsh shadows, paper lanterns are affordable and produce soft light. They are perfect for illuminating indoor spaces, such as home studios. When utilizing paper lanterns, keep in mind that you will need to acquire the lantern, a bulb, a microphone stand, and a sandbag for positioning and powering the light source. In total, you are looking at spending around $50-$100. You can find a lantern for as low as $4.99 here.

Reflectors: Reflectors help reflect and bounce light sources onto a subject. They are also a great tool for “filling” unwanted shadows on a subject’s face. To create a DIY reflector, you can tape white paper or foil to a cardboard box. Collapsible reflectors can also be purchased and range from $15-$50 per reflector. They come in assorted colors, including white, gold and silver, each serving different lighting needs.

On-Camera LED Video Light: Perfect for lighting a single subject, LED video lights are a small, compact, and economical option. Keep in mind that LED lights may create harsh shadows. To combat this, choose lights that come with barn doors or diffusion options to soften the light.