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Whether you’re one of the millions who work from home or you simply enjoy live streaming in your free time, pulling off a well put-together and professional live stream from home is more important than ever. You can host a webinar, conduct virtual meetings or casually live stream without special equipment. However, having the right lighting will increase the quality of your live stream and, as a result, will give you more confidence while interacting online. The best approach to lighting for live streaming is multifaceted. The first steps include choosing the right equipment and creating layered lighting with a combination of key and supplemental lights. Then, you can set up your background and optimize the position of your equipment to help develop a personalized, polished stream with just a few key elements.
Choosing the Right Equipment
First, you must have a key light, which will be your main light source while live streaming. The most popular option for streamers is an LED ring light. Another option is a softbox, a light surrounded by a special fabric-covered box that diffuses the light, frequently used in professional photography. Both lights provide a soft, balanced light to clearly illuminate your face and minimize shadows. Even without additional lighting or background changes, an LED ring light or softbox will dramatically improve the quality of your videos when compared to live streaming with only standard overhead lights. Look for options that include adjustable brightness and color temperature for extra personalization. While each setup will vary based on your room, your preferences and your equipment, the best place for your key light is directly in front of you, slightly above eye level. Once you find the right key light, you have a base around which you can build a unique light setup for your live streams.
Adding Layers of Light
Multiple layers of lighting are key to taking your live streaming setup to a professional level. Consider adding extra lighting options, such as fill lights, focal lights or accent lights. Fill lights serve to fill in shadows that may be left by your key light. Small LED panels are great as fill lights, as they provide a soft and less intense light. Position your fill light lower than your key light to help reduce shadows.
Focal lighting serves to highlight you during the live stream by creating depth and separation from your background. This provides a more three-dimensional look to your stream. One way to incorporate focal lighting is to place a backlight between you and your background, with the light facing toward your back. The backlight should provide a focused beam of light that is noticeable but not overpowering. You can purchase a dedicated backlight fixture or use a spotlight to create a backlight.
Additional accent lighting can be created by setting up a small LED light or a spotlight off the side of your frame. This can add more dimension and visual interest. To bring a particularly unique flair to your live stream, you can also install accent lights behind you in a fun color.
Consider your Background
Even the best lighting setup can be foiled by a cluttered background. Choose a background that complements your topic and tone while live streaming. You can carefully stage your existing room or use a backdrop for a customizable background. Whichever you choose, ensure your background is well-lit. One way to achieve this is by adding a background light, which is similar to a backlight, but rather than illuminating you from behind, the light shines toward the background to create depth and interest.
Getting the Most Out of Your Set Up
Creating the most flattering live streaming setup isn’t just about purchasing the perfect equipment. Optimizing the settings and position of each element will help you get the most out of your investment.
When setting up your lighting, don’t forget to consider the existing lighting of your space. If you have a window in the room, either invest in good blinds or take advantage of the natural light by setting up your equipment so that you face the window.
Remember that soft, diffused light is ideal. Experiment with the distance between you and your lights. Moving your lights further away may help if the light is too intense, causing you to look overexposed and washed out. If the intensity is too low, your face may have dark shadows and be hard to see. To solve this issue, you may need to move your lights closer or add additional layers of lighting.
Finally, be sure to use good framing and personalize your set up. To find the best way to position yourself in the frame for your live stream, you can follow the rule of thirds used in photography. If you divide your frame into a grid of nine equal sections, with two horizontal lines and two vertical lines, position yourself with your eyes around the upper horizontal line while leaving some space between the top of your head and the top of the frame. This provides visually appealing framing while ensuring you do not accidentally go out of the frame while live streaming. Perhaps most importantly, don’t be afraid to personalize your set up. A unique backdrop or a shelf with personal trinkets can create a special, memorable flair while still being professional.
With these tips, there’s no longer any need to live stream directly from your phone with only your overhead light or attempt to create flattering light by precariously positioning a lamp just off-screen. By using a ring light and adding key lighting elements, you can set yourself apart with a professional and fun live streaming set up. To make your live streaming setup even better, consider exploring a wide range of lighting options available at 1000bulbs.com. For personalized assistance and expert recommendations, don’t hesitate to call one of their knowledgeable US-based account managers at (800) 624-4488. Take your live streams to the next level with their help and shine brightly in front of your audience.
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