Day 6: Mastering Lighting
The #1 Differentiator Between Amateur and Professional Content
If there is one thing you can do to elevate the quality of your content, this is it.
I truly believe lighting is the number one differentiator between amateur and skilled content creators.
⚠️ The Most Important Takeaway
A camera is just a tool that captures and interprets light data. Learning how to shape and use light to our advantage is more important than learning the camera itself.
The 4 Major Factors of Lighting
- White Balance (already covered)
- Light Direction
- Light Intensity
- Light Quality
Factor #1: Light Direction
The biggest thing that influences how your subjects look is the direction in which the primary source of light (key light) is hitting them.
❌ What NOT to Do: Flat/Broad Lighting
Don't place light directly in front hitting them straight on - this creates flat/broad lighting that removes all shadows and depth.
✓ The Right Way
Move light just off to the side and increase height slightly - creates visual contrast with bright and dark side of face, adds depth.
Simplified: In front, above, and to the side
Factor #2: Light Intensity
The amount of light hitting your subject. Light intensity is all about balance.
It's not just about what makes subject look good - it's about how it impacts overall balance of scene as a whole. High intensity makes background darker; low intensity makes background brighter.
Factor #3: Light Quality (Soft vs Hard)
Goal when filming people: Have lights be as soft as possible.
- Soft Light: Shadows gradually roll off faces (flattering)
- Hard Light: Distinct shadows with hard edges (makes imperfections more noticeable)
💡 How to Soften Light
Most lights are hard out of the box. To soften:
- Pass light through second medium (diffusion panel)
- Increase size of light source
Solution: Use softbox or diffusion panel (accomplishes both!)
Key Takeaways
- Lighting is #1 differentiator - more important than camera knowledge
- Direction: Front, above, side (avoid flat lighting)
- Intensity: About scene balance, not just subject brightness
- Quality: Soft light (diffused) vs hard light (unflattering)
- These concepts apply to ALL light - professional, practical, sunlight
- Avoid midday sun: Direction, intensity, and quality all wrong
Starting from ground up creating different YouTube setups - from no budget (just phone) to professional studio.
Setup #1: No Budget (Phone + Tripod)
Gear: iPhone 14, any tripod ($30), PopVoice Pro Lav mic ($14)
Process:
- Find quality light source (window light - daylight-balanced, diffused)
- Create depth (space behind subject)
- Frame shot, set 4K at 24fps
- Turn off overhead lights (avoid color temperature mixing)
- Use cinematic mode to blur cluttered backgrounds
- Add $14 lav mic for quality audio
Setup #2: One Professional Light
Added Gear: Yongnuo YN300 (~$70), diffusion panel, stands
Position: 45 degrees right/left and 45 degrees up. Add practical lights in background (Christmas tree, lamps) for depth and color contrast.
⚠️ Transformation Shown
Video shows dramatic before/after: No light → add light → turn off overheads → add practicals = professional look
Setup #3: Professional Studio
Gear: Sony A7S III, Sigma 16-28mm f2.8, Rode NTG3, Godox SL60 with softbox + honeycomb grid
⚠️ THE REAL SECRET
Video demonstrates same office on Sony ($4,000) vs iPhone - they look very similar!
What matters: Time spent fine-tuning lighting, angle of light, honeycomb grid, multiple tests
"It doesn't come down to money spent. It comes down to tests filmed and adjustments made."
Key Takeaways
- Setup 1: Phone + window light + $14 mic = great results
- Setup 2: Add Yongnuo + diffusion = professional look
- Setup 3: More gear but lighting knowledge matters most
- iPhone vs Sony looked similar - lighting was the difference
- Turn off overhead lights to avoid color mixing
- Time testing > money on gear
The bread and butter of commercial filmmaking. Most common and effective way to light almost any scene. I use this or variation in almost every commercial.
Light #1: The Key Light
Most important. Hits subject with most light.
Position: In front, above, and off to the side. Look for Rembrandt triangle on shadow side of face (this is the standard).
⚠️ Mistakes to Avoid
- Straight in front: Broad lighting - removes shadows/depth
- Too high up: Raccoon eyes - eyebrows cast shadows over eyes
MUST have softbox/diffusion - hard light is unflattering. Makes imperfections stand out.
Light #2: The Fill Light
Opposite side of key light. Job: Fill in shadows created by key light.
Personal preference: Some like lots of fill, others (like Anthony) prefer more shadow for depth/cinematic quality.
💡 Alternative: Bounce Key Light
Don't have fill light? Bounce key light off white sheets, bounce panels, or diffusion panels. You don't need three lights to do three-point setup!
Yongnuo YN300 ($68) recommended - works as key, fill, or backlight.
Light #3: The Backlight
Main goal: Separate subject from background. Hits edge of body creating halo/rim effect (also called rim light or hair light).
Position rule: Usually same side as key light, but if blocked by furniture, other side is fine. What matters is the separation.
Often in scene: Hard to hide in small rooms - disguise as much as possible (no hanging cords, hide stand). It's okay if light itself shows.
Why Backlight is #1 for Depth
"In my eyes, the backlight is the number one thing that gives you this power of depth. So don't skip out on the backlight."
Anthony's Typical Setup
- One key light
- One backlight
- Maybe a little fill (or just bounce key off wall/window)
Most of time can get away with just two lights!
💡 Add Practical Lights
Once you have professional three-point setup, add lights that naturally exist in scene (barn lights, desk lamps, standing lamps).
Adds color contrast (tungsten vs daylight) and more depth. But only if it makes sense - not all temperatures mix well.
Key Takeaways
- Foundation of commercial videography
- Key Light: Most important, Rembrandt triangle, MUST diffuse
- Fill Light: Opposite side, personal preference, can bounce instead
- Backlight: Separates from background, #1 for depth
- Can work with 2 lights - key + backlight + bounced fill
- Add practical lights for color contrast when appropriate
Professional lighting on $150 budget - applying at-home studio process to smartphone content in simple steps.
Step-by-Step Process
- Place subject: Pull away from background to create depth (stretch 3ft to 7ft = triple depth!)
- Frame shot: Use grid lines, keep lines straight, 4K at 24fps
- Set up key light: Yongnuo YN300 ($70), position 45° off-center and 35° up
- Turn off overhead lights: Brutal color temperature and unflattering shadows
- Add diffusion: 5-in-1 reflector kit ($20) - place between light and subject
- Clean scene: Remove junk/cups/papers from frame
- Optional fill/backlight: Can skip fill (prefer contrast), backlight breaks budget but can add practical lights instead
- Audio solution: Zoom H1n + PopVoice Pro lav ($15) OR Rode SmartLav
The 5-in-1 Reflector Kit
Called 5-in-1 because:
- White bounce board
- Gold reflector
- Unzip for two reverse sides (that's 4)
- Remove cover = opaque diffusion silk (5th!)
Key tip: Moving light back makes source bigger (more diffusion). Moving forward makes source smaller (more harshness).
💡 Practical Lights for Background
Instead of backlight (breaks budget), add accent lights:
- Edison bulb ($20 Target)
- Focus light (Etsy gift)
- Under-desk LEDs ($10 Target, color-changing, remote)
- Even cheap $10 desk lamps from college work!
Adds depth, texture, brightens scene.
Total Budget: ~$150
- Yongnuo YN300: ~$70
- Amazon Basics stands (pack): ~$20-40
- 5-in-1 Reflector kit: ~$20
- Clamp: ~$5-10
- AC power cord: ~$10 (may have one)
Can replicate professional setup for $150 or less!
Most basic setup: Traveling without gear but still need to shoot content. Just phone + tripod. How to still make great content?
The 3 Things to Focus On
1. Lighting
Go-to: Window light or door light - soft and naturally flatters faces. Don't bring lights when traveling? Use what exists naturally in scene.
2. Composition (DEPTH!)
Common mistake: Going right up to wall - zero depth, looks flat and unengaging.
Solution: Increase distance between yourself and background. Clean up items that don't make sense.
3. White Balance
Often forgotten - tackle once camera is set up. In example: mixed temperatures (cool window + warm house) = balance at ~3450K.
⚠️ The Audio Challenge
Solution: Make distance between audio recorder and audio source as small as possible.
- Use wide angle lens (get closer while showing background)
- Get as close to camera as possible
- Built-in iPhone mic is "pretty dang good" when close
If you could change one thing: Bring $14 lav mic (huge difference). Lighting can usually be solved, audio is harder.
💡 Filming Yourself Solo
Process when you can't see yourself:
- Frame what you think will look good
- Record test clip
- Check footage
- Make adjustments
- Repeat until dialed in
Adding One Household Light
In example: Cloud killed outdoor light, scene too dark. Found lamp with whiter bulb (5600K) - positioned at edge of couch.
Impact: Subject more even in scene, stands out, no noise/grain, looks cleaner. "Setup I could absolutely use for YouTube - I'd be happy."
Key Takeaways
- Gear: Phone + tripod (+ optional $14 lav mic)
- Window/door light is soft and flattering
- Create depth - pull from background (most common mistake)
- Audio proximity: Get close to camera
- Wide lens allows closer while showing background
- Outdoor light changes with clouds - monitor and adjust
- One extra household light makes big difference
Complete studio breakdown - all gear in office for course videos, YouTube content, ads, social media, everything!
Note: This is a comprehensive video walkthrough. Below is detailed breakdown of all gear and systems.
Three Different Shooting Setups in One Office
Whatever content we're producing, it's not always same angle. Three setups in room this size - happy with that.
Main Camera Setup
- Camera: Sony A7S III (all primary cameras)
- Lenses: Sigma 16-28mm f2.8 (most used), Sigma 24-70mm f2.8, Sigma 85mm f1.4
- Mic: Rode NTG-3 → GatorWorks desk mount → Zoom H4n Pro → Sony (no post sync!)
- Mounts: Wall-E monitor mount system, MoMon MT12 teleprompter, small rig camera cage
Lighting System
- Key Light: Godox SL60 (absolute go-to for YouTube/courses)
- Softbox: Ultra big (~85 inches) - where magic happens
- Honeycomb Grid: Focuses light, prevents spill - huge quality boost!
- Mount: Neewer wall-mounted arm (fully articulating, off floor)
- Practicals: Edison bulbs (Target, Amazon smart plugs), Focus light (Etsy), LEDs with Alexa
Organization & Storage
- Custom gear shelf: DIY wood from Lowe's/Home Depot, painted black
- Pegboard: Charging station for all batteries
- Storage cubes: Power cords, lighting gear, tools
- Acoustic treatment: Bass traps + foam panels (essential for quality audio!)
Computer Setup
- Computer: M2 MacBook Pro (128GB RAM, fully spec'd)
- Monitor: LG Ultra Wide 40" ($1,500) - great for multitasking, DON'T use for color work
- Storage: SanDisk Extreme SSD for active edits (very fast)
- Live Streaming: ~$20 capture card (HDMI → USB) + Zoom software
💡 Key Principles of Studio Design
- Versatility: 3 different angles in one space
- No tripod legs: Wall/desk mounts maximize floor space
- Organization: Everything has specific place
- Acoustic treatment: Essential - most naked wall = massive echo
- Smart home: Alexa voice control for all lights
⚠️ Important Notes
- Neon signs: Ask seller if camera-safe (avoid flicker)
- LG monitor: Great for work, NOT for color grading (use MacBook screen instead)
- Acoustic foam: Most expensive but necessary - without it, one setup angle is unusable
Complete Gear List Categories
- Cameras: Sony A7S III, Canon 1DX Mark II, Nikon D3300
- Lenses: Sigma 16-28mm, 24-70mm, 85mm f1.4
- Lighting: Godox SL60, Westcott Solix Apollo, Yongnuo YN300, practicals
- Audio: Rode NTG-3, Zoom H4n Pro, GatorWorks mount
- Mounts: Wall-E system, Edelkrone slider, various tripods
- Computer: M2 MacBook Pro, LG Ultra Wide, capture card
- Organization: Custom shelf, pegboard, acoustic foam
Everything linked in video description. Questions? Let me know!