Hot Film & Photography Lighting How-Tos

How To: Make a dramatic spotlight from a household lamp

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make a guerilla spotlight using household items. Users will simply need a cardboard cylinder and a light source. Te materials used in this video were a toilet paper roll, piece of aluminum, gaff tape and a lamp. Begin by cutting a couple of 90 degrees slots in the middle of the foil, slide in the tube ad secure it with tape. It should be a bit longer than the tube. Now wrap it around the light source. This video will benefit those viewers who produ...

How To: Make cheap lighting & barn doors

Check out this instructional lighting video that explains how to make cheap barn doors for your lights. For this project, you will need a total of 4 hinges, 12 nuts and bults, a screwdriver, cardboard, scissors, and a lighting fixture. This is a simple guerrilla filmmaking tutorial on how to design your own barn doors. A great addition to any low-budget filmmaker's lighting kit.

How To: Properly light a green screen and create the illusion

Ever wonder how to create movie magic right in your own home? This video shows you step by step everything you need to know and do to create the green screen effect, from properly setting up your green screen, to lighting it, as well as your subjects for a successful effect. Filled with tips and instructions this is a great video to watch for filmmakers, and special effects artist of all kinds.

How To: Shoot day for night and night for day for movie making

The sun can change positions during a shoot. It's pretty annoying. But don't worry, you can shoot at night and make it look like daylight, as well as shoot during the day and making it look like night. Here are some helpful tips.

How To: Setup Rembrandt lighting for a film shoot

This is The Substream's "The Film Lab" series on lighting basics. This episode covers Rembrandt Lighting.

How To: Get the best lighting on your videos with a ring light

Lighting is everything when it comes to creating a good solid video/film. You will see a great example of a ringlight made of 12 lightbulbs arranged in a perfect circle with a cut-out to allow your camera to be in the middle to capture the best light. You will get an idea of just what materials you will need to create your own ring light.

How To: Use barn door lighting in your studio

Ben for Mechanical Mashup demonstrates how to build a barn door halogen light system for a studio and how to establish right triangles and parallel lined without a square. It is quiet expensive to buy a barn doors according Ben, so it could be built by us. These barn doors can be adjusted anyway we want to. So the barn doors are to be fixed to a halogen light. First thing done is to unscrew the frame of the halogen light. The glass is removed by just bending the frame. Next thing to do is to ...

How To: Light and set a cyclorama shot

A cyclorama shot is a 360 degree panoramic, photographic view of a scene. It's set on a cylindrical platform and is designed to make the viewer feel like he is standing in the middle of it all. A cyclorama shot is a really cool thing to embark on in photography or film.

How To: Make a 400-watt video light for film or photography

Bring a little life to your films, or maybe a little "light". Watch this video to see how to make your own 400-watt video light for film or photography. You can make this video light with mere parts from the local hardware store, such as plastic paneling (which is cheap, easy to cut and non-conductive), zip ties, 4 plastic bulb sockets, lamp cord (like Romex), a cheap plug, and good and cheap diffusion. With all of these materials, you'll have your own homemade light for any film or photo pro...

How To: Use Kino Flo lighting systems on a film set

Mike from the SubStream's "Film Lab" has some tips regarding film lighting. See how to use these super cool (literally and figuratively) lights called Kino lights. These fluorescent Kino Flos are perfect for when you want soft, even light that doesn't draw much power. Get the details on how to set them up!

How To: Make an adjustable light stand

Learn how to make an adjustable light stand. This adjustable telescoping light stand is cheap if you have all of the materials already, like a painter's pole, a metal table leg, scrap wood and some screws. This light stand is a good choice for film shoots on a low-budget. Who needs expensive light stands anyways?

How To: Get a great shot on black background with Canon EOS 7D

It is possible to get a beautiful shot on a simple black backdrop, and in this tutorial you will learn how to arrange your lighting to do just that. Using a Canon EOS 7D, you will be able to shoot a wonderfully poetic moment on black if you follow these simple techniques.

How To: Light an interior space while filming on a budget

In this video from FiveSprockets we learn how to light an interior space while filming on a budget. For this you need two Chinese lanterns which he found for $2.95 each. You need 2 light bulbs which he found for $3.95 each. Make sure you get extra ones. Then get a couple of pan lights. They are day light and mood light. They were $7 and $5. You also need a multi colored gel pack which is $6.00. He uses C-stands to hold the lights up but he suggests coming up with other ways if you don't have ...

How To: Properly light for an interview using the Canon EOS 7D

In a smaller interview setting, the lighting will be much different than a bigger scene. You will need to have a good focus on your subject's face and body as well as a clear background so your viewers don't get tired. In this tutorial, learn exactly how to set up your lighting for a smaller setting such as an interview while using a Canon EOS 7D camcorder. This clip will take you through a total step by step lesson so you can get started making great films at home.

How To: Light a two-person interview

Learn how to frame and block an over-the-shoulder shot as Matt, the Shirtless Apprentice, demonstrates the use of cutters to block lens flair.

How To: Set up a 4x6 Profoto softbox

Mike Wallace is going to show you how to set up a softbox in order for a photo shoot. First, you are going to need an 1200 watt generation and with the Profoto one it comes with a pocket wizard built into it so it allows the photographer to meter and trigger with a pocket wizard TT1 on the mini camera. Also, you want to use a Manfrotto Megaboom softbox, and this is much easier then using a ladder because on the ladder you'd need to climb it whenever you wanted to reposition it. With the Megab...

How To: Best light your webcam video

Anthony and Ian of Smosh, and Logitech, provide you with some simple tips on how to best light your webcam video shoot. Just don't get caught with your pants down...

How To: Cast shadows with cookies for your video

Jennifer shows how to spice up the background of your video using cookies (aka cucaloris or cucalorus). Cookies are lighting accessories that are cut out shapes that cast a shadow.

How To: Create an effective candle lit scene in your movie

If you're trying to film a romantic dinner, you'll want the setting to seem dim and candle lit - but you'll still want the lighting quality of the film to be good. Here's how you can shoot an effective dimly lit scene.

How To: Set up eye lights when shooting a film/video

Mike and Rajo from the SubStream's "Film Lab" have some tips regarding production, specifically... cinematography and gaffing.

How To: Use a light meter to properly light a digital film

A light meter can prove to be an invaluable tool on any film set, allowing you to quickly and efficiently set lights and know the correct exposure values of those lights. Light meters were initially designed for still photographers and cinematographers can easily calibrate them to a given film stock speed for shooting film. But what about today’s digital cinematographer? I’m glad you asked. In this video tutorial you'll see how you can use a light meter to quickly and efficiently light a scen...

How To: Use a sun gun when shooting a film

In this episode, The Shirtless Apprentice gives us some tips and information on how to use one of the most versatile and under appreciated tools in a videographer"s arsenal, the sungun! Matt compares two types of sunguns, incandescent and L.E.D., and weighs the benefits of each.

How To: Light a green screen properly for podcasting

Matt, the Shirtless Apprentice, advises viewers on the proper procedure for lighting a green screen. The successfully implemented chroma key technique can significantly raise the production value of any video podcast. He gives specific advice on how to separate the light that falls on the subject from the light on the greenscreen, a traditionally tricky technique.

How To: Set up a low budget lighting system for filming a documentary or interview

Low budger project? NO budget project? Lighting is a key part of any film, so you don't want to skimp on it. This tutorial shows you how to set up some inexpensive lighting systems when you're filming a documentary or interview.

How To: Use colorful, textured plastic cups to create a cool film lighting effect

This is a creative idea for a great light effect for any video project. If you're a cinematographer and are open to knew and creative ideas (and cheap!), then this colorful, moving lighting effect is perfect for your film. You'll need three plastic cups, a 5/16-inch metal rod about 2-feet long, gaffers tape, packaging tape, drill and a light. You can get the plastic cups from the dollar store, which won't cost you more than three bucks! They need to be translucent and have the colors you want...

How To: Build a light diffuser to improve your film lighting

This video tutorial belongs to the Film & Theater category which is going to show you how to build a light diffuser to improve your film lighting. Joe Richardson explains how to do this. You will need four pieces of pine wood 1" x 2" x 8 feet long, framing nails, duct tape and light cloth material. Cut the wood at the edges at a 45 degree angle and lay them out on ground to make the frame and hammer in the framing nails. Now spread the cloth over the frame and start stapling it. Pull the clot...

How To: Create infinite white lighting cheaply

Going towards the infinite white light means something totally different these days. When we talk about the infinite white light, we're thinking less spiritual and more aesthetically pleasing. That's because a background consisting of a blurry, infinite white light is one of the most flattering you can use for a human subject.

How To: Apply three point lighting to your amateur film making

Three point lighting is the standard used to illuminate a subject for amateur film, video, and even theater application.

How To: Create good 3 point lighting for amateur film making

Lighting techniques for your feature or short film. This video covers three point lighting techniques.

How To: Make and use your own ring lights for music videos

This tutorial shows you one important lighting fixture for filming music videos - the ring light. Make your own ring light, and then learn how you can use it to greatest effect when you're filming your next music vidoe or indie project.

How To: Create a one light set up for fashion and beauty shots

This set up will show you how to use just one light to create a setting that's ideal for cosmetic, fashion and beauty shots. Great for a photographer who only has so much money to spend on studio equipment and accessories.

How To: Use Apple Color's secondary color correction to adjust skin tones

Secondary color correction is used mostly to adjust the skin tones of people in your film. This tutorial show you how Apple Color lets you quickly and easily adjust the skin tones of the actors and actresses in your film project.

How To: Create your own ring light for lighting and more

Ring Lights can create a specific lighting that brings out warmer hues from your actors/models, as well as giving you a cool effect for the eyes. If you're not looking to spend a fortune on buying an already made one, you can make one with items from around the house on the cheap, if you have to buy everything you need, you're looking to spend around $100 which is much cheaper than buying one brand new! Check out this video for a full tutorial on how to build your very own Ring Light!

How To: Create professional movie your are shooting with only two shop lights

Lighting a movie can be dramatically expensive and complex, but for the DIY filmmaker on a budget this can be a major handicap. In this video you'll learn how to create a serviceable lighting setup for your filming using only $25 worth of shop lights and 200w bulbs.

How To: Light digital home videos like a professional

Shooting home video is fun, and is a great way to get started on the path to a film career. But one thing that can kill your video is poor lighting. Not everyone is rich enough to a professional light kit, so what do you do to compensate? In this video you will get some great low budget, and even some free, tips on how to create proper lighting both in-doors and outdoors and tips on what to avoid in your scenes.

How To: Use 3 point lighting for professional studio lighting

Three point lighting can be used to achieve professional studio results. For this, you will need: a key light, a fill light, and a backlight.

How To: Use film diffusion gels to change light beam shape

This video is geared toward filmmakers, specifically cinematographers and gaffers, on what diffusion gels are and when to use them on a film set. This is a part of The SubStream's "Film Lab".

How To: Use neutral density gels to change light intensity

The SubStream's "Film Lab" provides valuable information for filmmakers, specifically cinematographers and gaffers, on how to use neutral density gels.

How To: Use a 3 point lighting technique to make videos

If you want to shoot a video and are not sure of what kind of lighting you should use, you can do a simple 3 point lighting technique. You will need to have 3 sources of light to have good lighting. The positioning of the light is important so you can capture the best light and minimise shadows and gray areas.

How To: Execute a basic 3 point lighting setup

One popular way to use light in photography is with a three point lighting setup. In this tutorial, learn how to set up three point lights in portrait photography and get the most flattering shot of your subject. There is an art to making people look good and proper lighting is very important. So, if you have your equipment and are ready to start assembling it all, have a look at this instructional clip and follow the step by step to get started.