Essential Lighting for YouTube: Your Guide to Professional Video Lighting

 With streaming to various social media platforms becoming more commonplace, a growing number of content creators are urgently looking for ways to upgrade their home video set-up. While most creators already possess a high-resolution recording device, such as a mirrorless camera or action cam, many are noticeably lacking in the lighting department.

While you don't need a full professional studio lighting setup for high-quality videos, effective lighting can go a long way. Consistently clear, well-lit videos are one of the best ways to keep viewers coming back for more. To achieve that professional look and to find out how to set up lighting for video at home, here are our top tips for the best YouTube video lighting.

The most common answer to "What do YouTubers use for lighting?" is portable LED video lights. These are a simple yet effective way to boost the quality of your home video lighting. Lightweight and versatile, these lighting accessories can be mounted to a standard tripod or stand to ensure steady, even light throughout your video or live stream. Better yet, if you'll be moving around while filming, you can even mount them on the hot-shoe or accessory shoe of your camera.

One of the major benefits of LED video lights is how closely they replicate the soft, diffused quality of natural light. Their output can usually be carefully adjusted, meaning that you can use as much or as little as you need. Some models even allow you to adjust the colour temperature to give a cooler or warmer effect.

Pro Tip: Take the production quality of your videos even further by trying out the 3-point lighting technique, in which you mount multiple LED lights on tripods or stands positioned to define your subject and control shadows. This is a foundational technique for professional video production.

If you're a makeup vlogger or regularly film scenes that focus on food, products, or other small subjects, it's well worth considering an LED ring light; they have long been the favourite lighting choice for macro photography. As the name implies, these portable LED lights have a circular, ring-like shape that provides an even spread of light that's perfect for close-up shots.

YouTubers use ring lights because they guarantee even, corner-to-corner lighting throughout the frame, no matter how close you get to your subject. This even light instantly makes faces look flawless and is perfect for any shots that require showing detail, such as online tutorials or product reviews. In most cases, LED ring lights can simply be mounted to the front of your camera lens or positioned just behind the camera.

The best type of lighting for videos isn't a single tool, but rather a combination of light sources, often including natural light, as it provides great texture and dimension. When shooting, always consider how natural light can enhance your footage.

For best results, we recommend pairing natural light with artificial light sources and accessories, such as reflectors. Affordable and simple yet incredibly effective, reflectors help redirect available light onto your subject and remove any unwanted shadows from your shoot. They can also be used to soften harsh lighting caused by midday or direct sun.

Top Tip: For a balanced, professional finish, choose a well-lit filming location and use portable LED lighting as "fill lighting" to soften shadows created by your main light source.

Don't have a mirrorless or DSLR camera? No problem! Advances in technology mean that smartphone video recording capabilities are more than sufficient for high-quality content. To take videos shot on your smartphone to the next level, go for a portable lighting solution that's designed for mobile devices.

For a powerful yet portable option, we recommend the Harlowe SOL 5 Bi Colour LED Light, which includes a versatile and secure magentic mounting design, perfect for quick repositioning for more flattering angles, or the Profoto C1 Plus Studio Light. If you’re more on the adventurous side and need something a little more rugged, go for the waterproof Joby Beamo Mini LED Cube Light instead, which can be mounted on a standard tripod, and includes two cold shoes for pairing with other devices for full-featured vlogging.

Starting your own channel or live streaming on YouTube or another platform is an exciting, creative activity and a great way to share your interests with the world. If you're serious about creating great content, it's important that you don't let things like poor production quality and bad lighting get in the way.

Follow our tips above to film well-lit, engaging videos from the comfort of your own home, and don’t forget to stop by our blog for more vlogging tips.