Lighting for music videos is vital to get right, to gain traction on social media. Here are 5 tips lighting music videos beautifully.
As a musician, you know that creating great music is only half the battle. You also need to find ways to effectively promote your music and connect with your fans and other musicians. One of the best ways to do this is by creating and sharing music videos on social media. The better they look, the more attention you will get. Key to that is getting the lighting for music videos right.
Music videos are a great way to showcase your music and your personality. They can also help you to build a following and connect with fans on a deeper level. However, creating great lighting for music videos can be challenging, especially if you’re on a budget.
That’s where this blog post comes in. In this post, I’ll share some tips on how to capture great music videos for social media on a budget. I’ll cover topics such as the importance of natural light, how to shoot in bright and sunny conditions, avoiding backlighting, and achieving the best lighting setup. I’ll also provide detailed tips on light diffusion and advanced lighting setups like the three-point lighting.
By following these tips, you can create the best lighting for music videos that will help you to promote your music and connect with fans and musicians.
Make use of natural light: Natural light provides a flattering, professional look. Try to capture your video in an environment with abundant natural light, preferably during the ‘golden hours’ of sunrise and sunset.
However, beware of direct overhead lights or harsh downlights as they tend to cast unflattering shadows. Similarly, avoid yellow lighting that could distort true colours. More insights on mastering the basics of setting up for your music video are provided in this guide on our guides for making great songs on social platforms like Djaminn, TikTok and Instagram.
Capturing your music video under the bright sun can be a double-edged sword. The intensity of sunlight can cause overexposure and affect the video’s quality. But don’t worry, there are ways to navigate this.
Position yourself in a way that sunlight is hitting you from the side or at a quarter angle. Avoid direct frontal or backlit sunlight. Using a white board or reflective surface to bounce sunlight onto your face can also create a balanced, softer light. Need help on this? Check out our support centre at support.djaminn.com.
When you’re creating the perfect lighting for music videos for social media, the placement of the primary light source matters. Ensure it’s positioned behind the camera, shining onto you, and not from behind you. Backlighting can lead to underexposure, which may create a silhouette effect.
Is the available light too harsh? Here’s a trick: use diffusers. A thin curtain, a dedicated diffuser, or a white sheet can help soften the light and give your video a more appealing look. Alternatively, bouncing the light off a wall or ceiling can achieve similar results. You can download the Djaminn app and start making amazing songs with other artists here.
If you have access to professional lighting equipment, consider using a three-point lighting setup. This will give your music video a polished and professional look. The setup is ideal lighting for music videos, and includes a key light (the main light source), a fill light (which fills in shadows created by the key light), and a backlight (which separates you from the background). Check out this article on wikipedia to get you started
These tips should set you on your path towards creating the perfect lighting for music videos, for social media that truly stands out. However, creating an engaging environment goes beyond the right lighting. Make sure to check out the next blog post in the series: “Recording good audio for social media videos” and “5 Tips for Great Performance in Music Videos for Social Media”.
By combining these tips with your unique creativity, you’ll be creating stellar music videos for social media in no time.