DIY VIDEO LIGHTING TIPS: A TOUR OF MY FAUX-PRO STUDIO
Ever wonder how people get those nice crisp white backgrounds in their (talking head-style) videos?
ME TOO. So I googled and YouTubed and asked my photog buddies, and through less trial + error than you might think, I finally figured it out.
For years now I’ve used this DIY video setup in various spots including my garage, our old bedroom, the gameroom at my parents’ house in Texas…and now at our “new” house (that we moved into six months ago ;)).
With just a bit of tweaking, I get the same clean result each + every time.
I’m doing some new recordings this week, so while I’ve got it set up, I’m inviting you on a tour to show you exactly how it works.
(I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how simple it is.)
Disclaimer: Said tour is the result of two Facebook live videos I recorded while walking around holding my phone after 11pm one night. It’s a little Blair Witchy, but HEY – it does the trick.
In this video, you’ll see:
- The exact setup I use to get a crisp white background for my ACAC videos
- How you can use everyday items (baby blanket, floor lamp, ladder) to create your studio
- How to avoid “hot spots” (the distracting yellowy spots you see in the corners of otherwise white videos)
- My go-to DSLR setting – even though I’m NOT a photographer by any stretch
- The two key “extra” purchases I recommend to avoid losing momentum when you’re on a roll
- Super-important *don’t forget to* tips that will help you maximize efficiency while recording
- Oh…and the brand of my go-to lip gloss
Click below to join me for the tour:
IN A (COCO)NUT SHELL
Don’t use “I don’t have my faux-pro studio set up yet!” as an excuse not to get your message out there.
That is NOT the point of this post.
Sometimes I record videos with no makeup. Sometimes in my garage. Usually by a window.
It’s your message + connection that matter most.
No fancy pants (or pseudo fancy pants) setup will make up for a wildly disorganized and/or insincere message.
That said, some times and some projects call for a little extra effort (like The ACAC Beyond-the-Site Workshop Series I’m prepping at the moment :)).
Pairing a clear, sincere message with a clean, crisp visual will make a memorable impact on your customers. #fact
THE SHOPPING LIST
If you’re like me, you don’t want suggestions and options. You just want to know exactly what to get and exactly how to use it. Period. (Oh, how I love that about you.)
That’s why I’ve included all the details here, links included. (NOTE: Many of these are affiliate links, so if you make a purchase through one of them, Amazon will send me a little referral bonus. Thanks for that!)
Here’s a quick rundown of the all the equipment I currently use in my faux-pro studio:
- Pop-up backdrop: Fancierstudio Collapsible Black + White Backdrop (5′ x6.5′)
- For the three lighting stands (again, floor lamp + ladder could work too ;)): CowboyStudio Photography/Video Portrait Umbrella Continuous Triple Lighting Kit
- Natural Daylight CFL Lightbulbs – 18W and 23W
- Clamp lights from Home Depot or Lowe’s (to hold those CFL bulbs)
- Ladder (for one of the front clamp lights)
- Baby blanket diffuser ;)
- Floor lamp (with CFL bulb – for the other “front” light)
- Canon EOS Rebel T5i 18.0 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm EF-S IS STM Lens
- External mic: Rode VideoMic Directional Video Condenser Microphone w/Mount (+ extra 9V battery on hand) ** don’t forget to turn it ON! Green light means go ;)
- Ravelli Professional 65″ Ball Head Camera Video Photo Tripod
- 64GB Memory Card – not necessary but great for peace of mind and efficiency
- Extra battery + charger – keep that momentum goin’!
I set up three lights to light the back drop – two tall, one short, like I have pictured here. Then I have two lights on either side of me – between me and the actual camera – one on the left, one on the right. Camera’s on the tripod with the screen flipped toward me so that I can carefully slink backwards and make sure my whole dome is in the frame.
And click BELOW to see what the finished product looks like (in the form of one of 20 micro-lessons included in ACAC Prep School!):
YOUR HOMEWORK
In the comments below, tell me:
1. What other video-related Qs does this bring up for you? (Happy to fill in the gaps where I can!)
2. Got any DIY lighting tips of your own? Sharing is caring. Spill the beans.
And above (below?) all, remember: When it comes to great video, sunlight, a phone camera, and a clear message shared with sincerity can work wonders. The rest is just eye candy.
To making it work,
P.S. If you liked this post, I’d GREATLY appreciate it if you’d use the buttons below to share it with your buddies. You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel if you’d like to see new videos before I’ve had time to turn them into blog posts ;)
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