5 Simple Lighting Tips For Videos

5 Simple Lighting Tips For Videos!

5 Simple Lighting Tips For Videos

Although I’ve been doing videography for a long time, I sometimes forget tips and tricks that I’ve learned. Experience and creativity are something that you can’t read in a book, but even if you have all the experience in the world, I’ve discovered that it is still a good idea to refresh yourself on the basics. It helps me improve my work because I understand things better and have a different perspective every time I revisit them.

I’ve been refreshing myself a lot lately instead of actually shooting because of the birth of my new son, and it has inspired me to blog what I’m learning. It always helps me solidify what I’ve learned if I write it down so here are my top five simple lighting tips that can help anyone from a blogger making videos for Instagram to a professional!

Lights, camera… wait… why does your video look like it was filmed inside a haunted basement?

If you’ve ever pressed record on a video—whether it’s for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, a family vlog, or even a quick recipe demo—you’ve probably had that moment where the video just looks… off. The lighting is weird. Your face looks shadowy. The colors look funky. Or somehow the background is brighter than you are.

And suddenly you’re thinking, “Do I need a Hollywood lighting crew for this?!”

Good news: you absolutely do not.

In fact, great video lighting usually comes down to a few simple tricks that content creators, vloggers, and videographers use every single day. Once you understand how light works in video, you can dramatically improve your footage with things you probably already have in your house.

Yes, really.

Because here’s the truth most people don’t realize: lighting matters more than the camera. Even a smartphone can produce professional-looking video when the lighting is right.

So if you’re creating content for your blog, filming tutorials, recording family memories, or building a social media presence, mastering a few lighting basics will instantly elevate the quality of your videos.

And today we’re breaking it down Lou Lou Girls style—simple, practical, and maybe just a little sassy.

Let’s talk about five simple lighting tips for videos that will make your content brighter, clearer, and way more professional.

And don’t worry—no film school degree required.

Why Lighting Matters More Than You Think

Before we dive into the tips, let’s talk about the elephant in the room.

Most people think the secret to great video is an expensive camera.

But professionals will tell you the real secret is lighting.

Lighting affects:

How sharp your video looks
Whether your colors look natural
How professional your footage appears
The mood of your video
How clearly viewers can see you

Even Hollywood filmmakers obsess over lighting because it shapes how the audience experiences a scene.

Good lighting can make a simple video feel polished and professional, while poor lighting can make even expensive equipment look amateur.

And here’s something that might surprise you:

You don’t need a studio.

You don’t need expensive gear.

You just need to understand how light behaves.

Think of lighting like decorating a room. When the light is in the right place, everything feels warm, balanced, and inviting. But when it’s wrong, suddenly everything looks strange and uncomfortable.

So let’s fix that.

Grab your camera, your phone, or whatever you’re filming with… and let’s talk lighting.

5 Simple Lighting Tips For Videos

1. Use light to make still shots move: As a wedding videographer this is something I know I’ll use a lot! Video is all about movement, but sometimes what you want to show is stationary. Instead of throwing on a cheesy filter in your editing program, walk in front of the light source, or move it, while you’re recording for a more realistic effect.

2. Focus on the shadows: I’m not sure where I read this but it totally shifted my perspective on how to create interesting lighting setup! “If you want to create interesting light, you have to create interesting shadows.” Photos and videos are 2D but the world is 3D. Shadows are what help create a sense of depth in your videos and photos.

3. Look for matching exposure for the subject and the background: Most people know the basic tip of shooting in the shade for better, more even light. (aka. Soft shadows!) A common mistake that I know I’ve made before though is not paying attention to the background. If the subject is in the shade but the background is in sunlight, the background will be blown out. For best results, try to position the shot so that the background is also in the shade.

5 Simple Lighting Tips For Videos

4. Balance your color temperature: When I shoot a wedding, I am often moving from place to place and don’t have much control over the lighting, or color temperature for that matter. White balancing in each new area can be very effective, but if moving from one spot to another in the same shot, balancing between the two locations can sometimes work as well.

5. Use reflectors! Reflectors are an awesome, inexpensive way to control the lighting when you have little control. I do a lot of interview shots and often times I don’t have many location choices. Reflectors can be a great way to get great lighting wherever you are without having to cart around a ton of equipment.