Two Point Lighting — How to Set Up Basic Online Video Lighting

Lighting is not What You See, It's How You See It

You think lighting is about visibility? Think again. In the world of filmmaking, two-point lighting is a statement, a bold brushstroke on a canvas. It's not a tool but an opportunity. It's a chance to sculpt a scene, to paint a picture, to talk to your audience without saying a word. Ready to transform the way you see lighting? Lets look at whats involved in kickstarting the process.

What is a Key Light?

In two-point lighting, the key light is your main source. You have control over its strength, colour, and angle. And with that control comes the power to create. The key light determines the mood, sets the style, creates the feeling, and forms the overall expression of the scene.

What is a Fill Light?

Balancing the shadows, softening the scene, the fill light is your guide, quietly shaping the aesthetics without overpowering the main player. Like a well-crafted sentence or an undercurrent of music, it works subtly, bringing harmony and resonance to the visuals. It's a support act that needs careful crafting and understanding.

Set Up, Experiment, and Embrace the Process

Imagine a line between your camera and the subject. Align your key and fill lights with this vision. Change the distance, shift the angles, adjust the strength of each light and play with how the shadows impact your subject. This is your playground for being creative so dont be afraid to test things out. As they say, the more you test the better you will understand how this technique can work for you.

Where Two Point Lighting Shines

Whether you're working on a blockbuster, a documentary, a corporate interview, or enhancing your YouTube channel, two-point lighting is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It's a versatile, timeless technique, utilized and loved by both amateurs and professionals. It's about simplicity, about telling a story without unnecessary complexity.

A Choice, Not Just a Technique

Two-point lighting isn't just a tool in your toolkit. Embrace this art form, understand it, adapt it, make it your own. Because how you light a scene is not just about what people see—it's about what they feel, what they remember, and how they connect with your story.  

Check out the video below for a further breakdown on how to apply Two-Point Lighting.