What Is 3 Point Lighting?

Source: DHgate, Tag: Electronics

3 point lighting is of the standard setups that we believe every filmmaker, videographer & photographer should be aware of.

• Ever heard of 3 point lighting? For those who may want to know about the traditional method for illuminating a subject in a scene with light sources, we thought to put together a guide that would surely gonna tell you everything you need to know about the methods of 3 point lighting.
  Believe it or not, video advertising has become the most important tool of marketing & communication for marketers in the 21^st century. In old times, even the big companies, used to publish ads in newspapers & magazines to spread the word. But now, advertisers post videos & pictures on digital platforms to attract potential customers & to make them aware of new products. The reason behind this drastic change is the new trends & techniques which people use to make their piece of art exceptional.

However, the advent of new media marketing techniques has surged beyond the imagination evolving from black & white to 4K resolution, from 2D to 3D & finally 180 to 360-degree video. Regardless of the category & format, the video has been made for, it has one thing in common that is professional & optimum lighting making it looks attractive & striking.
Besides, 3 point lighting is a technique used by professional cinematographers, Vloggers & filmmakers worldwide. Don't get confused, 3 point lighting is exactly the same as it sounds. With this technique, you put light on your subject from three different sources to balance the contrast & control the shadows. Although you can see your subject in single light as well with the help of 3 point lighting, you can make the object look fantastic.
Let’s dig a little deeper to understand what 3 point lighting exactly is & how you can set it up.
How to Set Up 3 Point Lighting?

Key Light
When you are making a video, either on a small scale or large, the light source matters a lot. Professional filmmakers & videographers use key light as the main source because it directly shines on the subject. In simpler terms, it provides the majority of the light to your scene usually from the front left or the front right. But, the intensity & brightness is totally under the control of the filmmaker, the way you want it to be. Generally, videographers aim for 500 to 1000 watts of power establishing the overall look & feel for the shot.
The key light is placed slightly higher than the subject & at an angle of 15 & 45 degrees from the camera, depending on where the videographer wants the light to fall. Moreover, its softness can also be controlled, by moving the light closer or far away from the subject. Bringing the light source closer to the subject, you make it look broader, more diffused, bigger & ultimately softer.
Fill light
The second source is the fill light providing the balance to the key light by filling the rest of the face of the subject with softer light. If you are a photographer or a videographer, remember to position it on the opposite side of the key light. In simpler terms, fill light is used to create balance for the key light. On top of this, there is a general rule to use fill light, set its intensity to about half that of the key light. For instance, if the key light is at 500 watts, the fill light must be at 250 watts.
Place the fill light exactly on the contrasting side of the camera to your key light. Make sure it is not at the same angle as the key light because, because that way it won't serve its purpose of balancing a shadow. For instance, if you have positioned the key light at 30 degrees at the left side of the camera; place the fill light at 30 degrees at the camera's right. It is not necessary to use actual light every time to fill in the shadow created by the key light, the bounce card or a reflector can also help. If you are operating in a small space or working in restricted power outlets, this technique is definitely worth trying.

Back Light
It is the third light source creating a flattering rim of light all around the subject while separating it from the background. It elevates the scene from good to really special. All you have to do is position your backlight behind the subject, but make sure it is pointing to the camera. Sometimes, the backlight is also known as rim-light that lifts the shot & creates a 3D feel. Don't forget to position the backlight on the same side of the key light. Not just this, make sure the light source is concealed properly & the camera does not pick it up.
Why Do People Use 3 Point Lighting?
Many photographers, videographers & especially filmmakers use 3 point lighting because the natural look it creates takes the breath away. You must be wondering that all the purposes which 3 point lighting is serving can be achieved with the help of the sun, wrong! The sunlight reflects & bounces back extensively. But the artificial light wraps itself around the subjects quite easily. On top of this, 3 point lighting effect adds a 3 dimensional feeling to the scenes making them look natural & more realistic.

Things to Remember…?
If you are planning to use 3 point lighting for your next shoot make sure to set all of them at the same color temperature. For instance, if you have set one light at the daylight & the other two as the tungsten you will never get the results you are looking for. Hence, pick a light temperature & set your 3 point lighting according to it.
Remember, if your frame has a mirror or glass door in the background, you may face a problem with a glare. So make sure to check all of it before recording or photo-shoot, because noticing the flaws halfway through will be very frustrating for you.
If you are looking for 3 point lighting to make your videography/photography exceptional, you are at the right place. We have got what you need.