$20 Lighting HACK Using Mirrors!

This $20 fake window lighting hack allows you to create multiple sources of light from one fixture, and I light a scene using mirrors!
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0:00 Introduction
0:36 Benefits of Using Mirrors
0:42 Reason #1
1:00 Reason #2
1:43 Making Your Own
2:18 Lighting A Scene With Mirrors!
4:08 Mirror Techniques You Should Know
4:48 Outro
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Hi, my name is Nathan, I’m a filmmaker sharing what I learn in concise videos. Subscribe for my film tutorials, gear reviews, short films and behind the scenes content, every week on KZbin.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

FYI: The background of this video is lit with mirrors!

[@azmirov]

This is really smart. Thanks for sharing!

[@FactsBD71]

Hands down, the best cinematic one light tutorial on the internet 😍😍 Just watch and subscrib

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Thanks Syed! Appreciate the kind words

[@andresasindp]

Thank you! I really appreciate this info

[@barkingshark9340]

Well done. Fun, very doable DIY process with lots of creative possibilities. Thanks for sharing.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Appreciate the kind words! I agree, it’s a fairly useful way to get a unique effect that is practical!

[@jw_film]

Excellent tips here Nate, I'm definitely poaching this idea 😁

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Go for it! I look forward to see what you come up with! Good to see your comment.

[@danbuffington75]

This is such a good video. I never thought about any of this before watching this video. Thank you for posting this.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Appreciate it Dan! It’s definitely a useful trick to have on hand!

[@staff924]

Brilliant!!

[@nevanotreel]

This content is golden 🔑

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Thanks Neva!

[@WalterArgueta]

Great little hack with the Acrylic mirrors. Systems from Dedo and Lightbridge are a bit out of range at the moment but this is a great way to start understanding the work flow

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Thanks Walter! When I first learned about them a few years back I was intrigued! There are some great resources using these reflective mirrors, and even movies lit with just them!

[@davidp158]

The Lightbridge system is a great concept. The product is likely well made, and the range of sizes and diffusion is nice, but the price is seriously hard to justify. It would be an interesting product for a rental house, but those that I have spoken to say it's not worth the investment. I avoid supporting knock-offs out of respect to the originator, but it wouldn't bother me if someone knocked off the Lighbridge product.

[@rychusandbonita]

Nice work

[@JohnAldred]

Another great advantage of mirrors is that it effectively increases the distance between your light source and your subject (inverse square law n' all that). If your key light is 5ft in front of you and the mirror is 10ft behind you, that light's travelled 25ft before gets back to hits you. So, it reduces the falloff on the light that hits you. You'd basically get the falloff that you'd get with a rim spot 25ft away from you. Very handy when shooting in smaller spaces.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Fantastic point! Couldn’t figure out how to include that within this short video. But that is one benefit with lighting actors with mirrors, they won’t suddenly get overexposed if they walk closer to a light source!

[@AlexanderOspanov]

Great idea, thank you! I would like to use it in interior with track light. To bring some artificial sun beams :)

[@recideas]

cool lighting ideas!👍🏻thanks for this video! Im also interested in filmmaking & videoproduction content, so I subscribed😊

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Thanks Rec! Appreciate the kind words

[@pa_maj.MARTINI-van-MAN]

More great tips 👏👍

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@GustavoSalun]

Any idea on how to diffuse the acrylic mirror like lightbridge does?

[@batterybikes]

Great video. Makes me want to stick a mirror on the roof for a hair light 💡

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Absolutely! I find the tiny mirrors useful for such. You could even hide them in your scene if you needed to. It’d be great to pair these with a bright flashlight for an ultra compact lighting kit

[@tuanofoxie6536]

😂just incredible innovation.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Thanks!

[@sondermediums]

This is dope - C

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Thanks Sonder!

[@gaboguerra950]

Thanks for sharing !!!! Question: what kind of material (board) do you use for sticking the mirrors on and sticking the tripod holder ?

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Thanks Gabo! The “board” is just the acrylic mirror back side. If you wanted you could add a backing to protect the back, because if it got a deep enough scratch it would show up on the mirror. Hope this helps!

[@gaboguerra950]

@@NatesFilmTutorials oh so all you did is adding gaffer’s tape in the front? I thought you stacked several pieces in one board for the venetian one

[@spiralfirst6488]

The mirrors are cheap. The idea is amazing. The light costs £500.

[@d.s1014]

It depends on which brand you buy.

[@JunyNoLimit]

🔥🔥🔥

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Thanks Juny!

[@k1k13004]

genius.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Thanks!

[@gaboguerra950]

Question: I ordered the mirror sheets of your link, and they with a silver side and a white side. But the silver side has a bluish film paper and when you get it out (to see the silver) it is sticky !!! How can you work with a silver sticky surface ? Or Am I doing something wrong ?

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Huh… There was only a clear plastic film on the front that you peel off which reveals the shiny mirror. There was nothing I had to remove from the backing, nor was anything sticky. If you think something is wrong, you may want to see if Amazon will return it or replace it. Hope this helps!

[@gaboguerra950]

@@NatesFilmTutorials yes it is something you peel off revealing the silver shining surface but this surface is way to sticky. And then material is not rigid (like it seems in your video). It is very week. I got it from your link but maybe would you share the link of your specific board you bought please ??

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Hmm… mine is fairly light and can flex a bit. Here is the link I ordered from amzn.to/3zsLcT3

[@eugenewii]

That's so simple. You could even color the reflections

[@johngeorgo]

The window light effect is problematic, real window passing through windows has sharp lines while this trick produces soft ones

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Hi John! You’re correct. A projector/spotlight mount with a window gobo is ideal to can create sharp shadows or choose to bring it out of focus. There are ways to make the window effect on a mirrors sharper by moving the light/mirror further away. I think the results are quite good for less than $20!

[@johngeorgo]

@@NatesFilmTutorials While i support everything else you say in the video and the usage of mirrors like this, I am not sure I like the use of them with tape to recreate some of the effects you do, they might be hard to argue against for 20 but sometimes if it doesnt look right it doesnt matter how cheap it was. You could also diy these effects with a big "masking" cardboard closer to the subject and a far away light source which could be for sure a mirror, but since the masking cardboard would be close to the subject the lines would be sharper and more realistic. Not to go against diy solutions or mirrors, just to promote thinking of other budget solutions :)

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

It would definitely work with a cookie/Cucoloris made out of cardboard!

[@realestatephotovideoshawns1177]

An old Playboy trick