Amazing Video Lighting Hack Using Mirrors!

Lighting tutorial on using cheap mirrors to create fake, realistic sunlight! You'll never light the same way again! Want to support the channel? Check out my video guides here: academy.dslrvideoshooter.com
=============================
GEAR MENTIONED
=============================
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links marked as “PAID LINK” are affiliated.
🛒 Acrylic Mirrors on Amazon (PAID LINK): geni.us/FBII12F
🛒 Cheap Light I Used on eBay (PAID LINK): rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53...
🛒 Light Bridge System on B&H (PAID LINK): bhpho.to/3qTsj4Z
🛒 Fake plants on Amazon (PAID LINK): geni.us/GgBF7W
🛒 Aputure Spotlight Mount
Amazon (PAID LINK): geni.us/DUyBNux
B&H (PAID LINK): bhpho.to/3afqhGy
🛒 Window Gobo on B&H (PAID LINK): bhpho.to/37mJPGM
🛒 Nano Clamp Arm on Amazon (PAID LINK): geni.us/fYVyOl
🛒 Baby Plate
Amazon (PAID LINK): geni.us/UmA2
B&H (PAID LINK): bhpho.to/2WigV4E
🛒 Mirror Tape on Amazon (PAID LINK): geni.us/onHUhYM
🛒 Foam board on Amazon (PAID LINK): geni.us/P6SWCQ
=============================
VIDEO CHAPTERS
=============================
0:00 Introduction
1:05 How Mirror Lighting Works
2:30 Background Mirror Lighting Setup
3:40 Table Top Lighting Setup
7:32 Cinematic Lighting Setup
8:03 Making a Fake Window with Mirrors
8:48 Best Mirrors for Lighting
=============================
DISCLAIMERS
=============================
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
This video was not paid for by outside persons or manufacturers.
No gear was supplied to me for this video.
The content of this video and my opinions were not reviewed or paid for by any outside persons.

[@PBentz28]

I’ll never forget the first time I was on a commercial set and heard the DP ask for a mirror. I thought it was going to be some industry term for something fancy. They pulled out a dusty cracked mirror, clamped it to a c-stand and created a phenomenal streak of light in seconds! Brilliant video Caleb!

[@PhillipBridgesReviews]

Hollywood: We can shot this film for $55 million. Caleb: I can do it for $185 and some tape.

[@dslrvideoshooter]

😂

[@geraldundone]

Me: Caleb, what have you been up to lately? Caleb: Mirrors! Fun video, dude! That overhead shot of you looked fantastic!

[@futuredirection880]

Man! Might try it out once I can get my hands on some mirrors

[@zhaedt]

Wow Gerald Undone and I were watching at the same time. amazing!

[@adnamcarlos]

can´t wait to see one of yours reviews on mirrors!!!! hahahah

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Haha! Thats me alright! Thank you for the kind words brotha!

[@jirosaves_theworld]

let's get UNDONE!

[@Thomasfrank]

This is one of the most inspiring production technique videos I've seen in a while. Now heading out to Michael's to buy mirrors haha

[@marqueshaynes8780]

Me too bro!!!!

[@MaineMountainMedia]

Dido!

[@tonyscalifornia]

Wow, I didn’t know productivity KZbinr watch cinematic KZbin setup video too haha. Anyway, love your video man, I listen to it everyday on the way to work

[@rockmyballsplease]

love that you said michaels.

[@castingkatemonakhova6308]

Thanks! Amazing, exactly what was looking for !

[@SoggyBeatz]

I immensely appreciate your cost alternative ideas. I think (and hope) beginners are encouraged by videos like this one to look for creative ideas than just clamoring for expensive equipment.

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Thank you so much! Amazing what you can get using cheap gear. Especially in the lighting department.

[@hopepym78]

Yeah i am so unhappy knowing creating a sun light is so expensive but I came up to this video and dang i am so happy 😊

[@TimmyLodhi]

Everyone else on KZbin: But did you know that the Canon C70 doesn't shoot RAW? Caleb: But have you tried putting a mirror in front of it?

[@BreonNagy]

I was praying for a sunny day to capture the light coming through the blinds, but I'm on a deadline and this is a life saver

[@edwardleefilms]

Over the years, I have learned so many DIY affordable filmmaking hacks from Caleb. Thank you so much for all that you do man! This filmmaking community would not be the same without you here on KZbin!

[@soamjena]

Oh wow, that was smart. Trying this right today in my KZbin studio with some cheap mirrors.

[@camerajames]

Always loved watched grips wrap 12x12 mirrors with packing tape, then smashing them on the ground. Keeps all the shards inside and makes for a very cool hard pattern mirror/reflector.

[@snwmrt6428]

I've pressed like first, pressed it again and then AGAIN just so I could like it twice! Unfortunately its not an everyday thing for youtubers to teach somethin 'new' anymore. Every single one of u is talkin about the same damn thing over and over again and acting like its all new. Infact its been a while since I learned somethin brand new about videography watching these channels... until today! What u tought today will change my brand video shooting forever. Thank you so much!

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Thanks great to hear! Thanks!

[@MrKhaled247]

Best Film making Chanel on KZbin

[@essexii]

As always, a DSLR VS idea that is beyond golden. I have lost track the number of times I have used one of your recommendations. Please never stop.

[@NicolasWaldvogel]

If you're into mirrors, you should look into Ian Murray, an amazing DP that is notorious for his use of mirrors. The results speak for themselves. Keep the quality content coming man!

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Thanks for sharing! I'll definitely check him out!

[@Bryce.Padovan]

Oh man I couldn't agree more! Ian Murray is the best!

[@theTechNotice]

If Einstein had a KZbin channel, it would be called DSLRvideoshooter 🤓👍 Fantastic idea!

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Awwww you are much too kind!

[@oscarcastillo116]

Why are you not getting 1M yet?!?! Your content is so good man, been watching you for a long time now

[@ichidomo]

Caleb, you are the Bob Ross of youtube 👌

[@GabrielSpence]

you have the best video and audio in the world I love the look and I love the feel please don’t stop

[@tomchurch]

Awesome! I love how you continue to focus on balancing budget, value and ingenuity to create high quality images. Tips and skills like this are what I wish more KZbinrs would implement instead of just sitting in front of a softbox with an RBG light on the background. Hopefully this helps more people see that the tools aren't the thing holding them back. Excellent work Caleb!

[@superjunaid]

I've been fascinated with Mirrors as well and I've been putting mirrors around the house. Now to use them with these neat techniques...

[@evan]

Just got myself some acrylic mirrors and finally snagged a friction arm. Thanks for the dope stuff as always

[@vinubox]

A new era of lighting, thanks for sharing

[@MakeSomething]

Absolutely incredible!

[@MakeSomething]

@@AnthonyRose Ha! Hi Anthony!

[@AnthonyRose]

@@MakeSomething 👋👋👋

[@HonJazzz]

This was awesome! I recently updated my bathroom and thankfully I didn’t throw my old mirror out yet haha.

[@CalledOutMedia]

I am so glad to live in the youtube era 😁

[@marioplus321]

Man ! I have been living twice as you have, but it's incredible !

[@nelsonpun]

I love that you dont do the cliche filmmaker rgb lighting setup for ur videos. Its so refreshing

[@retlwiz]

So creative - I looked at the price of these mirror sets months ago and forgot about it, but you have done something so clever and simple. Will be getting into this now...

[@cogmission1]

Man, you really are channeling McGyver! :-) Thanks for all of your ingenious ideas!

[@thatwastricky]

Wooo, never thought about using mirrors (especially with tape) for light patterns I'm definitely gonna try it!

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Thanks man! Happy lighting!

[@rynfilms]

Mirrors!!!! I can't say it occurred to me to use them in video work. I use them all the time for product photography. Cool! 😎

[@nutellaontoast4281]

I use tinfoil wrapped over cardboard that is proped on a shelf but sometimes I tape it on a mic stand. Works rly well and ripple sin tin foil has an awesome effect

[@riparianstudios]

This is awesome, Caleb. I heard you on Camera and Flask a few weeks ago talking about wanting to get away from product reviews, and this is awesome and innovative. Another thing about mirrors you didn't mention is that you can squeeze them into spaces you'd never be able to fit a light, _especially_ the setups on posterboard

[@JakeMcHugh]

Amazing hack! The timing of this video is great as I was just looking into making some DIY Cookies out of foam board. Might try this instead!

[@brandonmrsh]

Thank god for original content. As much as I love watching the 300d get unboxed, this is such a breath of fresh air!

[@TopOnePercentDads]

Like someone said in your comments. You are painting with lights. Beautiful!

[@kwa42]

i’ve discovered mirros recently and its so dope. another hack is tightly attaching rosco diffusion foil to reflect the light more softly - makes for an ultra cheap alternative to the light bridge mirrors

[@ThatTattooGuyOfficial]

Incredible tips ! Love it

[@HellGhost]

A very informative video! The way you demonstrate is so clean and perfect. You're one of my fav KZbinrs of all time and I haven't commented on any of your videos before damn!! I am so ashamed. keep it up, teach us more ♥

[@AmazingKitchen]

Your tips are just amazing. Thanks Caleb

[@dodmedia]

Brilliant stuff Caleb, it looks so good because you're essentially doubling the distance of the light by bouncing it on a mirror, so it looks more convincingly like the sun or moon. This would be a fantastically cheap way of lighting a day for night scene! 🙌

[@alesko5]

I really appreciate that, despite your success, you continue to relate to and empathize with the budget-minded amateur videographers/filmmakers! Thanks, Caleb.

[@ericallnight]

This is so creative. You're one of the few filmmaker type youtubers that is really being creative with rigging and lighting ideas. Keep doing your thing!!

[@BestAudiovisualTricks]

5:20 “Hollywooding” Best word ever! 🏆

[@lostalphabet341]

I love this idea! My favorite is the taped mirror.

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Thank you! Love this hack!

[@VeggieWorldRecipes]

This video is so amazing! I watched it a few months back, purchased the mirror and clamps, and I am LOVING the results in my videos! Just came back to this video so that I can leave this comment because this was such a game changer for me and I watched so many videos and none were as helpful as this one! Thank you so much!!

[@christophermorgan2485]

It's nice to see this technique become more popular online. Mirrors come standard on almost every G/E truck rental. It's a technique as old as filmmaking itself!

[@cheeeeezewizzz]

So in the same way that domes, softboxes, diffusion sheets, etc are soft light modifiers, mirrors serve as an endlessly adaptable hard light modifier. That's pretty awesome.

[@sarasoueidan]

OK you are hands down my favorite KZbinr. Your videos and tips are invaluable. Thank you!

[@RonaldKasper]

I really didn't think of using mirrors in my videos up to now. Why not?? What a great possibility, thank you for this helpful video, Caleb!

[@UnboxMe]

*Genius!*

[@49Macman]

Mirrors???? Woohoo! Never thought of it or seen it on youtube before. I can't wait to try it! Thanks.

[@precisionsoundworksstudio]

Best video on budget lighting tricks, ever. 🔥🔥😎👍🏻

[@mrbardo]

Genius!!!!!! I was on the verge of buying a GOBO set up - you've just saved me a fortune! Thank you!!!!

[@JUSTINBUISSON]

woooow the window hack is insane!

[@TheAaronalden]

This is incredible! I just bought a one foot 2-way mirror for use as a teleprompter, and I love that it can have multiple purposes in my kit!

[@Cheapfilmmaker]

One of the best videos I have seen on youtube!

[@renecaron6409]

Wow. This is the first original lighting tutorial I've seen in many months.

[@adityarao2974]

Videos like these which give me ideas make me happy!!!

[@slimyelow]

This is phenomenal. Exactly the hacks that I have been looking to solve for years.

[@wyattlees8952]

Would love a video on how you made the box for your mirror set up! That would be a greasy video to make like a tutorial on getting a hard case and customizing it for gear

[@ParsclickTV]

i think you are one of the smartest videographers/photographers on KZbin. Big like big fan of you.

[@CreativePathFilms]

Caleb. Hats off to you man for consistently remaining creative. How you keep coming up with these awesome hacks and ideas that share and help make us all better filmmakers is incredible. It’s very inspiring. I’ve also been obsessing with Lightbridge reflectors as well, but was put off by the price. You’ve just uncovered a world of options for me to play with. Thank you! ....now I have to go and buy some mirrors. 😂

[@YEIYO1]

This is awesome, i was searching to do exactly someting like this.

[@Marys-Channel]

Me too.

[@religionrethink]

Watching this video was like someone switching on a new light in my brain. Brilliantly inspiring!

[@daniplantworld9890]

Thank you so much for this video. I have horrible natural light in my apartment and I really need it for the products I shoot. This is going to be a game changer ❤

[@awfully.average]

17 year commercial photographer here , i learnt something new today thank you !

[@SnapRolls]

Ah-mAzing! Mind blown! Been trying to shoot nice product pics for my homegrown skincare business and it's been gloomy af for a while. Loved this idea and gonna try it out for sure! Thanks bud!

[@mediabyjp3340]

Dude - you are simply amazing. NEVER STOP POSTING.

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@TylerChandlerdp]

mind is blown no idea why i never thought about this but thank you for this

[@ohmyMoha]

I loved the FAKE natural light hitting the backdrop. Looks Awesome 😁

[@indranilkishor]

Thanks man for recalling this mirror idea. I have gathered some real cinema shooting experiences in Bangladesh long time ago. I’ve almost forgot this tricks.

[@christophermcguinness]

I love this way of using mirrors! Thank you Caleb! I'm excited about experimenting with this for a new "macro" set build I've been working on.

[@ShuriBear]

This is such a simple, but brilliant tip!

[@DigbyPixels]

Have used mirrors in the studio for many years for stills photography but you have taken it to a whole new level- well done

[@tombuck]

Super cool! DIY Perks did a video where he tried to create an artificial sun and explained why sunlight/shadows look the way they do. I think you’re implementing a bunch of those same ideas here, but in a much simpler and more affordable concept 😎

[@thebolivianguy64]

Man... this is the creativity punch i needed in my life right now. Thanks for keep doing such awesome content

[@Robberdam]

Cool video. Tips: you could use one or more old cd's as a mirror. Inside old computer disk drives you will find excellent round mirrors with mounting holes.

[@TroyMeekhof]

Awesome idea! This is fantastic, as usual.

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Thank you kind sir!!!

[@MrCameraJunkie]

Dude you just opened my mind to a world of possibilities, Great video and as always thanks for the info 🔥

[@KevinLe]

That's a great tutorial! Thanks! I would imagine something like helping hands soldering tool to hold multiple tiny mirrors would be great to be able to position those little mirrors wherever you need them!

[@Pfahli94]

Hi Caleb, what an awesome effect! Just had an idea that would bring this to the next level. By putting a mirror onto a slider, you could create a moving sun effect that looks like a timelapse. This would work even better when changing the temperature of the Aputure Athen same time to simulate a sunset. Putting the camera on a motorised slider as well could lead to shots looking like they have been taken over the course of hours while in reality they were taken in a few seconds.

[@kylelimeback]

Omg you just blew my mind. I love the mirror on a motorized slider idea!

[@uniworkhorse]

Oml

[@uniworkhorse]

Imagine creating a spaceship effect

[@emilysha418]

I'm now wondering if I can do this in my darkass apt

[@ViktorHristovvv]

This video is a total game changer! Expect to see it all over KZbin in 2021! And thank you for the brilliant advice

[@JMBalicano]

The master is at it again!

[@JasonFoxLCB]

Sweet Moses this looks so much easier (and better) than trying to use cookies.

[@mikedmalott]

This is great Caleb! My challenge is taking this look and extrapolating it into video format. No stills, only movement. This got the gears turning!

[@Sams_Uncle]

You are king of camera hacks...good job

[@cheung2046]

Although we all know what mirror can do on set, but no one has done such systematic tutorial! You are the man! Thank you so much for this putting out! :-)

[@brentstutzman]

I feel like in this episode Caleb is channeling his inner "Bob Ross" as he paints with lights. Well done, Caleb! :-)

[@tom_something]

These are great ideas! If you want to make a bunch of swappable gobos, I think magnets might be handy. You wouldn't even have to permanently fix the magnets to the mirror or your stencil. Just keep a few magnets in with your gear, then drag and drop them wherever they're needed.

[@KevinHolik]

This is awesome and clever! So simple yet dynamic! Will definitely try this out, thank you for the informative video!

[@ProSimRacing]

This is just so inspiring, it has me thinking about lighting in ways that I never did before, especially for product reviews. Thanks a lot for taking the time to make this video buddy, your hard work is very much appreciated.

[@thisiseric]

Oh this is a great alternative since I don't have a light that is compatible with gobos, this could still give me the fake window effect. Great idea.

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Thank you Eric!!!

[@ImaginetMedia]

It's all smoke and mirrors! Brilliant.

[@alexfont]

This is simply incredible Caleb! 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@ClubuldeEnglezaYouTube]

I would use white foam board to increase light. It's the best light you can get. The light coming from mirrors is harsher.

[@Jfasche]

Great video Caleb! Thanks for taking the time and effort to put this together.

[@waynebonilla]

Caleb, this tutorial is dope! Thank you so much for always sharing your knowledge, we appreciate you man! 💪🏽🙏🏽

[@Rexyspride]

This is EXACTLY what I've been looking for! Some way to make the dull UK winter into something more interesting. Thank you so much!