Easy lighting for YouTube, interview lighting and talking head videos

[@WillChidlow]

Hey Friends! Did you find this video helpful? How will you light your next video? hit me up with a comment and let me know! 👍

[@wanderingpanchhi]

Yes, Will. As usual. All your videos are helpful and I'm guessing that's mostly because you're quite passionate about what you do. It really does reflect in your videos. Keep up the good work! :)

[@WillChidlow]

Thanks so much Sameer! Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching and for your kind words 👍🙏😎🙌💪

[@incamoto9760]

keep putting out great content bro you really set the bar high. well done

[@smallbizdigitalmedia]

Great video. Totally relate to the comment about using blinds to control the light. Do all these lighting gurus who advocate working with the available light live outside the UK?!!

[@TheMattJames]

very helpful again will thanks

[@WillChidlow]

No problem 👍

[@josephclander]

Yes. Thanks for the video again Will. I'm learning and every aspect of film making I look at sends me down a rabbit hole. Camera, lighting, sound, FCPX, effects in FCPX. Your videos keep coming up as I need them and put me on the right track. Much appreciated.

[@WillChidlow]

Thanks Joseph! I know exactly what you mean about the rabbit hole 🕳 I find myself there all the time! There is so much to learn and it is never ending but that’s all part of the fun right?! I’m glad that me sharing my journey of learning is helping others like yourself, thanks so much for joining in! 👍🙏🙌💪😎

[@CouncilMade]

It's so nice to see someone starting a KZbin video with something other than "WHAT'S UP KZbin?" in a loud brash American accent. Subscribed just for that.

[@WillChidlow]

Thanks so much 🙏

[@Banksyyt]

Thank for this.

[@WillChidlow]

So welcome! 👍🙏😎

[@rhythmofrunning5867]

Great, informative presentation communicated clearly...thanx!

[@WillChidlow]

Thanks! So glad you enjoyed 👍🙏😎

[@ItsToyoo]

Thank you 🙏🏽♥️

[@WillChidlow]

Very welcome! 🙏

[@GetBusyLiving]

Nice video thanks Will - good to know you don't have to break the bank to get good results. I've always been toying whether or not to get an umbella set up but it looks like they really do do a great job softening the light. Thanks for sharing your set up via the wide shots as well - really helpful.

[@WillChidlow]

Great to hear! Glad you found the video helpful. Yes the umbrella is a super cheap way of getting soft light, only slight downside is you have less control of light spill compared to a proper soft box or light dome style diffuser especially if using a grid as well. This can mean you get a bit more light on the background than you would with a dome but I find it is very workable for the cost. Thanks again for watching! 👍🙏🙌💪😎

[@steinhillstudios1657]

I really like this look. Thanks for the breakdown.

[@WillChidlow]

Awesome! Glad you like! Thanks for watching 👍🙏🙌😎💪

[@Digital.Done.Right.]

Liked this vid. Very clear and simple setup. The 2 lights are enough and the 45° angle with softlight is the right idea. I will work on the practical light idea which is really good. I did find the screensavers a bit distracting though. All in all looking really good.

[@WillChidlow]

Great to hear Andrew! Glad you got something useful from the video. I actually agree with you about the screensavers, thought it would be cool but you are right they are a bit much, you live and learn! Thanks again for watching 👍🙏🙌😎💪

[@ArtByEmilyHare]

Excellent as ever

[@WillChidlow]

Thanks Emily! 🙏👍

[@postingproductions1050]

Looks great!

[@WillChidlow]

Thanks! I’ve changed my light since I did this video and I think it’s made a huger difference 👌

[@postingproductions1050]

Will Chidlow it does look even better now!

[@hop9920]

Great video mate. I detect a midlands twang in your accent ☺️

[@WillChidlow]

Thanks for watching! You’re not wrong about the accent, I grew up in Melton Mowbray 👍🙏😎

[@goldpandian7013]

Hey Jonny Depp 🙋‍♂️ good lighting setup but its warmer try the cool day light. godox sl 60w with parabolic softbox is good cheap combo $200. Try it...

[@WillChidlow]

Yeah I’ve been looking at the godox for a while now 🤔🤔🤔

[@awongfilms1]

great vid -great set up - thx!!

[@WillChidlow]

Thanks for watching! 👍🙏😎💪

[@RickNunn]

Good stuff, very similar to the lighting set up I use in my den. Except I put a red gel on my rim because I love that aesthetic.

[@WillChidlow]

Sounds good! I figure I have a fair bit of colour behind me already so opted for a simpler rim, but I can imagine your setup looking awesome! Thanks for watching! 👍🙏🙌💪😎

[@RickNunn]

Totally, I even have the hue lights behind me too, which I have one set to red and the other to very warm. The blue/teal is a nice offset from the skin tones though.

[@WillChidlow]

Have you experienced any flickering issues with the hue lights? I am finding that occasionally if the lights are on quite low I’m getting flickering on video, interested to know if you get the same?

[@RickNunn]

@@WillChidlow I totalyl do, I generally try to have them set to 100% power, and then turn up my video lights to balance them, otherwise you can see that flicker

[@WillChidlow]

Great. Glad it’s not just me! Such a shame, I’d expect better from Hue to be honest. My old £14 led strip from amazon never gave me issues but go figure. At least they are workable though 👍🙏

[@WillPhipps]

How did you know that I just bought myself a LED light panel! I got the Yongnuo YN300 III Pro and have been planning how to set it up! Helpful as always!

[@WillChidlow]

Awesome! Glad to help 👍 your aputure M9 with the orange filter would make a great little rim light over your head too, and because it’s so light you can use a cheap mic stand to get it over you no problem. That’s actually what I was using until I recently grabbed myself a heavy duty boom arm. 👍🙏🙌😎💪

[@WillPhipps]

@@WillChidlow yes of course! Cant wait to try it out and film something!

[@WillChidlow]

I look forward to seeing your results! 💪

[@AndysGolfBlog]

This is a really great video, Will. One of (if not the best) I've seen. Really well explained and easy to understand. One thing I was wondering i which kelvin value would you recommend for the key light? I've got mine at 5000 at the moment but interested to hear your thoughts? Thanks again and keep up the good work!

[@WillChidlow]

Thanks Andy! I like to use daylight (5600K) for my keylight but its really up to you, as long as you match your cameras white balance and consider what other light sources are at play it is flexible

[@AndysGolfBlog]

@@WillChidlow Thanks for the reply - legend. Would you also suggest matching the fill kelvin to the keylight or potentially trying something a little warmer. If so, I take it the white balance should still match that of the key? Thanks again

[@WillChidlow]

Yeah match white balance to the most prominent light source in the frame, so the key, or the sun if outdoors. I love using different colours for fill or rim lighting but that is a style choice, matching them all is equally a great option. In this video I used a very warm rim light to add a nice effect 👍👍

[@AndysGolfBlog]

@@WillChidlow Amazing. Thank you so much for the advice and more importantly for taking the time to reply. A+ 🙌

[@NicholasPaulFranks]

This is so helpful, Will.... just wondering how you suspend the overhead light? Thanks mate

[@WillChidlow]

I use a normal heavy duty light stand with a cheap boom arm attachment, both by Neewer and both from amazon. Thanks for watching Nick! 👍🙏😎

[@Scale_Architects]

Great video! Thanks, Will! What type of stand did you use to mount the overhead light?

[@WillChidlow]

Hi 👋 thanks for watching! I’m using a heavy duty neewer light stand with a neewer boom arm attachment on top, both items are very reasonably priced. The boom arm attachment also comes with a sandbag to weigh the stand down which I find is absolutely essential to keep it balanced and safe 👍🙏😎

[@joonajks]

If I am shooting a video with 2700 Kelvin lightbulbs, should I set my white balance in the camera to 2700 k? Or just use a gray card?

[@WillChidlow]

Hi Joon, in very basic terms the answer is yes but this can differ for many different factors. I’d suggest doing some more research on white balance to better understand the nuances of it. Using a grey card and your camera to set a custom white balance is great to do too. Thanks for watching 👍🙏😎

[@joonajks]

Will Chidlow thank you!

[@joonajks]

I just purchased a use 4 head socket soft box for a talking head key light! Would 4 40 watts 450 lumens each LED daylight bulbs be sufficient in your opinion? Or should I look at the 60 Watts 810 lumens each?

[@WillChidlow]

I’d get the brighter bulbs if it was me, you can always diffuse more if too bright

[@joonajks]

Will Chidlow thank you sir!

[@DavidsTrading]

Great vid Will! Im just starting out with all this youtube videos and its a lot of fun haha. But do you mind sharing and lights/mic booms to use? Or any suggestions?

[@horsesmouthmediauk]

Great vid! Were you using a picture profile?

[@WillChidlow]

Hey thanks for watching! If memory serves I shot this on my Panasonic GH5 in 1080p 10bit, using their Cine D profile and applied some minor corrections and a LUT in post.

[@horsesmouthmediauk]

@@WillChidlow Dude you're a legend. Thank you.

[@WillChidlow]

Ah thanks man 🙏👍😎

[@suppal8783]

hello, thanks for sharing. could you please share your iso and aperture? also, do you have any comments to get the best out of the panasonic 25mm f/1.7 for the g85. ty!

[@WillChidlow]

Hi! Thanks for watching! My aperture for this vid was 1.4, and that’s normally what I use on this lens as it helps with blur for the background. ISO was 100 but sometime I go up to 400 if needed. The 1.7 lens is lovely, but I’d suggest trying to maximise the distance between your subject Nd the background to help with depth but that’s about it. Hope that helps and happy shooting 👍🙏😎👌

[@suppal8783]

@@WillChidlow thank you!

[@coryjeffreys5146]

Hey Will where you been hopefully busy

[@WillChidlow]

Hey buddy! I’ll be back real soon, I e had a lot of commercial projects on the go and been decorating my house and to top it all off I’ve just broken my foot 😭 I’ve got plenty of videos in the pipeline though! Thanks for hanging in there! 👍🙏💪

[@coryjeffreys5146]

@@WillChidlow LOL hey I'm just glad you are not in a ditch somewhere haha suck about your foot though. Take care see you soon.

[@TonyBabarino]

Good cheap lights...yes....but you’re shooting with a $1,000+ camera. Re-do this video but use an iPhone. Let’s see the difference! 👍

[@WillChidlow]

How’s this for you Tony - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKaXZY2ZqKhjprs