Lighting is one of the most important factors in creating high-quality video content.
Poor lighting can make your content difficult to see, distracting, or uncomfortable to watch - even if the teaching itself is excellent.
Core Principle: Light Your Subject, Not Your Background
Your face and body should be clearly visible, evenly lit, and easy to see at all times.
- Prioritize lighting on you, not behind you
- Avoid extreme brightness or darkness
- Keep lighting consistent and natural-looking
Common Lighting Issues & How to Fix Them
1. Too Dark / Underexposed
- Issue:
- Your face or body is hard to see due to low light.
- Solution:
- Face a window or primary light source
- Add a lighting in front of you, ideally more than one to minimize harsh shadows
- Avoid relying on overhead lighting alone
2. Backlighting (Window Behind You)
- Issue:
- A bright light (often a window) behind you causes your body to appear dark or silhouetted.
- Solution:
- Turn around so the window/light is in front of you
- If unavoidable, add strong front lighting to balance and/or draw shades or blinds to minimize backlight
3. Harsh Overhead Lighting
- Issue:
- Light from above creates unflattering shadows under your eyes and on your face/body.
- Solution:
- Turn off or reduce overhead lights
- Add light sources at eye level or slightly above in front of you
4. Strong Shadows
- Issue:
- Uneven lighting creates distracting shadows on your face or body.
- Solution:
- Use diffused light (natural light, lamps with shades)
- Avoid a single harsh light source from one side; multiple sources at different angles can help
- Aim for balanced light across your entire body
5. Mixed Lighting (Yellow + Blue Tones)
- Issue:
- Combining different light sources creates unnatural color tones.
- Fix:
- Use one type of light source when possible
- Turn off conflicting lights (e.g., overhead + window)
- Aim for consistent, neutral lighting
Simple Setup (No Equipment Needed)
You can achieve great lighting with a very simple setup:
- Face a window (natural light is best)
- Place your camera between you and the window
- Turn off or minimize overhead lights if they create shadows
- Turn off any light sources or screens behind you to eliminate backlighting
- Record during daylight hours when possible, and be aware of the times of the day when lighting shifts most (e.g. sunrise, sunset, or when direct sunlight shifts to your recording area)
Optional: Upgraded Setup (Still Simple)
If you want to improve your setup further:
- Add a soft light in front of you (lamp or dedicated light)
- Use two light sources for more even coverage
- Diffuse light with curtains or shades to soften shadows
No professional equipment is required - simple adjustments make a big difference.