4 Easy One Light Video Setups

If you are a filmmaker, YouTuber or simply want to look better on your next Zoom call then you must know that lighting is everything.

Good lighting is what sets your videos apart, and mastering some easy lighting setups could go a long way.

Always make sure you have big soft source of light. For the following examples I have used the Nanlite Forza 150B with a Godox Softbox.

Here are 4 easy one light setups for your next video.

1) Rembrant Lighting

Putting your soft light at an 45 degree angle will spill the light beautifully on the subject’s face. This is the most pleasing form of light and very popular for interviews and documentary setups.

The name comes from a Dutch painter called Rembrant who used this lighting techniques commonly in his work.

What this setup does is that it lights one side of the face perfectly and the other side has a triangle under the subject’s eye.

02) Side Light

In this lighting setup we put the light right beside the subject.

As you can see in the above example the far side of the face is way darker. This makes the overall mood way more dramatic.

Side light method is mostly used in dramas and more serious forms of content. It is not a common setup to use in YouTube videos, unless you do want to go for that dramatic look.

03) Front Light

This is the most popular method for YouTube videos, since it has clear good light on the subject and is not distracting at all.

To achieve this method, put your soft large source of light in front of your subject and at a bit of a higher angle. This will help achieve some nice soft shadows under the nose; otherwise known as “butterfly lighting”.

04) Back Light

Back light is barely used on itself since the subject is lost in the shadows. However it is a very nice to achieve if you are going for such dramatic and mysterious look.

If you have access to more than one light though, it would be a very good complementary light to go along with your Rembrant Light or Side Light.

Conclusion

Experiment different looks with your light setup. Having just one light source is no excuse not to achieve the look you want to go for.

Move the light around, try different methods and tell a story with your light.