Proper lighting for film makes a world of difference in the final product and can easily make or break your video content. Lighting for the film can and should be designed to enhance a shot’s cinematography, send a message, and set a tone.

No matter what type of video content you’re producing – and whether you’re hoping to be a camera operator, director, writer, or any other film creative – understanding basic lighting technique types is essential.

12 Types of Lighting in Film

We’ve put together a collection of the 12 most commonly-used types of film lighting, providing you with a varied assortment of options to experiment with starting now.

Key lighting

The key light is usually the strongest light source, serving as your “main” light. It might be used to illuminate your primary subject but can also be aimed from the side or behind to create varying moods. Key lighting is ideal for highlighting a specific subject or making a certain aspect stand out in a scene.

Fill lighting

Fill lighting helps eliminate the dark, shadowy areas created by your key light. It’s usually situated in the opposite direction of the key light and adds a level of dimension. Typically, you’ll pair it with a reflector to produce a softer, evenly-spread light. You may also use fill lighting to decrease contrast or increase exposure so that viewers can see the scene clearly.

Backlighting

Backlighting is the last component in a basic three-point lighting setup, usually facing your primary subject. It’s generally diffused to reduce the intensity and can be used alone to create a silhouette effect.

Side lighting

Side lighting is placed parallel to your subject and may be utilized alone or paired with a very faint fill light. With side lighting, you can create a dramatic mood or “chiaroscuro” effect. It also brings out the edges or textures in a scene, enhancing the overall sense of depth.

Practical light

Practical lighting means using standard working light sources, such as candles, lamps, or even the television in a scene. It’s usually best for crafting a cinematic nighttime scene and almost always needs to be combined with supplementary lighting.

Hard lighting

Hard lighting might come from sunlight or a strong light source and is rarely used. However, you might carefully utilize it to create a dramatic, cinematic effect and emphasize texture, shape, and contour intensely.

Soft lighting

Soft lighting eliminates harsh shadows, replaces subtle outside lighting, or creates drama in a scene. It’s often the most flattering approach for human subjects.

Bounce lighting

With bounce lighting, you literally “bounce” light from a stronger light source onto your subject using a light-colored surface (like a ceiling or walls) or a reflector. It creates a larger area of evenly spread, soft lighting.

High-key

High-key lighting is on the verge of overexposure, getting rid of shadows and using lighting sources at very similar levels of intensity. It became popular during the 1930s and 40s but is still used today to create scenes that are either overwhelmingly bright or dream-like.

Low-key

Low-key lighting is a technique that may use just one strong light source, emphasizing shadows and creating a moody, mysterious, and suspenseful feel.

Motivated lighting

Motivated lighting is intended to mimic natural light sources, such as the sun, moon, or even street lamps. It can enhance practical lighting and usually uses filters, colored gels, or other methods for a natural-looking effect.

Ambient light

Ambient lighting uses existing lighting, such as natural sunlight, indoor lamps, street lamps, and the like. Essentially, it’s any light source that is not specifically for filming purposes. Remember that although ambient light has its strengths, you aren’t able to control its intensity and color in the same way you would other film lighting sources.

Hone Your Skills at the Country’s Leading Media Schools

Now that you’re familiar with some essential lighting techniques for film production, it’s time to start practicing and perfecting your skills.

At the BeonAir Network of Media Schools, with campuses located in Miami, Chicago, Colorado, and Ohio, our Film & Video Production program is designed to provide students with the skills they need to pursue a career in the media industry. Our film production courses are led by a passionate team of industry professionals, combining classroom curriculum with in-studio, hands-on experiences. You won’t simply learn how to create fantastic video content; you’ll get to do it.

For more information about how to get a job in film and video production, or for details about applying to our U.S. media schools, contact us today!

 

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