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FilmSkool — a free film school

How To Set Up 3-Point Lighting for Film, Video and Photography

A clean, instructional demonstration of building a three-point lighting rig from scratch, with attention to stand placement and light ratios. Straightforward reference video for beginners setting up their first kit.

Full Sail University · 8 min · Beginner · LGT · Lighting · 2017

What you take away

Position your backlight to separate the subject from the background before worrying about perfecting the key-to-fill ratio.

Watch it

Filed under

Films to study for light

Books on lighting

Light: Science and Magic — Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, Paul Fuqua
Motion Picture and Video Lighting — Blain Brown
Set Lighting Technician’s Handbook — Harry C. Box
Lighting for Cinematography — David Landau
Painting with Light — John Alton
Color and Light — James Gurney

Kit for this lesson

Aputure MT Pro — A pocket pixel tube
Aputure F10 Barndoors — Cuts the spill off a Fresnel — the cheapest control there is
Aputure MC Pro — Pocket RGBWW — an eye light that fits in a pocket
Aputure Light Dome Mini III — The Dome for small rooms and small fixtures
Amaran COB 60x S — Small, battery-friendly, a good first fixture
Matthews Full apple box — A seat, a riser, a mark and a shelf — in that order, all day

More Lighting

Advanced Documentary Interview Lighting - Step by Step — Mark Bone · 25m · Advanced
Filmmaking Lighting Masterclass: Xenon Light | Shane Hurlbut, ASC — Filmmakers Academy · 18m · Advanced
How to Light a Night Scene with Shane Hurlbut ASC [Part 1: Setting Up Your Key Light] — Filmmakers Academy · 15m · Intermediate
How To Light a Night Scene with Shane Hurlbut ASC - Part 3: Lighting Secrets — Filmmakers Academy · 13m · Advanced
How to Light a Night Scene with Shane Hurlbut ASC [Part 2: Matching Urban Light] — Filmmakers Academy · 14m · Intermediate
Film Lighting Techniques that will Boost Your Cinematography with Shane Hurlbut, ASC — Filmmakers Academy · 16m · Intermediate
Lighting & Filming Darker Skin Tones with ARRI Signature Primes — B&H Photo Video Pro Audio · 12m · Intermediate
The Easy Way to Not Suck at Lighting — Luc Forsyth · 31m · Intermediate
How to Light a Cinematic Scene with Only Natural Light — Filmmakers Academy · 11m · Intermediate
Hollywood VS Indie Filmmaking (With Shane Hurlbut, ASC) — Brady Bessette · 19m · Intermediate
Lighting for Film: The Complete Beginner's Guide — Luc Ung · 27m · Beginner
Diffusing Can Lights | Cinematography Tips with Shane Hurlbut ASC — Filmmakers Academy · 9m · Intermediate

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