Filmmaking 101 - Three Point Lighting Tutorial

In this tutorial I walk you through what Three Point Lighting is, what its uses are, and how to achieve it for Cinematography or Still Photography.
Key Light, Fill Light, Hair Light.

Instagram: @rethinkfilms

*Disclaimer* I have used YouTube’s Editor tool to remove a piece of misinformation I mistakenly said at the 4:15 mark. I initially misspoke during filming and said “the light also gets softer as you push it away”. The light actually gets harder, or more accurately, the shadows get harder/sharper the more you push the light away as the light source gets smaller relative to the subject.

[jhernandez]

why cant every tutorial for everything be this simple?
he explained each light. gave examples and showed what each does. thank you. i fully understand each light now.

[SD-ybfx]

Thank you for not playing any soundtracks!!! Straight to the point, accurate and without any distractions. Big thumbs up.

[justatasteproductions]

Bumping into this 11 years after it was posted, still by far the most helpful video on three point lighting I've found online. Thank you so much!

[FranklySpeakingwithGloryElijah]

Found this video in 2022 and so must Say THANK YOU for enriching my lighting game❤️😘

[barrybarger]

I think I've watched this video 20 times in the last 3 years. It is explained simply, and every time I'm filming and wondering WTF am I doing wrong I come back here. Seriously, this is tight and simple. Thanks DiCasa.

[WatchdogGoon]

This is probably the third time I have watched this and I always laugh at "Don't walk over that little bridge tomorrow."

[JimParshall]

Not joking, this is one of the best if not THE best explanation and example of three point lighting I have seen that wasn't in actual "school". You rock. Thanks so much.

[hardforyoutoswallow]

Honestly, this indeed is the first thing you get taught in Film School. Back light is amazing for both videography and photography. Great video!

[seniorministerofenjoyment]

I have been watching (i kid you not) a thousand videos today trying to find the best lighting to get started and I was just about to give up when I saw your video recommended. And this just changed everything for me!!! Now I understand why lighting from different angles is KEY! thank you so much

[jbilotta]

This is VERY informative! I've been modeling over 18 years & can take a GREAT photograph of myself and other things but I have -0- what I'm doing; I just know what looks good. I am getting a huge learning curve doing self tapes for acting. Understanding how to create a solid background with no shadows and to look good, is another ballgame. I definitely need to learn tech now.

[ginob]

Absolutely best video I've seen on 3 point lighting! Straight and to the point.

[spencerselover]

Light doesn't get softer as you push it away. This is a common mistake, it gets less intense (less bright due to more falloff), but it actually gets harder (creates more defined shadows). the farther the light gets the "smaller" the light source appears to the subject's perspective, making it create harder shadows. Good tutorial none-the-less.

[mkphotofilm]

This so much better than other channels such as "Full Time Filmmaker", even though it's over 10 years old. No paid promotions and asks for feedback at the end. Kudos!

[josephbradford]

This is arguably one of the best videos on 3 point lighting I have ever watched. There are several reasons. One is the fact that you talk about positioning and distance. You actually have a camera shooting wide so that we can actually see where everything is. Not only that, you actually turn off lights so that we can see what it looks like with and without each light.

[RSpudieD]

This was very well produced and definitely taught a lot. I struggle and honestly don't know too much about 3 point lighting but watching this, I'm certainly going to give it another go.

[Beamtekk]

Thank you for shedding some "light" on this subject :)

[kirkdarling]

From a portrait photographer: "Hair light" is intended to keep dark hair from going completely black; don't do a hair light on bald men, and you may not need it on blondes. Background separation may be done by "edge-lighting" the subject or lighting the background, but "edge-lighting" is not "hair lighting." Edge lighting should be narrower and shaped along an entire edge of the subject, not just on the head. There may be a cinematic reason for making the top of a man's bald head the most important visual interest point in the scene...but most often, not.

[EngineeredTruth]

this video was very helpful. well explained. I like how you turned on the lights individually. 

[leroypeck]

Thank you for this tutorial. I own a studio and work with portrait photographers and videographers. The lighting patterns are the same, but neeeds dictate how they are modified, as you poited out. This is very straight forward and simple to follow. I have to explain these things to those who are new to studio lighting and your tutorial is very helpful!

[longfordboy]

I see that part of your success is a great personality. I know nothing, nada, zilch about filming anything. Your delivery keeps me watching. I wish you had videos on very basic stuff . Thanks