LIGHTING BASICS: The 3-Light Setup

Three point lighting is arguably the standard when it comes to lighting your subject for documentaries. I want to walk you through the basic terminology and show you where these lights will go in your set. Also, please note that you can take most of these three lights and move them all around for dramatic effect. Here is how I do most of my 3 light setups.

In particular, special thanks to our Patreon supporters: Tobias Haase, Medesthai, Larry Nelson, Please Stand By, James Brady, Morgan Price, Jinyuan Yeong, George Logue and all the others that help fund our work.

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[flyryde]

I’ve seen so many 3 point lighting videos, but this seems to have been the most clear and concise, without any “I’m a big deal Pro” ego.

Well done and thank you 🙏

[wedofun]

I like it. Neat, short and straight to the point. Easy to follow and understand.

[ChimneySwift]

As always, awesome video my friends! This one has great application for all sorts of film! 😄

[jimbrady]

Nice video, Rob and Jonas. The same basics of lighting apply to still photography. I do have a question. In still photography, we judge the "strength" of light using ISO and f-stop numbers. For example, let's say the key light is f/16 at 100 ISO. For dark-haired subjects, we generally use the same setting for the hair light. The fill light is often at some ratio less than the key light. Again, for example, the fill light might be one stop darker, or f/11 at 100 ISO. That would be a 2:1 ratio of Key:Fill (the Key light is twice as strong as the Fill light). Obviously, the greater the ratio, the more dramatic the lighting effect. In the world of video lighting, is there a way you guys measure and produce the fill light ratio?

[greghilton]

Excellent tutorial Rob and Jonas, very well done indeed. I worked in professional television for quite a while and here's a tip when your using green screen. Have the back light colour a bit on the yellow side to wash out the reflection of green light bouncing back off the green screen and it makes a nicer chroma key too. Thanks again guys. Cheers

[GeekyMino]

Great video! Very simple and to the point explanation.

[davidtevans]

Always such brilliant videos from Rob and Jonas. I'm doing some specific on-line Education courses and just wish they were filled with the dynamism of you two!

[jacobchristianglover]

Great video Rob & Jonas! I've been away for a while, didn't have the bell thingy next to the Subscribe button pressed, so I haven't been receiving alerts to your new videos. Now that I've got that all sorted out... "Let's Rock!" Thanks for this great tutorial. I'm finishing up a Beginning Photography course at the University of South Florida, so your timing of this video couldn't be better. Be well, stay encouraged, and thanks again!

[nadamuchu]

I was looking for a tutorial video to send someone who's learning the basics of lighting. I sent them your video told them the first three seconds show everything they need to know! haha

[SyNcLife]

how to add different positions of sunlight into that basics if shooting outside?