Before you start experimenting with different lighting setups and equipment, you need to understand the basic principles of lighting for videography. These include the three-point lighting system, which consists of a key light, a fill light, and a back light, and how they create contrast, depth, and dimension in your shots. You also need to know how to use color temperature, exposure, and white balance to adjust the warmth, brightness, and accuracy of your lighting. Finally, you need to be aware of the different types of light sources, such as natural, artificial, hard, soft, direct, and diffuse, and how they affect the texture, shape, and mood of your subjects.
The main ingredient to a good lighting style is you, base your setups on the emotion that you're trying to set in motion. once you have a grip on knowing how to bounce or defuse or even create a "negative fill" (by taking away a light source or covering it up) you can then understand the principle of your mise en sćene.
One of the best ways to learn and improve your lighting skills and knowledge is to study the work of the masters of videography and cinematography. You can watch movies, documentaries, commercials, music videos, and other video content that showcase different lighting styles and techniques, and analyze how they achieve their effects. You can also read books, blogs, magazines, and interviews that reveal the secrets and tips of the professionals. You can also take online courses, workshops, or tutorials that teach you the theory and practice of lighting for videography.
Another way to learn and improve your lighting skills and knowledge is to experiment with different scenarios and challenges. You can try to recreate the lighting setups and effects that you see in other videos, or create your own original ones. You can also test your lighting skills in different environments, such as indoors, outdoors, day, night, sunny, cloudy, etc. You can also vary the type, number, position, angle, distance, and intensity of your light sources, and see how they change the look and feel of your shots. The more you experiment, the more you will discover what works and what doesn't, and develop your own style and preferences.
If you're looking to get quality results for your videography, you'll need to invest in the right lighting equipment. Depending on your budget and needs, you may want to consider purchasing a light meter, reflector, diffuser, gobo, gel, softbox, ring light or LED panel. A light meter measures the amount of light in a scene and helps you set the correct exposure and aperture for your camera. A reflector bounces light from a source onto your subject while a diffuser softens the light and reduces harsh shadows or glare. A gobo blocks or shapes the light from a source while a gel changes the color or temperature of the light. A softbox encloses a light source to create a large and soft light that is flattering for portraits or interviews. A ring light surrounds your camera lens and creates an even light that is ideal for vlogging or close-ups. Lastly, an LED panel is a flat and thin light source that emits a bright and adjustable light that is versatile and portable.
The last tip on how to learn and improve your lighting skills and knowledge is to get feedback and improve. You can ask for feedback from your peers, mentors, clients, or viewers, and listen to their opinions and suggestions. You can also review your own work and critique it objectively and constructively. You can also compare your work to other videos and see how you can improve or learn from them. The more feedback you get and apply, the more you will grow and refine your lighting skills and knowledge.