- 1). Set up your scene, with your actors in place. (On many sets, stand-ins fill in for the actual actors for lighting purposes.) Frame your shot in the camera at the point where the scene will begin.
- 2). Set up the light poles. Place the key light pole to one side of the camera, approximately 15 to 45 degrees away from the camera itself. If you're lighting for more than one person, you can use two key lights or just one. If the scene involves a man and a woman, the key light is typically focused on her, to illuminate her skin and make her look more radiant. However, this rule can change drastically in the case of mood lighting or other lighting that is used to make a statement
- 3). Angle your light 15 to 45 degrees down from its top height. This creates downcast shadows, whereas lighting straight on throws shadows against the backdrop. Adjust the scale and scope of the lighting with the barn doors. Open the doors to allow more light to spill out and effectively lessen its intensity. Or close the doors at different angles to direct the light or intensify it.
- 4). Next, set up your fill light and back light (or rim light). If you can't seem to get the look you need, take down the back light and fill light and start again with the key light. Try using a different wattage of bulb. Then try using filters and/or soft boxes. If you're shooting at night and trying to recreate a daytime setting, blow out the set with light, then start again with your key light as if it were day. Good luck!
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