To produce a quality show, lighting is a very important component. And if it sounds simple, think again. Here’s all you need to know for good lighting for your live shows.
Don’t be fooled by the brightness in the room where you film your shows; this is not enough to make a video. Another mistake: beware of windows because even if it is natural light, their position will only add shadows on the image. To create great lighting, enough to enlighten you and soft enough to be flattering and limit all kinds of shadows, you need a well thought out lighting system. Rest assured, you can do this very easily and inexpensively.
The basic rule of 3 points of light
The most common and easiest lighting set-up is the 3-point lighting system. It consists of a main lamp, a fill lamp and a rear lamp. The main lamp should have the greatest intensity of the 3 and be directed at you (the main element). Then the filling lamp will have the function of eliminating the shadows created by the main lamp. For this, it must be less intense than the first to eliminate shadows without producing a too flat image.
Finally the rear lamp will have the effect of detaching the subject from the background. Here again the idea is not to create a too flat image and thus to generate a certain depth. It does not matter if this light is raw (without diffusion) because it will not create any visible shadow (thanks to the main light in particular).
Choose your lamps
You can choose “entry level” lamps (like clamp lamps at around € 10 which are very versatile). Beware, however, their biggest problem is that they do not have dimmer and a light diffuser. So you can get a light too raw or too intense without the ability to adjust it. You can add broadcast material (also inexpensive) to overcome this problem or you may prefer to direct the lamps to the ceiling or wall or use a reflector to create softer light. This will avoid blinding you during the shows and will create a much more flattering light.
If you have a little more money to invest (between 50 and 500 €), you can buy a kit of studio lamps. They are generally composed of fluorescent lamps and include effective scattering devices. Choose those with tripods that install easily anywhere and have greater lighting power.
Choose the temperature of the light
Be aware that not all lamps will produce the same type of light. Depending on the filament of the bulb, the light may be more or less hot. The temperature of the light is visible to the naked eye (and even more so to the camera): the rather cold neon lights of a medical office are opposed to a warm atmosphere created by a tungsten lamp. The temperature of the light is measured on a Kelvin scale.
Whenever possible, it is inadvisable to use too different light temperatures in the same set-up, as this would lead to difficulties in color balance and, ultimately, produce video images that are unnatural.
The importance of decoration
What will create the atmosphere of a video, beyond the temperature of the light, is also the decoration. Be careful of all the elements that enter the camera’s field and make sure that they are precisely arranged… And not left there at random. Also beware of personal items that may hang around in the frame and that could allow your viewers to identify you (look at our article on how to maintain anonymity).
Remember to keep a balance between colors and the intensity of light. Create your set-up according to your preferences and your character, but also the desired mood. Prefer soft hues and warm tones for a flattering image. In some cases, as for the fetish / BDSM, you can adopt harder shades related to your specificity (more aggressive colors, black, red …)
These lighting tips will help you get your start as a camgirl or camboy. Good lighting is a guarantee of image quality and will help you to have more viewers and thus earn more money.