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The Power of Light: CINEMATIC LIGHTING CAN TRANSFORM YOUR CONTENT

Updated 04. 03. 2025

Lighting is everything. Lighting is the unsung hero of content creation. It sets the mood, defines the subject, and ultimately determines the quality of your final shot. Whether you’re filming a high-production campaign or a simple talking head video, mastering lighting is what separates amateur-looking content from professional, cinematic visuals.
We take lighting seriously and so we made this guide, to break down why lighting matters, key cinematic lighting terms, basic setups, and how you can achieve a pro-level look in your own videos. Plus, we’ll link a few video examples to show you exactly how we do it.
Why does lighting matter in video production?
Pre-production is everything that happens before the cameras start rolling. It’s where ideas turn into structured plans, covering scripting, budgets, logistics, and creative direction.
It’s not the most glamorous part of content making, but trust us, this is where the magic begins.
Cinematic Lighting 101: ESSENTIAL TERMS
Before we dive into setups, let’s cover a few key lighting terms:
    Key Light: The main source of light for your subject.
    Fill Light: A secondary light used to soften shadows created by the key light.
    Back/Rim/Hair Light: Positioned behind the subject to create separation from the background.
    Practical/Prop/Mood Lighting: Light sources within the scene (e.g., lamps, neon lights, candles) used for enhancing the mood and realism of your videos.
    Soft vs. Hard Light: Soft light creates smooth, flattering shadows, while hard light creates strong contrasts.
    Colour Temperature (Kelvin scale): Warm (tungsten ~3200K) vs. cool (daylight ~5600K) tones affect the mood of the scene.
Basic Cinematic Lighting Setups
1. The Classic 3 Point Lighting Setup
Perfect for talking head videos and interviews, this setup includes:
    Key Light: The main source of light for your subject.
    Fill Light: A secondary light used to soften shadows created by the key light.
    Back/Rim/Hair Light: Positioned behind the subject to create separation from the background.
This setup is ideal for professional-looking interviews, vlogs, and business content.
2. The Two-Light Setup (Key Light + Backlight)
A simple yet highly effective cinematic lighting approach. This setup includes:
    Key Light at a 45° Angle: This is the main light source, placed slightly to the side of the subject to create natural-looking depth and contrast.
    Backlight: Positioned behind the subject, opposite the key light, to create a subtle glow around the head and shoulders. This helps separate the subject from the background, making the shot look more professional and cinematic.
This setup works well for talking head videos, interviews, and product-focused content, offering a clean, high-quality look with minimal equipment.
3. Natural Light + Bounce
A budget-friendly option that works well for softer, more natural looks.
    Use a large window as your key light.
    Bounce light back with a white wall or reflector to reduce harsh shadows.
Perfect for casual, lifestyle content or when shooting on location. Click here to check out our ‘no budget - high budget’ guide for this set up.
4. Box Lighting: Soft & Even for a Professional Look
Box lighting isn’t always considered a cinematic setup, but when used intentionally, it can create a polished, high-end look. It’s perfect for beauty content, product showcases, and sleek commercial shots where soft, even lighting is key. So, of course, we couldn’t let you miss out on it.
    Two Key Lights: Placed on both sides of the subject to minimise harsh shadows and create a smooth, balanced look. This setup enhances skin texture and gives a more polished appearance.
    Fill Light: Softens shadows and keeps brightness even across the face, reducing fine lines and blemishes.
    Backlight: Adds subtle depth by separating the subject from the background, giving them a natural glow.
Want to add a cinematic touch? Introduce contrast by adjusting the key-to-fill ratio or mix warm and cool tones to create depth and dimension.
5. Rembrandt Lighting & Other Face Lighting Styles
Rembrandt lighting is a dramatic setup commonly used in cinematic films. It creates a small triangle of light on the subject’s cheek.
Self Portrait, Rembrandt, 1629
    Key Light: Placed high and at a 45° angle.
    Fill Light (optional): Minimal or no fill light for a dramatic look.
Other face lighting styles that can also be used to shape mood and depth:
    Split Lighting: One side of the face is fully lit, while the other remains in shadow, creating a moody effect. Check out our example of a split lighting here
    Top-Down Lighting: Light comes from above, often used for mysterious or eerie vibes.
Different face lighting styles can dramatically shift the feel of a shot, even if they feel seemingly similar. Even when using a standard key light at a 45° angle, the amount of fill light you bring in determines the intensity of these effects. More fill light softens the contrast, while less creates deeper shadows and more drama.
Best for storytelling-driven content or moody, dramatic aesthetics.
Our Approach to Cinematic Lighting
We use professional lighting techniques in all our productions to ensure a high-quality look, even in mobile content. Below is an example of how we light our sets:
Talking Head Lighting Setup
BEFORE
AFTER
Recommended Gear
If you’re looking to upgrade your setup, here are some lighting tools we swear by:
Want to see it in action?
Here you can watch our short breakdown on ‘How to Set Up Cinematic Lighting for Talking Head Videos’ to see exactly how we bring our content to life at CoHo.
Got questions about lighting? Drop us a message here, or book a session to figure out if getting a CoHo membership could help you create your own high-end content with the best lighting setups. It will. 😏
Valerie
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