Webinar Lighting
Professionals in all industries are using webinar technology owing to the fact that it provides them with endless opportunities to reach larger audiences. Webinars are a fantastic way to engage with current and potential clients, and to generate content for your business. As webinars increase with popularity, so does the competition for key audience’s attention. A basic webinar these days is simply not enough. The use of effective webinar lighting can make or break the quality of your webinar. By creating high-quality content for your attendees you create a positive experience, in turn, allowing you to rise above your competition!
Attendees define a successful webinar by the value of the content, and the quality of the experience. Therefore, if your video quality is poor, your attendees will seek out the more impressive competitor! Good webinar lighting is often overlooked but is a critical element in creating high-quality video content. Lighting makes a huge difference in how you appear on screen; without the proper lighting, the webinar speaker could be left looking washed out or completely overshadowed.
Here are some lighting tips that will take your webinar video quality to the next level!
Always face your main light source:
When setting up your webinar lighting, if possible, sit facing your main light source. This will ensure your face is well illuminated and clearly visible to your audience. Sitting with a light source or window directly behind you creates a harsh silhouette effect, making the speaker look like a shadowy figure. You will have a more difficult time connecting to your audience when your attendees cannot see your face!
Stick with ONE colour of light
The colour of light can be measured by its temperature. When selecting your light sources, try to stick with only one temperature or colour of light. Consistency is another important factor which is often overlooked. When selecting the colour of the lighting, ensure that all light sources are producing the same colour/temperature of light in order to establish a more professional looking scene.
In the event that you are using both daylight and LED light bulbs to illuminate your face, the two colours of light will mix together and create a very unnatural look. If you decide to use a natural light source, turn off all other differing light sources. Otherwise, if you use an electric light source, block out any natural light coming into the space. There is a wide variety of light colours and temperatures, as each individual is highly unique you might have to experiment to find which kind of lighting works best for you!
Recording Environment
Prior to filming your webinar, take time to scope out a few potential filming sites.
A location with the least adjustable environment is highly preferred as you have total control over your lighting. Natural lighting is soft and can be very flattering but is almost impossible to control. Clouds covering the sun can dramatically affect your lighting. You can try to support your natural light sources with lights of the same temperature, but it is always smart to have a plan B just in case. Another factor to watch out for is reflection. Windows, whiteboards, tables, blinds, walls and other surfaces can have considerable reflective properties. This can create annoying distractions for attendees, or even obscure the camera’s focus when it is attempting to automatically adjust to the lighting.
Webinar Lighting Setup
Setting up lighting does not need to be an overly complicated task, adding a few light sources can drastically improve the video quality. The number of light sources needed is entirely dependent on the space. It is always a good idea to include multiple light sources in order to create a balance and eliminate any shadows. Remember to try and avoid having one major light source directly behind you, above you, and beside you as they will create unwanted shadows. Try and produce equal amounts of light coming from all directions, this will help eliminate shadows. By adding a couple of consistent light sources to your filming environment, you can significantly improve your online presence for your viewers. Ring lights are great light sources professionals are using today. The circular shape of a ring light helps illuminate the whole face while avoiding making any shadows.
Test Your Setup!
Always test your setup before filming, you don’t want to create a bad impression because of poor lighting! A quick trial run with your lighting setup can leave you feeling confident that your video quality is looking professional, instead of looking overshadowed or washed-out.
Here are some lights that might be able to help with your next webinar…
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