With so many different creators producing content at such high speeds, it’s easy to get lost in the feed as just another video to scroll past. If you have ever delved into social media marketing and personal branding, then you are experienced with the trickiness of the algorithm. You have the product, you have the personality- but what’s missing?

You may not realize this, but more often than not, it’s proper lighting. Adding lighting is an easy way to set yourself apart from the competition and create eye-catching content that keeps your audience engaged.

The concept of lighting isn’t new, but many content creators assume it’s only for professionals. However, smaller-scale productions are now the most prevalent form of video on social media, making proper lighting more essential than ever. Read on to learn how setting up dynamic lighting can be easier than you think.

When lighting your content, there are a few key things to keep in mind:

Maintain a good balance of ambient light and artificial light. Ambient light is the natural light that comes from the environment, such as sunlight. Artificial light is anything that is not naturally occurring. A good balance of ambient and artificial light creates a natural look in your videos.

Direct your light. The direction in which you point your light at your subject can completely alter the mood of your video. For example, when you direct your light from the front, you create a more bright and more natural look. Back or side lighting creates a more dramatic and moody look. To learn more about different types of light, including soft and hard light, click here.

Utilize color temperature. Along with direction, different colors of lights can create different visual moods. When looking for a lighting kit, you want a wide color range, often found in bi-color LED lights. A small light such as the Hobolite Mini goes from 2700-6500, Kelvin. When set to 2700K, you will experience a warm glow on your subject, similar to candlelight. If you are on the other end, towards 6500K, your light will look more like daylight.