Tips & Resources
Tip7 min read
Lighting
Lighting is 80% of mood. Before you reach for a color grade, decide where the light comes from and how hard it is — that single choice sets the whole tone.
Quality: hard vs soft
Hard light (small or distant source) gives crisp shadows and drama. Soft light (large or diffused source) gives gentle, flattering falloff. Name which one you want.
Setups worth memorizing
- Rembrandt — key at 45°, a small triangle of light under the eye. Timeless, moody.
- Butterfly — key above and in front, soft shadow under the nose. Glamour.
- Backlit / rim — source behind the subject, glowing edge. Cinematic separation.
- Golden hour — low, warm sun. Instant nostalgia and depth.
- Chiaroscuro — a single hard source in near-darkness. High drama.
Moody key light
Rembrandt lighting with a single large softbox at 45 degrees, deep charcoal background, dramatic falloff into shadow, subtle warm fill.
State the direction (“from camera-left”) and the source size (“large softbox”). Those two words do most of the work.