Lighting
The cheapest flattering light is a window: stand facing it or at a 45° angle, about 1 meter away, with the light hitting your face softly. Add a ring light at eye level for videos, keep every bulb at…
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Window light is the cheapest and most flattering option. It's big, soft and gives skin a natural glow, which is exactly what a pricey softbox tries to imitate.
Face the window, or turn about 45° from it, and keep the light in front of you, never behind you. Here's the routine:
Golden hour is roughly the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset, when the sun is low and the light turns warm and gentle. Exact times change with your location and the season, so check your weather app.
Put the ring light at eye level or just above, close to the camera, and dim it. A ring light is great for videos and close-ups because it gives even light and a round sparkle in the eyes. Used badly, it flattens your…
Use a lamp with a shade or bounce it off a wall, and turn off the overhead light. Ceiling lights come from above and carve shadows under your eyes. A lamp at face height, in front of you or slightly to the side, is much…
Keep all your lights at the same color temperature. Mixing warm bulbs, cool bulbs and daylight is the number one reason skin looks orange on one side and blue on the other.
Window light, a ring light or a basic lamp: learn how to set up cheap, flattering lighting for photos and videos at home, step by step.