Your video recording is off to a great start. Even though you’re on a strict budget and no frills, you’re getting the quality shots you want. A problem arises when you plan the next phase of your production, an indoor location shoot. Your budget will not allow you to pay for professional lighting. Renting professional lights is an alternative, but that too can get expensive if your indoor shoot lasts a few days.
Don’t worry, a cost-effective alternative is available to you simply by taking a trip to your local mall.
Over the past decade, there have been significant advancements and advancements in lighting with the introduction of compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) and LED technology, and now with the entry of these alternatives, the sky is the limit.
In the past, it was taboo to even think about using fluorescent lights in video production because the old lighting gave off a sickly green hue that you had to spend a lot of time white balancing. This has changed due to these new technologies. Many lighting kits and professional light boxes today use CFL or LED lighting.
The fact that these new bulbs do not burn out hot, have low power consumption and have a long lifespan are just a few of the many benefits for productions of most budgets.
The lighting output of these bulbs can be compared to traditional incandescent bulbs and can meet your lighting needs without breaking the bank.
EXTREMELY LOW COST
The cheapest lighting alternative that I will present to you is called the Incandescent Clamp Lamp. The price range for this fixture is between $7.00 and $20.00, and it consists of a bowl-shaped lighting hood with a mounting bracket drawn into it so it can be easily hung. You can find these units and bulbs at places like Lowe’s, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, or any home improvement center or hardware store.
Although incandescent is in the name, it doesn’t mean you’re limited to using traditional light bulbs. CFL and LED bulbs can be used with these fixtures, but be sure to follow the wattage rating of the fixture, just like with incandescent bulbs, you can’t exceed the limits of what’s required for that particular unit. Typically, these fixtures can accommodate up to a 150-watt light.
Another benefit is that you can attach the accessory to almost any surface without damaging it. These units can also easily be used as key lighting subjects.
Personally, I have a professional tungsten lighting kit, but since they get very hot and need some cooling time before being taken apart on set, I prefer to use my own CFL lighting, which consists of some professional incandescents, brackets, and shades. I still use my clamp lights and they are still effective.
While you may miss features like barn doors for adjusting lighting, brackets for mounting fixtures, and other items you find in pro kits, you do have a useful alternative. You can slowly upgrade to more professional lighting when your budget allows.
Three of these fixtures plus a pack of CFLs would cost less than $30 on the low end. For an extremely effective lighting kit, you can’t beat that price.
Another alternative for lighting is work lights. You’ll also find these units at home improvement centers or hardware stores. The price range for these units is between $19 and $300. These units use halogen or, in newer units, LEDs.
The benefit of these lights is that they come with their own adjustable mounts. They can be added to your clamp light kit and still keep it within your budget constraints.
The drawback to this choice is that the less expensive units are halogen and can get hot. They will be brighter than your CFLs so adjusting them to match your lighting would be more of a challenge.
Going for the LED version is one option, but keep in mind that if you get multiple units to make a kit, you will be close to the price of a lower end professional light kit that will have barn doors, brackets, mesh, etc.
Regardless of the type of lighting you choose, you can be sure that your production will not lose the brilliance you’ve worked hard to maintain during filming. With the recent influx of these lighting alternatives, video producers on any budget can achieve professional lighting. There is no longer any need to fear losing your audience due to poor lighting.