Cognitive Cornerstones: Essential Educational Content YT

Top 10 Educational YouTube Channels

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

There are many benefits that come with using educational YouTube channels to study and learn for both students and teachers. Video has a transformative way of learning which has been proven to encourage flipped classroom models where students have a chance to digest the lecture content at their pace, besides delving deeper into the content during class time. Below is a short preview of the specific benefits that using YouTube has for teachers and their students-:

• YouTube videos inspire and engage students in ways not possible with traditional lecturing methods.
• Using educational YouTube channels assists in mastery learning in instances where technical or complex topics are being studied.
• YouTube learning facilitate thinking and problem solving amongst the students
• Educational YouTube channels provide a vast resource for research on a myriad of subjects and topics
• Videos can be downloaded and accessed with great convenience, whether online or offline.
• They enable the teachers to reach millions of potential students in different countries across the globe.
• The engaging nature of videos makes them to be a more effective way of learning
• Educational YouTube channels can be used to create an archive of free learning resources which both the students and teachers can access without having to pay.

Top 10 Educational YouTube Channels

Below are the top ten educational YouTube channels that both students and teachers will find useful-:

1.Massachusetts Institute of Technology Channel

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the most premier higher learning centers in the world and so it is justifiable for it to have one of the best educational YouTube channels in the internet. The channel avails a wide variety of educational videos, cutting across various disciplines and anyone can access them without paying any tuition fees.

2. The University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley is another top public research and teaching institution in the United States and it also has one of the best educational YouTube channels in the internet. Just like the MIT channel, UC channel avails thousands of quality educational videos cutting across a plethora of subjects. All the materials are available to the general public for free and they are systematically arranged to help you progress from one level to another. However, UC Berkelyey course content on its channel is unavailable from 2017, March 15. And the UC Berkeley’s Webcast and Legacy Course Capture Content is available to UC Berkeley community members with an active CalNet and bConnected (Google) identity now.

3. TechnoBuffalo

TechnoBuffalo is one of the most comprehensive YouTube educational channels dedicated to everything that deals with electronics. It presents reviews on various electronic products, besides showing the workings of the various products. It also has practical videos as well as first look videos on the latest technology and gadgets.

4.ASAP Science

Just as the name suggests, ASAP Science is a science-themed educational YouTube channels. It primarily shows videos on the practical application of science in our everyday life. Within the channel, learners will find strange and interesting videos teaching different ways on how science impact on the day to day lives of people.

5. Sick Science

This is a leading educational YouTube channels for those interested in intriguing scientific experiments and demonstrations. The videos in this channel are clearly and thoroughly explained and they cover a wide variety of topics. One thing that you will find amazing about this channel is that most of the experiments are very safe and can be done by anyone at home.

6. BBC Earth

BBC Earth is some of the few educational YouTube channels dedicated to promoting different education programs, especially those that are usually shown on BBC Earth television channel. The nature of the content of the videos in this channel includes research, nature and natural history videos, with some dating back to fifty years ago.

7. Veritasium

Veritasium is an educational YouTube channel where complex issues are dissected in consumable content to help those interested in learning. The channel has partnered with some of the big brands to bring more educational content and offer a great deal of useful information to their subscribers.

8. SmarterEveryday

With 3.1 million subscribers, there is no doubt that SmarterEveryday is amongst the top educational YouTube channels you will ever come across. The channel is created and run by an engineer whose goal is to educate people by exploring the world through scientific demonstrations then explaining his processes and findings on the channel.

9. The Game Theorists

This educational YouTube channel is all about video games where it tries to separate the fact from the fiction in the development of the video games, especially the science behind the development of the cars seen in the video games.

10.Speak English with Misterduncan

This is an awesome educational YouTube channels for anyone who is interested in learning English as a second language. Most of the videos contained in the channel teach about definitions of words, idioms as well as silent letters. What student find most amazing in this channel is the subtitles at the end of the screen to aid learning more about spelling and pronunciation of what is being taught.

Conclusion

YouTube has become a beloved educational resource for both students and teachers across the globe. It makes the process of teaching and learning so simple that most people no longer find learning to be an arduous task it used to be in the past. Besides, there are a plethora of educational YouTube channels with hundreds of high quality educational materials available to the general public for free. Irrespective of your interest of study, you can always find several educational YouTube channels to use in your learning journey.

If you are a YouTube or want to make a tutorial by your own, we recommend you to try Wondershare Filmora , which is easy to use yet powerful enough, it also allows you to record the PC screen which is very practical for tutorial video making.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

There are many benefits that come with using educational YouTube channels to study and learn for both students and teachers. Video has a transformative way of learning which has been proven to encourage flipped classroom models where students have a chance to digest the lecture content at their pace, besides delving deeper into the content during class time. Below is a short preview of the specific benefits that using YouTube has for teachers and their students-:

• YouTube videos inspire and engage students in ways not possible with traditional lecturing methods.
• Using educational YouTube channels assists in mastery learning in instances where technical or complex topics are being studied.
• YouTube learning facilitate thinking and problem solving amongst the students
• Educational YouTube channels provide a vast resource for research on a myriad of subjects and topics
• Videos can be downloaded and accessed with great convenience, whether online or offline.
• They enable the teachers to reach millions of potential students in different countries across the globe.
• The engaging nature of videos makes them to be a more effective way of learning
• Educational YouTube channels can be used to create an archive of free learning resources which both the students and teachers can access without having to pay.

Top 10 Educational YouTube Channels

Below are the top ten educational YouTube channels that both students and teachers will find useful-:

1.Massachusetts Institute of Technology Channel

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the most premier higher learning centers in the world and so it is justifiable for it to have one of the best educational YouTube channels in the internet. The channel avails a wide variety of educational videos, cutting across various disciplines and anyone can access them without paying any tuition fees.

2. The University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley is another top public research and teaching institution in the United States and it also has one of the best educational YouTube channels in the internet. Just like the MIT channel, UC channel avails thousands of quality educational videos cutting across a plethora of subjects. All the materials are available to the general public for free and they are systematically arranged to help you progress from one level to another. However, UC Berkelyey course content on its channel is unavailable from 2017, March 15. And the UC Berkeley’s Webcast and Legacy Course Capture Content is available to UC Berkeley community members with an active CalNet and bConnected (Google) identity now.

3. TechnoBuffalo

TechnoBuffalo is one of the most comprehensive YouTube educational channels dedicated to everything that deals with electronics. It presents reviews on various electronic products, besides showing the workings of the various products. It also has practical videos as well as first look videos on the latest technology and gadgets.

4.ASAP Science

Just as the name suggests, ASAP Science is a science-themed educational YouTube channels. It primarily shows videos on the practical application of science in our everyday life. Within the channel, learners will find strange and interesting videos teaching different ways on how science impact on the day to day lives of people.

5. Sick Science

This is a leading educational YouTube channels for those interested in intriguing scientific experiments and demonstrations. The videos in this channel are clearly and thoroughly explained and they cover a wide variety of topics. One thing that you will find amazing about this channel is that most of the experiments are very safe and can be done by anyone at home.

6. BBC Earth

BBC Earth is some of the few educational YouTube channels dedicated to promoting different education programs, especially those that are usually shown on BBC Earth television channel. The nature of the content of the videos in this channel includes research, nature and natural history videos, with some dating back to fifty years ago.

7. Veritasium

Veritasium is an educational YouTube channel where complex issues are dissected in consumable content to help those interested in learning. The channel has partnered with some of the big brands to bring more educational content and offer a great deal of useful information to their subscribers.

8. SmarterEveryday

With 3.1 million subscribers, there is no doubt that SmarterEveryday is amongst the top educational YouTube channels you will ever come across. The channel is created and run by an engineer whose goal is to educate people by exploring the world through scientific demonstrations then explaining his processes and findings on the channel.

9. The Game Theorists

This educational YouTube channel is all about video games where it tries to separate the fact from the fiction in the development of the video games, especially the science behind the development of the cars seen in the video games.

10.Speak English with Misterduncan

This is an awesome educational YouTube channels for anyone who is interested in learning English as a second language. Most of the videos contained in the channel teach about definitions of words, idioms as well as silent letters. What student find most amazing in this channel is the subtitles at the end of the screen to aid learning more about spelling and pronunciation of what is being taught.

Conclusion

YouTube has become a beloved educational resource for both students and teachers across the globe. It makes the process of teaching and learning so simple that most people no longer find learning to be an arduous task it used to be in the past. Besides, there are a plethora of educational YouTube channels with hundreds of high quality educational materials available to the general public for free. Irrespective of your interest of study, you can always find several educational YouTube channels to use in your learning journey.

If you are a YouTube or want to make a tutorial by your own, we recommend you to try Wondershare Filmora , which is easy to use yet powerful enough, it also allows you to record the PC screen which is very practical for tutorial video making.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

There are many benefits that come with using educational YouTube channels to study and learn for both students and teachers. Video has a transformative way of learning which has been proven to encourage flipped classroom models where students have a chance to digest the lecture content at their pace, besides delving deeper into the content during class time. Below is a short preview of the specific benefits that using YouTube has for teachers and their students-:

• YouTube videos inspire and engage students in ways not possible with traditional lecturing methods.
• Using educational YouTube channels assists in mastery learning in instances where technical or complex topics are being studied.
• YouTube learning facilitate thinking and problem solving amongst the students
• Educational YouTube channels provide a vast resource for research on a myriad of subjects and topics
• Videos can be downloaded and accessed with great convenience, whether online or offline.
• They enable the teachers to reach millions of potential students in different countries across the globe.
• The engaging nature of videos makes them to be a more effective way of learning
• Educational YouTube channels can be used to create an archive of free learning resources which both the students and teachers can access without having to pay.

Top 10 Educational YouTube Channels

Below are the top ten educational YouTube channels that both students and teachers will find useful-:

1.Massachusetts Institute of Technology Channel

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the most premier higher learning centers in the world and so it is justifiable for it to have one of the best educational YouTube channels in the internet. The channel avails a wide variety of educational videos, cutting across various disciplines and anyone can access them without paying any tuition fees.

2. The University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley is another top public research and teaching institution in the United States and it also has one of the best educational YouTube channels in the internet. Just like the MIT channel, UC channel avails thousands of quality educational videos cutting across a plethora of subjects. All the materials are available to the general public for free and they are systematically arranged to help you progress from one level to another. However, UC Berkelyey course content on its channel is unavailable from 2017, March 15. And the UC Berkeley’s Webcast and Legacy Course Capture Content is available to UC Berkeley community members with an active CalNet and bConnected (Google) identity now.

3. TechnoBuffalo

TechnoBuffalo is one of the most comprehensive YouTube educational channels dedicated to everything that deals with electronics. It presents reviews on various electronic products, besides showing the workings of the various products. It also has practical videos as well as first look videos on the latest technology and gadgets.

4.ASAP Science

Just as the name suggests, ASAP Science is a science-themed educational YouTube channels. It primarily shows videos on the practical application of science in our everyday life. Within the channel, learners will find strange and interesting videos teaching different ways on how science impact on the day to day lives of people.

5. Sick Science

This is a leading educational YouTube channels for those interested in intriguing scientific experiments and demonstrations. The videos in this channel are clearly and thoroughly explained and they cover a wide variety of topics. One thing that you will find amazing about this channel is that most of the experiments are very safe and can be done by anyone at home.

6. BBC Earth

BBC Earth is some of the few educational YouTube channels dedicated to promoting different education programs, especially those that are usually shown on BBC Earth television channel. The nature of the content of the videos in this channel includes research, nature and natural history videos, with some dating back to fifty years ago.

7. Veritasium

Veritasium is an educational YouTube channel where complex issues are dissected in consumable content to help those interested in learning. The channel has partnered with some of the big brands to bring more educational content and offer a great deal of useful information to their subscribers.

8. SmarterEveryday

With 3.1 million subscribers, there is no doubt that SmarterEveryday is amongst the top educational YouTube channels you will ever come across. The channel is created and run by an engineer whose goal is to educate people by exploring the world through scientific demonstrations then explaining his processes and findings on the channel.

9. The Game Theorists

This educational YouTube channel is all about video games where it tries to separate the fact from the fiction in the development of the video games, especially the science behind the development of the cars seen in the video games.

10.Speak English with Misterduncan

This is an awesome educational YouTube channels for anyone who is interested in learning English as a second language. Most of the videos contained in the channel teach about definitions of words, idioms as well as silent letters. What student find most amazing in this channel is the subtitles at the end of the screen to aid learning more about spelling and pronunciation of what is being taught.

Conclusion

YouTube has become a beloved educational resource for both students and teachers across the globe. It makes the process of teaching and learning so simple that most people no longer find learning to be an arduous task it used to be in the past. Besides, there are a plethora of educational YouTube channels with hundreds of high quality educational materials available to the general public for free. Irrespective of your interest of study, you can always find several educational YouTube channels to use in your learning journey.

If you are a YouTube or want to make a tutorial by your own, we recommend you to try Wondershare Filmora , which is easy to use yet powerful enough, it also allows you to record the PC screen which is very practical for tutorial video making.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

There are many benefits that come with using educational YouTube channels to study and learn for both students and teachers. Video has a transformative way of learning which has been proven to encourage flipped classroom models where students have a chance to digest the lecture content at their pace, besides delving deeper into the content during class time. Below is a short preview of the specific benefits that using YouTube has for teachers and their students-:

• YouTube videos inspire and engage students in ways not possible with traditional lecturing methods.
• Using educational YouTube channels assists in mastery learning in instances where technical or complex topics are being studied.
• YouTube learning facilitate thinking and problem solving amongst the students
• Educational YouTube channels provide a vast resource for research on a myriad of subjects and topics
• Videos can be downloaded and accessed with great convenience, whether online or offline.
• They enable the teachers to reach millions of potential students in different countries across the globe.
• The engaging nature of videos makes them to be a more effective way of learning
• Educational YouTube channels can be used to create an archive of free learning resources which both the students and teachers can access without having to pay.

Top 10 Educational YouTube Channels

Below are the top ten educational YouTube channels that both students and teachers will find useful-:

1.Massachusetts Institute of Technology Channel

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the most premier higher learning centers in the world and so it is justifiable for it to have one of the best educational YouTube channels in the internet. The channel avails a wide variety of educational videos, cutting across various disciplines and anyone can access them without paying any tuition fees.

2. The University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley is another top public research and teaching institution in the United States and it also has one of the best educational YouTube channels in the internet. Just like the MIT channel, UC channel avails thousands of quality educational videos cutting across a plethora of subjects. All the materials are available to the general public for free and they are systematically arranged to help you progress from one level to another. However, UC Berkelyey course content on its channel is unavailable from 2017, March 15. And the UC Berkeley’s Webcast and Legacy Course Capture Content is available to UC Berkeley community members with an active CalNet and bConnected (Google) identity now.

3. TechnoBuffalo

TechnoBuffalo is one of the most comprehensive YouTube educational channels dedicated to everything that deals with electronics. It presents reviews on various electronic products, besides showing the workings of the various products. It also has practical videos as well as first look videos on the latest technology and gadgets.

4.ASAP Science

Just as the name suggests, ASAP Science is a science-themed educational YouTube channels. It primarily shows videos on the practical application of science in our everyday life. Within the channel, learners will find strange and interesting videos teaching different ways on how science impact on the day to day lives of people.

5. Sick Science

This is a leading educational YouTube channels for those interested in intriguing scientific experiments and demonstrations. The videos in this channel are clearly and thoroughly explained and they cover a wide variety of topics. One thing that you will find amazing about this channel is that most of the experiments are very safe and can be done by anyone at home.

6. BBC Earth

BBC Earth is some of the few educational YouTube channels dedicated to promoting different education programs, especially those that are usually shown on BBC Earth television channel. The nature of the content of the videos in this channel includes research, nature and natural history videos, with some dating back to fifty years ago.

7. Veritasium

Veritasium is an educational YouTube channel where complex issues are dissected in consumable content to help those interested in learning. The channel has partnered with some of the big brands to bring more educational content and offer a great deal of useful information to their subscribers.

8. SmarterEveryday

With 3.1 million subscribers, there is no doubt that SmarterEveryday is amongst the top educational YouTube channels you will ever come across. The channel is created and run by an engineer whose goal is to educate people by exploring the world through scientific demonstrations then explaining his processes and findings on the channel.

9. The Game Theorists

This educational YouTube channel is all about video games where it tries to separate the fact from the fiction in the development of the video games, especially the science behind the development of the cars seen in the video games.

10.Speak English with Misterduncan

This is an awesome educational YouTube channels for anyone who is interested in learning English as a second language. Most of the videos contained in the channel teach about definitions of words, idioms as well as silent letters. What student find most amazing in this channel is the subtitles at the end of the screen to aid learning more about spelling and pronunciation of what is being taught.

Conclusion

YouTube has become a beloved educational resource for both students and teachers across the globe. It makes the process of teaching and learning so simple that most people no longer find learning to be an arduous task it used to be in the past. Besides, there are a plethora of educational YouTube channels with hundreds of high quality educational materials available to the general public for free. Irrespective of your interest of study, you can always find several educational YouTube channels to use in your learning journey.

If you are a YouTube or want to make a tutorial by your own, we recommend you to try Wondershare Filmora , which is easy to use yet powerful enough, it also allows you to record the PC screen which is very practical for tutorial video making.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Elevating Your Vlog Through Proper Lighting

Lighting Tips for Vlogging: How to Light

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

One of the best things you can do for your video quality is to ensure you have great lighting. Viewers find poor lighting distracting and it’s hard for them to see how great your content is if they are busy thinking about why your video is so dark. By creating a great lighting set up you can ensure that the people watching your videos are only thinking about how much they’re enjoying them.

Going outside and using natural light is the cheapest way to get a lot of light for your videos. If your vlog is not suited to the great outdoors then you need to get more strategic. You can turn on all the lights in your living room and still end up with a dark, grainy, video.

Video Lighting Basics: Three Point Lighting

The most common technique of lighting a scene is called three-point lighting. It involves three different sources of light in the shot and is used by portrait photographers, which is also a great method for lighting your vlog.

The brightest source of light is also known as the key light which need to be high quality. A window will work, but if you do not have access to one where you are filming then consider an LED panel light or a softbox light like the ones used in portrait photography.

This first light will create a dramatic shadow across half of your face. You want to reduce this shadow, but not get rid of it completely.

Rather than setting up another light source on the opposite side of the camera, put up a reflector to bounce some light back onto your face. This reflector is called your ‘Fill Light’.

The fill light is less bright than the primary source of light and it is placed on the side opposite to the key light. Its purpose is to reduce shadows produced by the key light and the reflector will need to be mounted on a stand.

The final step to creating three point lighting is to set up another light behind you. This is your ‘Backlight’, and it will help you stand out from your background. Backlight or Hair light is always placed behind and above the subject to create separation between the subject in the shot and the background. This basic lighting technique can be applied in almost every scene you shoot, which is why it is important to keep an open mind and to continue experimenting with possible light setups.

Watch Video! Top Lighting Tips for Vlogging

Lightning Tips for Aspiring YouTube Videographers

Becoming the master of light will take some time and practice, so it is crucial to remain curious and anxious to learn new tricks throughout that process if you want to continually become better. These tips will help you make the first steps on that journey.

1. Focus Your Key Light

Try to focus your Key Light so that it lights only you and not your background. Do this by mounting anything that can cast a shadow onto your Key Light to control the area where the light hits. If you are using a window for your Key Light then you can use a curtain. If you use a softbox light then your light will already be somewhat focused.

2. Use Natural Lighting

The light provided by the Sun is still the best light source, you can have in your video. The trouble is that natural light changes quickly, which makes it highly unpredictable. The best way to deal with this challenge is to come prepared to the set and to get the shot you want as quickly as you can.

3. Try DIY Lightning

Literally, anything from candles to LED light bulbs can serve as a source of light in a shot. You just need to pay attention to the light temperature, because warmer light sources may highlight reds and yellows that can make your footage look less realistic.

4. Use Lightning Kits

This is by far the best option if you want to be in complete control of the light on your set. You can adjust the intensity of the lights, use filters, diffusers and all sorts of other accessories to create the light that flatters the subjects of your videos. The only downside is that you’ll have to spend a considerable amount of money if you want to have a professional lighting kit.

5. Set up reflectors

Sets of reflectors are often under $50, so they are fairly affordable. However, some vloggers choose to forgo purchasing reflectors and make their own out of tinfoil.

If your strong main light is too hard on your eyes then you can use a translucent ‘reflector’ to soften it. Set your translucent reflector, or other screen, up in front of your main light to diffuse it.

If you are hosting a beauty vlog then you might consider a slightly different set up. Instead of having your main light off to one side set it up directly in front of you so your entire face is lit evenly. It is still a good idea to use fill lights in this set up to give you some dimension, and a backlight is even more essential for helping you stand out from the background. The even light hitting your face will also make you look flat if you do not use a backlight.

If you are using all of the lighting options available to you and your video still looks too dark then you can try brightening it by opening up the aperture of your camera lens/setting a lower f-stop. Letting more light into your camera can help your footage look brighter, although you also run the risk of making things look overexposed/ washed out if you are not careful.

If you are stuck shooting in low light conditions it is best to use a lens with a wider aperture/lower f-stop. This will make the best of the light you do have.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

One of the best things you can do for your video quality is to ensure you have great lighting. Viewers find poor lighting distracting and it’s hard for them to see how great your content is if they are busy thinking about why your video is so dark. By creating a great lighting set up you can ensure that the people watching your videos are only thinking about how much they’re enjoying them.

Going outside and using natural light is the cheapest way to get a lot of light for your videos. If your vlog is not suited to the great outdoors then you need to get more strategic. You can turn on all the lights in your living room and still end up with a dark, grainy, video.

Video Lighting Basics: Three Point Lighting

The most common technique of lighting a scene is called three-point lighting. It involves three different sources of light in the shot and is used by portrait photographers, which is also a great method for lighting your vlog.

The brightest source of light is also known as the key light which need to be high quality. A window will work, but if you do not have access to one where you are filming then consider an LED panel light or a softbox light like the ones used in portrait photography.

This first light will create a dramatic shadow across half of your face. You want to reduce this shadow, but not get rid of it completely.

Rather than setting up another light source on the opposite side of the camera, put up a reflector to bounce some light back onto your face. This reflector is called your ‘Fill Light’.

The fill light is less bright than the primary source of light and it is placed on the side opposite to the key light. Its purpose is to reduce shadows produced by the key light and the reflector will need to be mounted on a stand.

The final step to creating three point lighting is to set up another light behind you. This is your ‘Backlight’, and it will help you stand out from your background. Backlight or Hair light is always placed behind and above the subject to create separation between the subject in the shot and the background. This basic lighting technique can be applied in almost every scene you shoot, which is why it is important to keep an open mind and to continue experimenting with possible light setups.

Watch Video! Top Lighting Tips for Vlogging

Lightning Tips for Aspiring YouTube Videographers

Becoming the master of light will take some time and practice, so it is crucial to remain curious and anxious to learn new tricks throughout that process if you want to continually become better. These tips will help you make the first steps on that journey.

1. Focus Your Key Light

Try to focus your Key Light so that it lights only you and not your background. Do this by mounting anything that can cast a shadow onto your Key Light to control the area where the light hits. If you are using a window for your Key Light then you can use a curtain. If you use a softbox light then your light will already be somewhat focused.

2. Use Natural Lighting

The light provided by the Sun is still the best light source, you can have in your video. The trouble is that natural light changes quickly, which makes it highly unpredictable. The best way to deal with this challenge is to come prepared to the set and to get the shot you want as quickly as you can.

3. Try DIY Lightning

Literally, anything from candles to LED light bulbs can serve as a source of light in a shot. You just need to pay attention to the light temperature, because warmer light sources may highlight reds and yellows that can make your footage look less realistic.

4. Use Lightning Kits

This is by far the best option if you want to be in complete control of the light on your set. You can adjust the intensity of the lights, use filters, diffusers and all sorts of other accessories to create the light that flatters the subjects of your videos. The only downside is that you’ll have to spend a considerable amount of money if you want to have a professional lighting kit.

5. Set up reflectors

Sets of reflectors are often under $50, so they are fairly affordable. However, some vloggers choose to forgo purchasing reflectors and make their own out of tinfoil.

If your strong main light is too hard on your eyes then you can use a translucent ‘reflector’ to soften it. Set your translucent reflector, or other screen, up in front of your main light to diffuse it.

If you are hosting a beauty vlog then you might consider a slightly different set up. Instead of having your main light off to one side set it up directly in front of you so your entire face is lit evenly. It is still a good idea to use fill lights in this set up to give you some dimension, and a backlight is even more essential for helping you stand out from the background. The even light hitting your face will also make you look flat if you do not use a backlight.

If you are using all of the lighting options available to you and your video still looks too dark then you can try brightening it by opening up the aperture of your camera lens/setting a lower f-stop. Letting more light into your camera can help your footage look brighter, although you also run the risk of making things look overexposed/ washed out if you are not careful.

If you are stuck shooting in low light conditions it is best to use a lens with a wider aperture/lower f-stop. This will make the best of the light you do have.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

One of the best things you can do for your video quality is to ensure you have great lighting. Viewers find poor lighting distracting and it’s hard for them to see how great your content is if they are busy thinking about why your video is so dark. By creating a great lighting set up you can ensure that the people watching your videos are only thinking about how much they’re enjoying them.

Going outside and using natural light is the cheapest way to get a lot of light for your videos. If your vlog is not suited to the great outdoors then you need to get more strategic. You can turn on all the lights in your living room and still end up with a dark, grainy, video.

Video Lighting Basics: Three Point Lighting

The most common technique of lighting a scene is called three-point lighting. It involves three different sources of light in the shot and is used by portrait photographers, which is also a great method for lighting your vlog.

The brightest source of light is also known as the key light which need to be high quality. A window will work, but if you do not have access to one where you are filming then consider an LED panel light or a softbox light like the ones used in portrait photography.

This first light will create a dramatic shadow across half of your face. You want to reduce this shadow, but not get rid of it completely.

Rather than setting up another light source on the opposite side of the camera, put up a reflector to bounce some light back onto your face. This reflector is called your ‘Fill Light’.

The fill light is less bright than the primary source of light and it is placed on the side opposite to the key light. Its purpose is to reduce shadows produced by the key light and the reflector will need to be mounted on a stand.

The final step to creating three point lighting is to set up another light behind you. This is your ‘Backlight’, and it will help you stand out from your background. Backlight or Hair light is always placed behind and above the subject to create separation between the subject in the shot and the background. This basic lighting technique can be applied in almost every scene you shoot, which is why it is important to keep an open mind and to continue experimenting with possible light setups.

Watch Video! Top Lighting Tips for Vlogging

Lightning Tips for Aspiring YouTube Videographers

Becoming the master of light will take some time and practice, so it is crucial to remain curious and anxious to learn new tricks throughout that process if you want to continually become better. These tips will help you make the first steps on that journey.

1. Focus Your Key Light

Try to focus your Key Light so that it lights only you and not your background. Do this by mounting anything that can cast a shadow onto your Key Light to control the area where the light hits. If you are using a window for your Key Light then you can use a curtain. If you use a softbox light then your light will already be somewhat focused.

2. Use Natural Lighting

The light provided by the Sun is still the best light source, you can have in your video. The trouble is that natural light changes quickly, which makes it highly unpredictable. The best way to deal with this challenge is to come prepared to the set and to get the shot you want as quickly as you can.

3. Try DIY Lightning

Literally, anything from candles to LED light bulbs can serve as a source of light in a shot. You just need to pay attention to the light temperature, because warmer light sources may highlight reds and yellows that can make your footage look less realistic.

4. Use Lightning Kits

This is by far the best option if you want to be in complete control of the light on your set. You can adjust the intensity of the lights, use filters, diffusers and all sorts of other accessories to create the light that flatters the subjects of your videos. The only downside is that you’ll have to spend a considerable amount of money if you want to have a professional lighting kit.

5. Set up reflectors

Sets of reflectors are often under $50, so they are fairly affordable. However, some vloggers choose to forgo purchasing reflectors and make their own out of tinfoil.

If your strong main light is too hard on your eyes then you can use a translucent ‘reflector’ to soften it. Set your translucent reflector, or other screen, up in front of your main light to diffuse it.

If you are hosting a beauty vlog then you might consider a slightly different set up. Instead of having your main light off to one side set it up directly in front of you so your entire face is lit evenly. It is still a good idea to use fill lights in this set up to give you some dimension, and a backlight is even more essential for helping you stand out from the background. The even light hitting your face will also make you look flat if you do not use a backlight.

If you are using all of the lighting options available to you and your video still looks too dark then you can try brightening it by opening up the aperture of your camera lens/setting a lower f-stop. Letting more light into your camera can help your footage look brighter, although you also run the risk of making things look overexposed/ washed out if you are not careful.

If you are stuck shooting in low light conditions it is best to use a lens with a wider aperture/lower f-stop. This will make the best of the light you do have.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

One of the best things you can do for your video quality is to ensure you have great lighting. Viewers find poor lighting distracting and it’s hard for them to see how great your content is if they are busy thinking about why your video is so dark. By creating a great lighting set up you can ensure that the people watching your videos are only thinking about how much they’re enjoying them.

Going outside and using natural light is the cheapest way to get a lot of light for your videos. If your vlog is not suited to the great outdoors then you need to get more strategic. You can turn on all the lights in your living room and still end up with a dark, grainy, video.

Video Lighting Basics: Three Point Lighting

The most common technique of lighting a scene is called three-point lighting. It involves three different sources of light in the shot and is used by portrait photographers, which is also a great method for lighting your vlog.

The brightest source of light is also known as the key light which need to be high quality. A window will work, but if you do not have access to one where you are filming then consider an LED panel light or a softbox light like the ones used in portrait photography.

This first light will create a dramatic shadow across half of your face. You want to reduce this shadow, but not get rid of it completely.

Rather than setting up another light source on the opposite side of the camera, put up a reflector to bounce some light back onto your face. This reflector is called your ‘Fill Light’.

The fill light is less bright than the primary source of light and it is placed on the side opposite to the key light. Its purpose is to reduce shadows produced by the key light and the reflector will need to be mounted on a stand.

The final step to creating three point lighting is to set up another light behind you. This is your ‘Backlight’, and it will help you stand out from your background. Backlight or Hair light is always placed behind and above the subject to create separation between the subject in the shot and the background. This basic lighting technique can be applied in almost every scene you shoot, which is why it is important to keep an open mind and to continue experimenting with possible light setups.

Watch Video! Top Lighting Tips for Vlogging

Lightning Tips for Aspiring YouTube Videographers

Becoming the master of light will take some time and practice, so it is crucial to remain curious and anxious to learn new tricks throughout that process if you want to continually become better. These tips will help you make the first steps on that journey.

1. Focus Your Key Light

Try to focus your Key Light so that it lights only you and not your background. Do this by mounting anything that can cast a shadow onto your Key Light to control the area where the light hits. If you are using a window for your Key Light then you can use a curtain. If you use a softbox light then your light will already be somewhat focused.

2. Use Natural Lighting

The light provided by the Sun is still the best light source, you can have in your video. The trouble is that natural light changes quickly, which makes it highly unpredictable. The best way to deal with this challenge is to come prepared to the set and to get the shot you want as quickly as you can.

3. Try DIY Lightning

Literally, anything from candles to LED light bulbs can serve as a source of light in a shot. You just need to pay attention to the light temperature, because warmer light sources may highlight reds and yellows that can make your footage look less realistic.

4. Use Lightning Kits

This is by far the best option if you want to be in complete control of the light on your set. You can adjust the intensity of the lights, use filters, diffusers and all sorts of other accessories to create the light that flatters the subjects of your videos. The only downside is that you’ll have to spend a considerable amount of money if you want to have a professional lighting kit.

5. Set up reflectors

Sets of reflectors are often under $50, so they are fairly affordable. However, some vloggers choose to forgo purchasing reflectors and make their own out of tinfoil.

If your strong main light is too hard on your eyes then you can use a translucent ‘reflector’ to soften it. Set your translucent reflector, or other screen, up in front of your main light to diffuse it.

If you are hosting a beauty vlog then you might consider a slightly different set up. Instead of having your main light off to one side set it up directly in front of you so your entire face is lit evenly. It is still a good idea to use fill lights in this set up to give you some dimension, and a backlight is even more essential for helping you stand out from the background. The even light hitting your face will also make you look flat if you do not use a backlight.

If you are using all of the lighting options available to you and your video still looks too dark then you can try brightening it by opening up the aperture of your camera lens/setting a lower f-stop. Letting more light into your camera can help your footage look brighter, although you also run the risk of making things look overexposed/ washed out if you are not careful.

If you are stuck shooting in low light conditions it is best to use a lens with a wider aperture/lower f-stop. This will make the best of the light you do have.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

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