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Three Point Lighting Setup

 What is a Three Point Lighting Setup?

The three point lighting setup is a traditional setup used to light a subject. The lights are placed in three distinct positions which all have different purposes. Three different lights are used in this setup, you have your key light which is your primary light, this usually is in front of the subject; you also have a fill light, this light is used to reduce contrasts, the last light used is the backlight, this light is used to separate the subject from the background. Using the three point setup allows us to create a three-dimensional look by the strategical placement of lights (Lannom). The intensity of each light needs to be taken into consideration as well as the placement as this will affect the overall outcome of your shots. To create a cinematic look the intensity of the key light should be double the fill light, this will create some contrast however, it will not be too strong of a contrast. if all lights are as intense as each other you will end up with a shot that looks flat therefore, it is always a good idea to play around with your lights so that you can find the most suitable lighting for the desired shot. in order to change the intensity of the lighting in some case you can manually change it on the light if not you could cover the light to diffuse it or you could move the light further away from the subject (Masterclass). 


Key Light

Your key light should be your primary lighting source for the scene this light will be placed in front of the subject, usually at 45 degree angle, this is can be changed of course, it is based on each camera operators discretion really. It is best to setup your key light first as this will help you determine where the backlight and the fill light should be placed in consideration of the placement of the key light (Lannom).

Fill Light

Your fill light is used to fill in any unlit spots in the scene this reduces contrasts. This light is usually also placed in front of your subject on the opposite side of your key light. This light should be around half as bright as you key light in order to create some depth to your shot giving it a more cinematic look (Masterclass). The intensity of the light depends of the look you want to achieve, for a very dramatic look it shouldn't be very intense as this will create more contrasts and shadows which link to drama and tension. When shooting commercials or interviews using a brighter light will create less shadows on the face. The angle of this light matters less however, for a clean look using a similar angle as what you have used for your key light will help (Lannom). 

Backlight

The last light is your backlight (also known as a rim or hair light), this light offsets the flattening of dimensions caused by the key and fill light. The key and fill light can make the background merge with the foreground making the shot look flat, by placing a backlight behind you subject you are able to create some separation between foreground and background. This light should be placed on the same side as your key light but behind the subject rather than in front. Angle the light so that is faces the direction of your fill light. This light should be a lot less intense than both your key and fill light as you don't want it to overpower the shot (Guinchard). 

References 

Lannom, S., 2020. 3-Point Video Lighting: Key, Fill, & Backlight Setup Guide (Online)
Available at : https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/three-point-lighting-setup/
Masterclass, 2020. What is Three-Point Lighting? (Online)
Available at : https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-three-point-lighting-learn-about-the-lighting-technique-and-tips-for-the-best-three-point-lighting-setups
Guinchard, A., 2020. 3 Point Lighting Setup : How to Shoot an Interview (Online)
Available at : https://www.freelancevideocollective.com/3-point-lighting-setup/

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