Lighting is vital to your live stream. Great light can make even inexpensive gear look great. If your resources are tight, focus on improving your lighting for your live stream or video conferencing to make up for a lower-quality camera.

There are some questions to consider:

• If you are doing a hybrid service (in-person gathering as well as online live-stream gathering), how do you make sure the lighting is appropriate for your in-person audience as well as your online audience?

• Do you have bright windows behind your subject that are fine in-person, but when viewed on a screen wash the subject out? Think about when you are on a Zoom call, and there’s a window behind you. The exposure on your skin becomes very bright, and it is distracting to your audience watching or engaging with you. How do you choose lighting equipment that is appropriate for your space and will balance your natural light?

• What is your color temperature? Different lights put out different color temperatures and can cause skin to look flush or pale; red or green. How do you take into account different light sources; overhead lights, natural light, and floor lighting, in combination to create a space that looks good for both an in-person audience as well as an online audience?

The following articles are recommended to guide you through making the best decisions in lighting your space for live-streaming. Remember that lighting is an intersection of art and science; sometimes the best way to determine the best setup for your space is to research, learn, try, and repeat.

The basics of lighting for video (ManyCam.com)

How to fix your churches lighting problem (Boxcast.com)

Broadcast lighting: 8 keys to nailing it (Mankinmedia.com)