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Photography & Video

Lighting a Small Room

Make a bedroom look like a set with two lamps, a bedsheet and good decisions.

67 learners

Created by Tomás Rivera · Updated October 22, 2026

  • Beginner
  • 39 min total
  • 9 lessons
  • Self-paced

What you’ll learn

  • Place a key light for flattering, natural-looking faces
  • Soften and shape light with household materials
  • Add depth with backlight and practical lamps
  • Build a repeatable interview lighting setup

Course content

3 sections · 9 lessons · 39 min

Start with one light3 lessons · 11 min
  • Seeing lightVideo · 9 min
  • Where to put the key lightReading · 1 min
  • Soften itReading · 1 min
Add depth3 lessons · 12 min
  • Separating the subject from the wallVideo · 10 min
  • Backlight and rim lightReading · 1 min
  • Practical lamps in frameReading · 1 min
Put it together3 lessons · 16 min
  • A full interview setupVideo · 14 min
  • Fill light and contrastReading · 1 min
  • Matching colour temperatureReading · 1 min

Requirements

  • Any camera or phone
  • One or two lamps (any kind)

Description

Light is what makes video look expensive, and you don't need expensive gear to shape it. This course teaches you to see light, then control it in small spaces using what you already own plus a few inexpensive additions. You'll build a repeatable interview setup and learn how to adapt it to any room.

Instructor

Tomás Rivera

Documentary filmmaker and cinematographer

  • 4.6 instructor rating
  • 30 reviews
  • 77 learners
  • 2 courses

I've shot documentaries, interviews and brand films, often with small crews and smaller budgets. I teach filmmaking with the gear people already have, because good light and good decisions matter more than expensive cameras.

4.7 course rating · 20 reviews

5 ★70%
4 ★25%
3 ★5%
2 ★0%
1 ★0%
  • Elena Larsen · Oct 22, 2026

    One of the best short courses I've taken.

  • Kavya Khan · Oct 22, 2026

    The instructor explains things really clearly.

  • Leila Banerjee · Oct 22, 2026

    One of the best short courses I've taken.

  • Chloe Brown · Oct 22, 2026

    The instructor explains things really clearly.

  • Noah Haddad · Oct 22, 2026

    The instructor explains things really clearly.

  • Sneha Smith · Oct 22, 2026

    Well structured and easy to follow. Exactly what I needed.

  • Rahul Okeke · Oct 22, 2026

    Helpful content. Would love a follow-up course.

  • Farhan Walker · Oct 22, 2026

    Good, though a bit basic for my level.

  • Emma Martin · Oct 22, 2026

    Practical from the very first lesson.

  • Nisha Pillai · Oct 22, 2026

    Helpful content. Would love a follow-up course.

  • Mateo Novak · Oct 22, 2026

    Clear explanations and practical examples throughout.

  • Kwame Patel · Oct 22, 2026

    Good course overall. A couple of lessons could go deeper.

  • Marco Gupta · Oct 22, 2026

    One of the best short courses I've taken.

  • Wei Dubois · Oct 22, 2026

    Practical from the very first lesson.

  • Arjun Nguyen · Oct 22, 2026

    Much better than the free videos I tried before.

  • Karan Hassan · Oct 22, 2026

    Solid fundamentals, well paced.

  • Adaeze Chen · Oct 22, 2026

    Great course. I'd add a section on lighting for glasses wearers.

  • Ayesha Joshi · Oct 22, 2026

    Best money-saving advice I've had for my channel.

  • Diya Chopra · Oct 22, 2026

    My Zoom calls look like a TV interview now. The bedsheet trick works!

  • Pablo Murphy · Oct 22, 2026

    Lighting finally makes sense. Clear diagrams and explanations.