How to Shoot Video in the Dark Using Camera Lights
When you are shooting video, you are going to need lights no matter where you are. If the sensor of your video camera cannot see picture information, it cannot record it onto your video; trying to fix it by adjusting the brightness does not help. However, there are some creative ways to light your video without going broke.
First: Available light
If you have a lot of lamps around the house, move them into the area you wish to shoot. Point them at your subject, make sure that they are out of range of the camera and begin. If you have overhead lights, make sure they are all turned on before you press record.
Second: Outdoor lighting
If you are taking pictures outdoors, you can shoot with overhead lights, such as a lamp or your porch or deck lights. If you have a car, you can even turn your car's headlights on to illuminate your video.
Third: On-camera lights
Many manufacturers, such as Go Video and Sima, make small on-camera lights that are more powerful than the lights built into your camera. You can mount them easily into the shoe mount of your camera and power them with just one or two batteries. This step may cost a small of money, but it is worth it to capture your valuable memories and preserve them for a lifetime.
Fourth: Reflectors
Professionals use reflectors to reflect light from a source onto its subject. You can make a cheap one with a whiteboard and some aluminum foil. Tilt it so that one side is at the light source, and the other is on the subject.