In a previous tip, we said that it is generally not a good idea to shoot a scene with light coming through a window and from inside. While this is still the case, sometimes the situation cannot be avoided and requires a solution. If you find yourself in such a predicament, the first thing you should do is set your camera’s iris for the subject(s) inside, not for the window. While this will over-expose the window and make it too bright to see, at least your subjects will be decently lit. Since the sunlight through the window is much stronger than indoor light, another thing you might do is add lighting inside. This will even out the contrast ratio between the bright window and the dark interior and make finding an ideal exposure much easier. If adding light isn’t possible, you can also subtract it by putting up a black mesh filter or scrim over the window.

As if there weren’t enough disadvantages to being bald, yet another is that bald heads are difficult to light. Bald heads tend to appear shiny and over-exposed when lit too harshly. If possible, reduce the shine by applying some makeup or soften the light with a diffusion gel.

When shooting video, try to use one type of light source per shot. While this generally isn’t a concern – especially if you’re shooting outside – problems can arise when filming indoors near windows. In such cases, the camera picks up both sunlight and indoor lighting (fluorescent, incandescent, etc.) and the resulting picture looks abnormal. The two types of light have different color temperatures, each affecting your camera’s exposure differently. If possible, use either sunlight or artificial light, but not both unless you know what you’re doing. And remember, always white balance when shifting locations or light sources.

Although you’ll probably want to avoid it, there is a fairly easy trick for shooting daytime scenes at night. The technique, which was employed in the earlier days of the motion picture industry, has you lower the exposure and add a blue filter to your camera. While the effect will reasonably simulate daytime, you still have to worry about dead giveaways like birds flying through shots. Make sure that street and house lights are on where necessary (it is “nighttime” after all).

Reflectors are thin circles of silvery, gold or white fabric stretched over lightweight frames. They’re a very handy thing to have on a production because they can act as a fill light in a pinch, bouncing the light you already have back onto your subject and filling in shadows. Gold reflectors are particularly useful because they warm up flesh tones on actors. While reflectors aren’t very expensive, if you’re intent on pinching pennies you can always create your own by cutting cardboard circles and covering them with tin foil.