How to Ensure Your Church Lighting Looks Great in Person and on the Stream

Whitesburg Baptist Church | Huntsville, Alabama

When designing the lighting for your church, it’s easy to focus on how the space looks to the people present in the room. However, with so many churches now livestreaming their services, it’s essential to think beyond just in-person ambiance. The question you need to ask is, “Does this lighting not only look good for those in the room, but does it also look great on the stream?” Balancing both is crucial to delivering a cohesive experience for your entire congregation, whether they're worshiping on-site or online.

Why Room Lighting and Stream Lighting Are Different

Lighting that works perfectly for in-person services may not translate well on camera. The way our eyes perceive lighting is different from how a camera sees it. A great example is the difference between soft, ambient lighting that sets the mood for a live audience versus harsh lighting that can cause glare, shadows, or make faces look unnatural on a livestream.

Room Lighting is about creating a welcoming atmosphere in the space. This includes spotlighting the worship team or preacher, ensuring everyone can see each other, and adjusting the lighting to fit the service's tone.

Stream Lighting, on the other hand, focuses on how the camera captures your subjects. The camera "sees" light in a different way, meaning it may pick up too much contrast, shadows, or color shifts that aren't noticeable to the human eye.

Key Considerations for Both: How to Make Lighting Work for Both In-Person and On-Camera

1. Avoid Over-Illumination or Under-Illumination

When lighting a church for a service, you may be tempted to make the room bright and cheery. While this works for the live congregation, it can overwhelm the camera. A camera doesn't adjust the way the human eye does, so intense lighting can create glare or cause subjects to look washed out.

On the flip side, if the room is too dim, your stream will look muddy and hard to see. It's important to balance the room's general lighting with the lighting set specifically for the stream.

For the stream: Use softer, more controlled lighting to highlight the speakers, worship leaders, or performers. Key lights should be placed in front of the talent to minimize shadows.
For the room: Set up dimmable ambient lighting so the in-person congregation can feel comfortable, without washing out the on-camera visuals.

2. Consider the Color Temperature

Lighting color can make a huge difference on camera. While incandescent lighting might create a warm, cozy feel for the live congregation, it can give a yellowish or orange tint on the camera, making skin tones appear unnatural.

For the stream: Use daylight-balanced lights or LED lights designed for video production. These lights offer a neutral white light that looks more natural on camera and doesn’t distort skin tones.
For the room: You may still want to keep the room lighting warm for in-person attendees, but ensure it doesn’t interfere with the appearance on the stream. It’s all about finding the right balance.

3. Manage Shadows and Glares

Lighting for the stream needs to address one big issue: shadows. In a well-lit room, shadows can give depth and interest to the atmosphere, but on camera, they can create distracting dark spots on faces or make a subject look unevenly lit.

For the stream: Use fill lights to balance out shadows. Place them at an angle that softens any harsh shadows on faces or objects. Consider backlighting for depth, but make sure it’s subtle enough to keep from creating unwanted silhouettes.
For the room: You don’t want to eliminate all shadows—after all, they help create mood. However, lighting should be carefully adjusted so that it doesn’t negatively impact the livestream.

4. Be Mindful of the Contrast

Too much contrast can be jarring on a stream. If one side of the stage is brightly lit and the other side is dim, the camera may struggle to expose both areas correctly. The live audience may not notice this difference, but your online viewers will.

For the stream: Use a combination of key, fill, and backlight to ensure consistent lighting across the stage. Avoid sharp contrasts between light and dark areas that can make parts of the scene unreadable on camera.
For the room: While you may not want to reduce contrast entirely, consider controlling it in a way that still looks good on the stream. Dimmer controls or adjustable spots can help with this.

5. Ensure a Comfortable Viewing Experience for Online Congregants

Consider your online viewers’ experience as part of your lighting setup. If the lighting is harsh or too dim, they will have a hard time connecting with the service. The goal is to create a comfortable viewing experience, just like you would for your in-person attendees.

For the stream: Invest in adjustable lighting that allows you to tweak settings based on the time of day, camera settings, or the mood you’re trying to convey. Don’t forget to test your lighting before the service to ensure it looks good on the camera.
For the room: Ensure that your room lighting complements the stream by avoiding high levels of brightness directly on the stage that could cause distractions or interference with the cameras.

Practical Tips for Optimizing Lighting for Both In-Person and Livestream:

Test, Test, Test: The best way to know how your lighting translates to the stream is by testing it. Set up cameras, adjust lights, and view it from the livestream’s perspective to see what works.
Use Adjustable Lights: If possible, choose lights that are adjustable in both intensity and color temperature. This way, you can tailor them for both in-person worship and streaming needs.
Minimize Glare and Reflections: Avoid lighting that reflects directly into cameras or creates hot spots on the stage. Soft, diffused lighting will help reduce these issues.
Incorporate Layered Lighting: Use a combination of ambient lighting, key lights, and accent lighting for the stage. This creates depth on camera while keeping the in-person feel intact.

Conclusion: A Seamless Experience for Everyone

To sum it up, it’s crucial to think beyond how your lighting looks in person and consider how it will appear on the livestream. While room lighting focuses on creating atmosphere and ensuring the congregation’s comfort, lighting for the stream is about clarity, exposure, and creating a visually appealing experience for online viewers. By carefully balancing the two, you can ensure that your lighting serves both purposes and enhances the worship experience for everyone—whether they’re attending in person or tuning in remotely.

Ready to take your church's lighting to the next level?

Whether you’re upgrading your existing system or starting from scratch, we’re here to help you create the perfect lighting solution for both in-person and online worship experiences.

Contact us today for a consultation and see how we can enhance your lighting for maximum impact. Let’s light up your service, from every seat to every screen!

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