A new lighting for each camera

A DIFFERENT LIGHTING FOR EACH CAMERA?
In short, the answer is “YES, absolutely”!

The reason is very simple and it’s included in the main reason for each picture or render.

Let’s focus again on this: a picture is a 2D image that recreates the illusion of tridimensionality. To achieve this goal we need to have a good CHIAROSCURO in our image, and the lighting techniques are the ‘mind’ tool to create it methodologically. (chiaroscuro = balance light/shadows, if you don’t know this term it derives from the classical art. Check this page)

Now, for small camera movements, where the angle is basically the same, there’s nothing to change because the chiaroscuro doesn’t change.

But if you completely change your camera angle, and the light sources stay in the same place (I’m also including windows, doors etc..), your Chiaroscuro changes of course. So it’s logical that some adjustment is necessary to establish a good chiaroscuro effect from the new angle.

If you’re good with the Lighting you finally will use 2-3 sources, so adjusting the lighting means just moving something, but the focus is not: “how many lights do we change?!” – The focus is: “how can I recreate a good chiaroscuro again from this angle”. That’s all.

Sometimes it happens that the new chiaroscuro is fine already from the new angle. If your chiaroscuro is ok there’s no reason to change it. You’re lucky, it’s fine!

How is this aspect managed in the real file? There’s a statistic that says for interior shooting, a photograph takes approximately 45-50 mins to rearrange the lights for the new shot.
So don’t worry if this takes time: every minute you spend to care your lights is the best investment you can do to create powerful images.