How to Film a Hard Lighting Commercial for Social Media
Disclosure: This website may contain affiliate links to Amazon or others meaning that I make a small commission form qualifying purchases if you decide to make a purchase through one of my links. This is at no extra cost to you.
Here’s a short, clean, and beginner-friendly blog post based on your original video. It keeps your personality and teaching style while making it easy to read and digest:
🎥 How to Film a 6-Second Product Commercial with Hard Light (Behind the Scenes)
Hey everyone! In this post, I’ll walk you through how I filmed a quick, high-impact 6-second product commercial using hard light and creative shadows—perfect for social media.
Let’s jump in 👇
The Concept
Brand: Viveau (a fruit + sparkling water drink from Nova Scotia, Canada)
Goal: A punchy, visually appealing 6-second spot
Platform: Instagram (so I shot vertically in portrait mode)
🎬 Tip: If you're shooting for social media, film in portrait mode to maximize screen space and sensor use.
Gear I Used
Camera: Sony A7 III
Lighting Setup:
Key Light: Godox SL100D + softbox
Hard Light: Weeylite Ninja 300 (used to cast shadows with a plant)
Fill/Backlight: Aputure M9
Accent Light: Tube light for bottle highlights
Shot Breakdown (6 Seconds = 3–4 Quick Clips)
Hero Shot (1.5s)
Bottles with fruit, fake ice, and water spray for that "cold & refreshing" look.
Lit with soft and hard light for dramatic shadows.
Slow camera push-in (added in post using keyframes).
Label Rotation (1s)
Bottle spinning on a motorized display stand to show off the branding.
Fruit Drops (1–1.5s each)
Apple: Dropped whole, then cut into slices and dropped again for a match cut.
Blueberries: Styled on the same turntable with reflective surface and fake ice for cool vibes.
Pouring Shot (1s)
Final shot of the drink being poured into a glass with ice. Simple and satisfying.
Why Use Hard Light?
Using hard light and shadows from a plant gave the video a trendy, stylized summer look. It adds drama, depth, and makes the product pop visually—especially when paired with shiny highlights and water droplets.
Final Thoughts
This was a fun, quick shoot designed to flex some creativity in a short time. If you’re into product videos or want to practice short-form content, try using hard light and keep it simple but sharp.
See you in the next one!
