In short
- LED walls can look fine to the eye but flicker or show dark bands on camera.
- Stage lights change colour and brightness, so faces can turn too dark or too bright.
- Ask the audio-visual (AV) team for a test slot, a lighting cue list and the screen settings.
- Agree what appears on the screens, since slides, logos and music have their own owners.
LED walls and stage lights are made for the people in the room. A camera sees them differently. The fix is often a conversation with the AV team and a short test, not a bigger budget.
This guide is about stage and screen lighting. For ordinary dim rooms, see low-light events and additional video lighting.
What goes wrong on camera?
| Problem | What you see on video | Why it happens |
|---|---|---|
| Screen flicker | Dark bands or a pulsing wall | The screen’s refresh does not match the camera’s settings |
| Blown-out faces | Presenter’s face turns white | Bright spotlight against a dark stage |
| Dark faces | Speaker lost against a bright screen | The camera exposes for the screen, not the face |
| Colour shifts | Skin turns red, blue or green | Coloured stage lights change quickly |
| Moving lights | Brightness jumps up and down | Lighting cues change during a speech |
What should we ask the AV team?
The AV supplier runs the lights and the screens, so most answers come from them. Ask:
- Can we have a lighting cue list or the run order for the lights?
- Is the LED wall type known, and can its settings be adjusted if we see flicker?
- Can a test slot be given before doors open?
- Will speakers stand in a lit area that stays even during speeches?
- Can we place a camera where the screens do not dominate the shot?
Our event audio brief builder and the venue filming questions checklist can be shared with them.
Why does a test matter?
Flicker and exposure are quick to check and slow to fix on the day. A test of ten minutes lets the crew see the wall through the camera, try different settings and pick camera positions.
Ask the venue and AV team whether test time is available. It depends on their schedule, so ask early. If there is no test slot, tell us. We can still plan, but we may suggest safer camera positions and a plain background for speeches.
What happens to faces under stage lights?
Presenters and singers move in and out of spotlights. A camera set for the bright light loses detail in dark areas, and a camera set for darker areas turns spotlit faces white.
Agree with the AV team which parts of the stage stay evenly lit during speeches. For performances and awards, ask for a short look at the cue list, so the crew knows when the light will change. For the event types that use this most, see conference and convention videography, awards ceremony videography and product launch videography.
What about the content on the screens?
The screens often show slides, logos, music videos and sponsor content. These have their own owners. Agree early whether the recording should include them in full, show them partly or keep them out of any public version.
If the screens will also show a camera feed to the room, see event camera live feed for venue screens. Ask us and we confirm what is possible for your date.
A worked example
This is an illustration, not a past job. Imagine a product launch with a wide LED wall behind the stage and moving coloured lights.
- The organiser asks the AV supplier for the cue list and a ten-minute test before doors open.
- In the test, the crew sees flicker on the wall from one camera position. The AV team adjusts a setting and the flicker goes.
- The AV team agrees to keep a plain white light on the lectern for speeches.
- The crew places one camera at the back and one at the side, so the wall is not the brightest part of the shot.
- The recording shows clear faces and a steady screen.
Ask early, and test before the guests arrive.
What we confirm for your event
- How we test the LED wall through the camera during setup.
- What we need from the AV team, and by when.
- What we change if the screen flickers: camera position first, then screen settings with the AV team.
- How we choose camera positions around the screens.
- We check with you before showing sponsor or music content.
Where we can help
We talk to your AV team, plan the test and choose camera positions around the stage. Message us the venue and the date and we will check what is possible. For the wider service, see event videography in Malaysia.
If you can share the stage plan, the AV supplier's name and the programme, we can tell you what to test and when. Send the date and venue and we will check whether we can film it.
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