Dynamic lighting can add dimension and depth to the overall experience of the worship portion of a service. Lighting is an investment that brings great impact to a service and there are many techniques that can be used to define the mood of a worship song. Ranging from simple to more complex, here are 10 different lighting techniques for worship that help the music shine:
Foundational Lighting
The simplest of all lighting is using the house lights only for worship. However, there are so many lighting options available for modern churches, that even a small investment can dramatically change the look and ambiance of the worship portion of the church service.
Many churches are using the dimmed lights approach to worship time. By dimming the ambient lighting(experiment with this in your space), you can use front lighting to maximize whatever stage lighting you choose.
A single white spotlight for each individual worship position can be all that is needed to draw the congregation into focusing on the worship music. A standard white front light is best. Shining colored lights directly on your worship team can make them look unnatural. Try to keep front lighting off walls to maximize the impact of the spotlight effect.
RGBW house lights are another common lighting choice for large to medium-sized venues. Although this kind of lighting is a bit pricey, the output well makes up for the dollar signs. House lights that are made up of smaller LED lights allow for quick color changes, custom designs, and effective mood setting. This will require some more set-up and possibly coding on the back end. Contact a professional to help you with this process and reduce stress with worship set-up.
Enhance the Effect
Background lighting with LED pars can create color and contrast that compliments your front lighting. It’s possible to use a single color and then change out to a new color each time a new sermon series begins or on a quarterly schedule. Lay out your lights evenly spaced and shoot directly up walls or at angles to fill your walls with color. Consider enhancing worship and messages visually through colored lights on your backdrop. This is a very simple but effective way to add to the stage.
Backlights are lights that shine from behind the performers towards the congregation. Backlights are hung towards the rear of the stage and highlight the depth of the stage and everything on it. A wash light can be used to highlight a specific area of the stage where a group of musicians are located. Wash light creates soft and subtle illumination. Ellipsoidals are a type of wash light that is commonly used.
Side lights can bring the stage to life and add a cozy dimension. They also create shadows much like sunlight shining on someone standing outside. Side lights should always match the backlights for a cohesive stage setup. Keep in mind that you should always have two side lights to bring balance to the stage. Otherwise, there will be shadowing that is not ideal for the audience experience.
Adding Movement
A follow spotlight is a good option for performers who are moving around on the stage. Their light follows the performer, matching their energy. These lights can also be used as a static spotlight as well.
Moving head lights are also becoming an increasingly popular way to add color and movement to a worship service. They swivel in multiple directions and offer a wide range of lighting effects. Consider the size of your venue so that the proper light output and type of head lights can be chosen. These include EFX, Spot/Profile, Beam, Hybrid, and Wash.
Utilize these ten different lighting techniques for your church worship space. Stage lighting for the worship space can enhance the worship experience for your church. There are many lighting options that can be used alone or in combination to make the worship experience warm, reflective and joyful.
