An illumination rendering method and apparatus includes obtaining a first picture at a target viewing angle from a virtual three-dimensional (3D) scene. The first picture includes a virtual object to be subject to illumination rendering in the virtual 3D scene at the target viewing angle. A target virtual light source point set is determined that performs illumination rendering on the virtual object in the first picture. Illumination rendering is performed on the virtual object in the first picture by using the target virtual light source point set. This illumination rendering improves efficiency in rendering on the virtual object in the virtual 3D scene.