Interview lighting: this is how to ensure professional lighting

When filming an interview, lighting plays a crucial role in the look and feel of your shot. Good lighting can make your subject stand out better, create the right mood and give your video a professional look. In this blog, we explain step by step how to optimally light an interview.

1. Key Light: The basis of your exposure.

For a natural and balanced look, match your key light to the ambient light. In our example, we used the Godox Knowled F600 bi-color, a large and soft light source. The larger the light source, the softer the light - and that creates a flattering effect on your speaker's face.

To make the light look as natural as possible, place the lamp next to a window. This creates the illusion that the incident light is coming from outside and provides a natural transition from highlights to shadows.

2. Flag for more contrast

To add more depth and contrast, use a flag on the shadow side of the face. This blocks unwanted incident light and helps create a classic Rembrandt light. This type of exposure is identified by the small triangle of light on the shadow side of the face and gives the image a cinematic look.

3. Hairlight for extra separation

A hairlight adds extra dimension by subtly separating the subject from the background. We used the Nanlite Pavoslim 120c for this, combined with a softbox and grid. This light was placed diagonally above and behind the speaker, giving hair and shoulders just that little extra glow. This gives the shot a professional and layered effect.

4. Background lighting for depth

In cloudy weather or in a dark room, the background can look flat and lifeless. To remedy this, add a background light. We simulated sunlight falling through the window with the Nanlux Evoke 2400B Bi-Color LED Light and a FL-35 Fresnel lens. This provided more contrast and a dynamic effect, making the background look less dull and giving the scene a more realistic light.

Getting started yourself?

Want to make your interviews look as professional as they are? The right lighting makes a world of difference! Discover all the gear we used in our webshop and take your video productions to the next level.