Imagine this: You’re watching an interview with a subject who has a compelling story to tell. The content is engaging, but the lighting is harsh, casting unflattering shadows across their face. Suddenly, the professionalism of the production is undermined, and your focus shifts from the story to the poor visual quality.
This scenario highlights the critical role of lighting in interviews—an often-overlooked aspect that can make or break your production.
Lighting isn’t just about making your subject visible; it’s about creating a mood, enhancing facial features, and ensuring that your audience remains captivated by what’s being said. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how to master interview lighting, covering everything from foundational techniques to advanced setups using professional tools like Ikan’s Lyra Bi-Color Soft Panels and Rayden LED Lights.
The Importance of Lighting in Interviews
Lighting is one of the most powerful tools in video production. For interviews, it serves several essential purposes:
- Enhancing Visual Clarity: Proper lighting ensures that your subject is well-lit and visible, making it easier for viewers to connect with them emotionally.
- Setting the Tone: The way you light an interview can evoke different moods—soft lighting creates an intimate atmosphere, while dramatic lighting adds tension or gravity.
- Maintaining Professionalism: Poor lighting can distract viewers and reduce the perceived quality of your production, no matter how compelling the content may be.
- Brand Representation: For corporate and institutional clients, lighting quality reflects directly on their brand image and perceived professionalism.
- Subject Comfort: Good lighting not only looks better but can make interview subjects feel more comfortable and confident on camera.
Unfortunately, many productions fall prey to common lighting mistakes such as harsh shadows, uneven illumination, or distracting glare. These issues can be avoided with proper planning and the right equipment.
Understanding the Basics of Interview Lighting
Before diving into specific setups, it’s important to understand the fundamentals that inform all interview lighting decisions:
Light Quality
Light quality refers to the character of the light—whether it’s hard (creating defined shadows) or soft (creating gradual transitions between light and shadow).
- Hard Light: Created by small, direct light sources; produces dramatic shadows and defined contours.
- Soft Light: Created by large, diffused sources; produces gentle transitions and flattering illumination for most interviews.
For most interview scenarios, soft light is preferable as it’s more forgiving and flattering for subjects. Ikan’s Lyra series with their built-in diffusion panels excel at creating this soft light quality.
Intensity and Contrast Ratio
The contrast ratio refers to the difference in intensity between the brightest and darkest parts of your subject. For standard interviews:
- A low contrast ratio (2:1 or 3:1) creates a clean, even look ideal for corporate or news interviews
- A higher contrast ratio (4:1 or greater) creates a more dramatic look suitable for documentary or artistic pieces
Adjustable brightness controls on LED panels like the Rayden and Lyra series allow precise contrast adjustments to achieve your desired aesthetic.
Mastering the Three-Point Lighting Setup
The three-point lighting setup is a cornerstone of professional video production and is particularly effective for interviews. It involves three primary light sources:
1. Key Light
The key light is your main source of illumination and should be positioned at a 45-degree angle from the subject’s face. This angle creates depth by casting soft shadows on one side of their face while highlighting their features.
Ikan’s Rayden 1 x 1 Bi-Color LED Light Kit, with its adjustable color temperature (3200K-5600K), is ideal for this role. Its high CRI rating of 97 ensures accurate color reproduction, which is critical for skin tones. The Rayden’s 50° beam angle provides focused illumination while still covering your subject evenly.
Pro Tip: Position the key light slightly higher than your subject’s eye level, angled downward at about 15-30 degrees. This creates natural-looking shadows under the nose and chin.
2. Fill Light
The fill light softens shadows created by the key light and provides balanced illumination. It should be placed on the opposite side of the key light at a lower intensity (typically 50-75% of your key light’s brightness).
Ikan’s Lyra Bi-Color Soft Panel LED Lights are excellent for fill lighting due to their diffused output and adjustable brightness. The LB5 (Half x 1) model is perfect as a fill light, with its 110° beam angle and built-in diffusion panel that eliminates the need for additional modifiers in most situations.
Pro Tip: For a more dramatic look, try using the fill light at just 30-40% of your key light’s intensity. For a flatter, more even look (common in corporate videos), increase it to 80-90% of your key light.
3. Backlight (or Hair Light)
The backlight separates the subject from the background by adding a subtle rim of light around their head and shoulders. This creates depth and prevents a flat appearance on camera.
Position the backlight behind the subject at an angle that avoids lens flare while emphasizing contours. The Rayden Daylight 5-Point LED Light Kit w/ 5x RW5 works well for this purpose, as its more focused beam angle helps create a defined edge without spilling onto the background.
Pro Tip: Extend your backlight setup with a second light to illuminate the background itself. This adds depth and prevents a “floating head” effect, especially against dark backgrounds.
Natural vs. Artificial Lighting: Pros and Cons
While natural light can produce stunning results, it comes with limitations such as inconsistency and lack of control. Artificial lighting, on the other hand, offers precision and reliability but requires investment in equipment.
Natural Lighting
- Pros: Cost-effective, soft and flattering when used correctly, appears natural and authentic.
- Cons: Unpredictable due to weather changes; limited control over intensity and direction; changes throughout the day.
Best Practices for Natural Light:
- Position subjects near large windows but not in direct sunlight
- Use reflectors (even a white foam board works) to bounce light back onto the shadow side of the face
- Schedule shoots during the “golden hours” (early morning or late afternoon) when natural light is softest
Artificial Lighting
- Pros: Complete control over brightness, color temperature, and positioning; consistency across takes; works in any location regardless of weather or time of day.
- Cons: Requires setup time and additional equipment; needs power sources; can look unnatural if poorly implemented.
For interviews in controlled environments, artificial lighting like Ikan’s Rayden or Lyra panels provides unmatched flexibility and professional results.
Choosing the Right Equipment for Interview Lighting
Selecting high-quality lighting equipment can elevate your production value significantly. Here are some recommended tools based on specific needs:
LED Panels
LED panels are versatile tools that provide bright, even illumination with adjustable color temperatures:
- The Rayden 1 x 1 Bi-Color LED Light Kit offers a wide beam angle (50°) for illuminating large areas while maintaining consistent brightness. Its high CRI of 97 ensures accurate skin tones, and with 899 watts of incandescent equivalent output, it’s powerful enough for most interview settings.
- The Lyra Bi-Color Soft Panels, available in full-size (LB10) or half-size (LB5) models, deliver soft, diffused light ideal for flattering skin tones. Their built-in diffusion panel provides a 110° beam angle that wraps beautifully around subjects, and with CRI ratings of 97, they reproduce colors with exceptional accuracy.
- The Onyx Series, particularly the OYB10 (1 x 1 Bi-Color Aluminum LED Light), offers a more budget-friendly option while still providing 96+ CRI and adjustable color temperature for quality results.
Softboxes
Softboxes diffuse harsh light sources to create a natural look without sharp shadows. They are particularly useful for fill lights in interviews.
Ikan’s Presto Soft Boxes (PSB10 for 1 x 1 panels and PSB5 for Half x 1 panels) are designed to quickly attach to Lyra, Rayden, and Mylo LED lights, converting them into ultra-soft sources without requiring complex setup.
Accessories for Precision Control
Additional tools that enhance lighting control include:
- Barn doors: Included with many Ikan lights, these allow you to shape the beam and prevent light spill
- Grid attachments: These focus the light beam for more directional control
- Light stands: Ikan offers various stands with different height ranges and weight capacities
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Even with high-quality equipment, improper execution can lead to subpar results. Here are some common mistakes and solutions:
Harsh Shadows
Problem: Shadows that obscure facial features or create an unbalanced look.
Solution: Use diffused lights like Ikan’s Lyra panels or add softboxes to harsh light sources. Position your fill light properly to gently illuminate shadow areas without eliminating all shadows (which would result in a flat look).
Glare on Glasses
Problem: Reflections from lights obscure subjects wearing glasses.
Solution:
- Raise the height of your key and fill lights to a steeper angle
- Slightly angle the subject’s head away from the key light
- Use larger, softer light sources to minimize reflections
- Consider polarizing filters to reduce glare
Uneven Illumination
Problem: Parts of the subject are overexposed while others are underlit.
Solution: Balance intensity levels between key and fill lights using dimmable LEDs like those in Ikan’s Rayden series. Use a light meter or the camera’s zebra pattern/false color to identify hotspots and adjust accordingly.
Background Issues
Problem: Distracting shadows on the background or uneven background lighting.
Solution: Position your subject at least 6 feet from the background and add dedicated background lights. Ikan’s MB4 Mylo Mini Bi-Color Field LED Light is perfect for this purpose, as it’s compact but powerful enough to illuminate background areas.
Lighting for Different Interview Styles
Different types of interviews may require different lighting approaches:
Corporate/Formal Interviews
For professional corporate settings, aim for a clean, even lighting style with minimal shadows:
- Use a lower contrast ratio (close to 2:1)
- Consider using two nearly equal-strength key lights (a “double key” setup)
- Ensure the background is evenly lit and not too distracting
- Opt for cooler color temperatures (4500K-5600K) for a crisp, clean look
Documentary-Style Interviews
For more emotional or narrative content:
- Use a higher contrast ratio (3:1 or 4:1)
- Consider slightly warmer color temperatures (3200K-4000K) for a more intimate feel
- Use practical lights in the background to add depth and context
- Don’t be afraid of creative accents like edge lighting to create mood
Remote/Virtual Interviews
For remote interview setups where subjects are self-recording:
- Recommend simple kits like Ikan’s HomeStream lighting solutions
- Emphasize the importance of avoiding overhead lighting
- Suggest placement near windows with a fill light on the opposite side
- Recommend appropriate height positioning (slightly above eye level)
Advanced Tips for Professional Results
To take your interview lighting to the next level:
- Experiment with color temperature to match ambient light or create specific moods. Bi-color lights like the Lyra series allow you to dial in precise color temperatures.
- Use barn doors (included with many Ikan lights) to shape light beams precisely and control spill.
- Incorporate practical lights (e.g., lamps or candles) into your background for added depth and contextual authenticity.
- Consider the interview duration when designing your setup. For longer interviews, prioritize subject comfort by using cooler-running LED panels like the Lyra series.
- For complex multi-camera interviews, ensure consistent lighting across all angles. This may require additional fill lights to maintain even illumination regardless of camera position.
- For interviews in challenging locations, battery-powered options like Ikan’s V-mount compatible lights ensure you can achieve professional results anywhere.
Looking Ahead
Lighting is more than just a technical requirement—it’s an art form that shapes how your audience perceives your content. By mastering foundational techniques like three-point lighting and investing in reliable tools such as Ikan’s Rayden or Lyra LED panels, you can ensure professional-quality results for every interview.
Whether you’re filming in a studio or on location, thoughtful lighting will elevate your production value, captivate your audience, and allow your subject’s story to shine brightly—literally and figuratively.
For system integrators and resellers, understanding these lighting principles enables you to confidently recommend and implement the right solutions for your clients’ specific needs, enhancing your value as a trusted partner in their production success.