Describe the look in one sentence
A clean corporate look, a dramatic portrait or a bright office feel lead to different lighting decisions. Write down the effect you want and pick a reference frame.
Allow for how the speaker naturally sits and moves: if the picture changes a lot when they shift slightly, the setup becomes tiring in daily use. Test with a real conversation, not a frozen pose.
The basic setup: key, fill and back light
- Key light: a large, soft source to one side of the camera, in front of and slightly above the face. A COB spotlight with a softbox or a wide LED panel works well.
- Fill light: on the opposite side at lower intensity, to soften shadows rather than remove them.
- Back light: from behind the speaker, separating hair and shoulders from the background.
- Background light: lights the background or set separately to add depth and brand colour.
Two-person conversations and videocasts
Give each person their own key light so their face does not fall into shadow when they turn to each other. If you add a close-up camera on each speaker to the wide two-shot, check with a test recording that the light is consistent in all three angles.
Let the content format decide the camera count. Every unused angle is extra setup and editing work.
Beyond the face: background, windows and reflections
A bright window, a light-coloured wall or a reflective desk can spoil the composition. Changing the light’s direction is sometimes more effective than adding another fixture.
If the speaker wears glasses, test with the real glasses and watch the lenses as they turn their head slightly left and right. Raising the key a little or moving it further off the camera axis usually solves the problem.
Noise and camera test
Run the lights together with the microphone and camera. Listen to fan noise in a recording made with the real microphone placement, not just in the room. Passively cooled panels and fixtures with adjustable fan modes help here.
Then make a short test recording at your target frame rate and shutter: flicker the eye cannot see can show up on camera as banding.
Make the winning setup repeatable
When you find a setup you like, record light positions, modifiers and basic settings. Floor marks and a few reference photos save time on the next shoot. For lights controlled by app or DMX, storing settings as a scene brings the setup back with one tap.
Example equipment
If you are planning a studio in a small room, see example setups on our live streaming and podcast studio installation page.
- Key light: a Nanlite FS-300C with a Bowens-mount softbox, or a wide TrueLight Ultra-Soft Studio Panel.
- Back or background light: the compact Nanlite Forza 60C, which also works for colour accents.
- Small accent lights: mini full-colour spotlights such as the Nanlux Evoke 5C.
Pre-shoot checklist
- Tested with the speaker’s natural movement
- Glasses and shiny-surface reflections checked
- Fan and room noise heard through the real microphone
- Flicker checked at target camera settings
- Light positions and settings saved for the next shoot
Frequently asked questions
Is one light enough for an interview?
A large, soft key light can be enough for a simple interview. Adding a second light to separate the background and add depth usually improves the picture noticeably.
How do I avoid reflections in glasses?
Raise the key light a little or move it further off the camera axis; asking the speaker to tilt their head slightly also helps. Always check the change with the real glasses, on camera.
Do lights make noise in a podcast studio?
Fan-cooled fixtures can. Choosing passively cooled panels or lights with adjustable fan modes, and listening through the real microphone, reduces the risk.
