How I Approach Interview Lighting

Lighting real people isn’t about creating something perfect - it’s about creating something honest.

Over the years, if you can imagine it - I've probably lit an interview in it. Stunning hotel suites, absolutely disgusting hotel suites, storage rooms, tiny offices, basements, backyards, airliner cockpits, even inside a nuclear submarine. The setup changes every time, but my approach doesn’t.

Here’s what I focus on:

1. Make the person comfortable

If someone feels awkward, the whole interview feels awkward. I try to keep the lighting process simple and calm - nothing invasive, nothing too bright in their face, nothing that makes them feel “on display.”

Comfort > cinematography.

2. Shape the light, don’t overwork it

You don't (always) need a whole lotta lights! Sometimes a single soft key light, a bit of negative fill, maybe a gentle backlight - that’s usually enough. Real people don’t need dramatic lighting. They need believable lighting.

3. Match the environment

Every space already has a story - I try to respect it. If the room has warm lamps, I lean warm. If the background has window light, I work with it. The goal is to enhance the emotion of the scene, not remake it.

Natural light is your friend, a tool on your belt. Sometimes you use it a lot, sometimes you control it a lot. Everything is a balance.

4. Prioritise the eyes

Honesty lives in the eyes. If they’re lit well, the whole frame works.

Good lighting shouldn’t call attention to itself. It should make the viewer feel something...without realising why.