Topic guide

Lighting for on-camera interviews

Look human, not like a hostage. A single soft key light to one side, ambient fill on the other, nothing too harsh, nothing too dim. Webcam interviews follow the same rules as television.

Bad lighting makes you look tired, suspicious or unwell, none of which is on-message. The fix is a single soft key light at 45 degrees to one side of your face, ambient fill from the room on the other side, no direct overhead light, no window behind you. Even a desk lamp pointed at a white wall fixes most webcam setups.

Want to drill this with a working journalist? Take the On-Camera Presenter Training course or book a strategy call.