How to Light & Shoot Interviews for TV & Video: Using the Three Point Lighting Technique with Nigel Cooper

Using the broadcast industry standard 3-Point lighting technique

With colour photographs and illustrations

This lighting tutorial is aimed at those who want to learn the industry standard broadcast professional method of lighting for television and video productions. It concentrates on the broadcast standard 3-point lighting technique that is used in the industry today.

It demonstrates lighting a single person in a typical television interview situation.

Although I use the Photoflex Starlite and Dedolight lighting equipment, the principles are the same whatever lighting kit you use. The guide is written in layman's terms with no unnecessary technical jargon and is easy to follow and understand.

When it comes to video (or stills photography), the most important three elements are: lighting, subject matter and composition.

Without lighting there is no image, without an interesting subject the image will be uninteresting, and without a professionally composed shot, the image will look amateurish. Notice how lighting is at the front of this queue of importance.

Once you have nailed these three, the rest is down to your own creative judgement; it’s that simple.

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