How to Use Lighting to Add Depth and Interest to Your Talking Head Videos
Lighting isn’t just about visibility — it’s about storytelling. Whether you’re shooting photos or video, the way you use light can completely transform the mood, tone, and overall impact of your visuals.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how I build my lighting setups to add depth and interest to talking head videos, using a real example from my studio.
Why Lighting Matters
Before diving into the technical side, it’s important to remember: your message is always more important than your lighting. Great lighting elevates your video, but clarity and authenticity of your message should come first.
That said, if you want to increase your production value and give your videos a more cinematic feel, thoughtful lighting can make a huge difference.
The Base: Practical and Ambient Light
Every lighting setup starts with what you can’t control. In my case, that’s the house lights and a warm background light from my workbench. House lights often create flat, unflattering illumination and can introduce flicker or strange color casts.
Instead, I simulate that exposure using a controlled light source, allowing me to avoid flicker and keep colors clean. I also use the background practical as a baseline — it adds visual interest and sets the tone of the space.
Building the Setup: Four and a Half Lights
Here’s the breakdown of the lights I use:
Background Practical Light – Adds depth and highlights interesting elements of the studio.
Accent Light (Brand Color) – Positioned behind me, tuned to my brand’s color palette for subtle identity reinforcement.
Key Light – A large, soft light source placed in front to illuminate my face naturally.
Kicker/Rim Light – Adds separation from the background and defines the shape of the subject.
“Half Light” (Reflector) – Not a light source itself, but it bounces soft light to fill in shadows for balance.
The Power of Color Contrast
Mixing color temperatures creates visual depth. For example, I balance my daylight-colored key light (5600K) with a warmer accent light (3200K). This subtle shift creates contrast that makes the scene more dynamic.
Final Touches
Ultimately, lighting is personal. Some prefer a clean, evenly lit look with house lights on; others prefer dramatic contrast. The best setup is the one that enhances your message while fitting your style.
Wrapping Up
Lighting is one of the most powerful tools you have to improve your videos. Even small adjustments — like adding a rim light or balancing color temperatures — can take your video from flat to professional-looking.
Next time you set up for a talking head video, experiment with layering lights and using what’s already in your environment to your advantage.