{"id":645,"date":"2026-10-04T00:39:50","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T22:39:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thatdog.fr\/index.php\/lighting-portrait-interview-secrets-of-light\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T10:17:27","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T08:17:27","slug":"lighting-portrait-interview-secrets-of-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thatdog.fr\/index.php\/en\/lighting-portrait-interview-secrets-of-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Lighting a portrait or an interview: the secrets of light"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbsection\u00a0\u00bb]
\n\t\t\t[et_pb_row admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbrow\u00a0\u00bb]
\n\t\t\t\t[et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbText\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n

Take the same person, the same camera, the same room. Change only the light: it goes from \u201cID photo at the police station\u201d to \u201cmagazine portrait\u201d. Light is the most underrated ingredient of a successful video or photo.<\/p>\n

Here, without equations, are the secrets we use to light an interview or a portrait.<\/p>\n

Hard light, soft light<\/h2>\n

It all starts with a question of size. The smaller a light source is relative to the subject, the harder<\/strong> it is: sharp shadows, strong contrast, every wrinkle underlined. The larger it is, the softer<\/strong> it is: gradual shadows, smoothed skin, a flattering mood.<\/p>\n

Midday sun? Hard light. A cloudy sky? Soft light, because the whole sky becomes one immense source. For a corporate interview, we almost always look for softness.<\/p>\n

The 3-point setup, the basis of everything<\/h2>\n

This is the great classic, taught in every school. Three sources, three roles:<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Light<\/th>\nWhere to place it<\/th>\nIts role<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Key light<\/td>\nTo the side, about 30 to 45\u00b0 from the face, slightly raised<\/td>\nLight the face and draw its volume<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fill light<\/td>\nOn the other side, weaker<\/td>\nSoften the shadows without removing them<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Backlight<\/td>\nBehind the person, raised<\/td>\nSeparate the hair and shoulders from the background<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

Seen from above, it looks roughly like this:<\/p>\n