How Many Watts Do I Need for a Two-Person Interview Setup?
For a two-person interview setup, 100–200W of LED output per key light is sufficient for most indoor studio environments. You'll need two key lights (one per person), plus a fill or background light, putting your total LED wattage at 300–600W across the full setup.
Breaking Down the Two-Person Interview Lighting Rig
A two-person interview — whether a podcast, corporate video, or documentary-style shoot — requires each subject to be individually lit. Sharing a single key light across two people almost always results in one person being over-lit and the other under-lit, especially if they're sitting at different angles.
The standard approach is a three or four-light setup:
- Key light for subject 1: 100–150W LED panel or bi-colour monolight, positioned at 45 degrees
- Key light for subject 2: Same, mirrored on the other side
- Fill or kicker: 60–100W panel to lift shadows and add separation
- Background light (optional): 60W or less — enough to add depth without overpowering the subjects
Room Size and Ambient Light Matter
Wattage requirements scale with the size of your space and how much ambient light you're fighting. In a small, controlled studio room with dark walls, 100W per key light is generous. In a bright office with large windows and white walls, you may need 200W+ to achieve a usable exposure ratio. When in doubt, buy more than you think you need — you can always dim down, but you can't add watts you don't have.
LED vs Strobe for Interview Work
For video interviews, LED continuous lighting is the correct choice — strobe flash is not compatible with video. For photography-only interview setups (executive portraits, for example), strobe gives you significantly more power per dollar. Most studios doing hybrid work — photo and video in the same session — opt for bi-colour LED panels that serve both formats.
Browse Dragon Image's studio lighting range and studio kits for two-person interview-ready setups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a single LED panel for both interview subjects?
Only if the panel is large and powerful enough, and both subjects are within 1m of each other. For most interview setups, separate key lights give you independent control over each person's exposure and look — worth the extra equipment.
Do I need a light meter for a two-person interview setup?
Not necessarily. For video, you're metering visually via your camera's histogram or zebras. A light meter helps when you need consistent, matched exposure across both subjects — especially useful in longer shoots where you reset lighting between setups.
What colour temperature should I use for an interview?
Daylight (5600K) is the standard for most modern interview setups — it matches window light and produces clean, neutral skin tones. Set your camera's white balance to match and lock it there. Avoid mixing colour temperatures across your lights.