Photographer and filmmaker Shanyn Fiske wears many hats as a stills photographer, videographer, and now director of photography. With nearly a decade of experience in commercial photography, Shanyn has recently stepped behind the camera in a new way, bringing her strong understanding of lighting into filmmaking.
For this project, Shanyn was filming part of a documentary featuring Miles 2 Freedom, an organization led by cyclist and community advocate Justin Held. The shoot took place inside Justin’s bike shop, where Shanyn used Westcott’s constant lighting tools to create clean, natural light for both the interview footage and b-roll used throughout the documentary.
Lighting the Miles 2 Freedom Documentary
Miles 2 Freedom is more than just a cycling organization. It’s about movement, purpose, and rebuilding lives. Shanyn’s documentary follows Justin’s rides and community work, telling a story of strength and perseverance through cycling.
Much of the final film will feature outdoor footage captured in natural light, so the indoor interview needed to feel cohesive with those scenes. Shanyn’s goal was to design an interview lighting setup that looked naturally lit, soft, warm, and realistic, so it blended seamlessly when intercut with outdoor footage.
Why Use Constant Lighting for Interviews and Documentary Work?
One of the biggest challenges when switching between photography and video is lighting consistency. Shanyn explains that using Westcott’s constant LED lights made this process much easier.
“With constant lights, I don’t have to keep switching between strobes and triggers,” she says. “I can use the same setup for both stills and video, which saves time and keeps everything looking consistent.”
Constant lighting also allows her to see changes in real time. This makes it easier to adjust the intensity and direction of light, especially when balancing with natural or ambient sources.
How to Blend Artificial and Natural Light for a Realistic Look
Since much of the Miles 2 Freedom documentary takes place outdoors, the interview and b-roll lighting needed to blend smoothly with daylight. Shanyn wanted to keep everything soft, even, and true to how the shop actually feels during the day.
By matching her key light to daylight color temperature and adding warmer tones in the background, she was able to mimic the way natural light interacts inside the space. This not only makes the footage cohesive but also creates a sense of warmth and authenticity that matches the story’s tone.
Key Light Setup: Using the Westcott L120-B
For the main light, Shanyn used the Westcott L120-B Bi-Color COB LED set to 5600K to match daylight. The light was modified with a 53-inch Deep Umbrella with a white interior and a diffusion cover to create a soft, natural look.
When she noticed reflections on the shiny surfaces in the bike shop, Shanyn feathered the light slightly away from the background. This simple adjustment softened the reflections while keeping her subject, Justin, beautifully lit. “I liked how Justin’s face was exposed, but I didn’t want the light bouncing off the silver behind him,” Shanyn says. “By feathering the light, I kept the focus where it needed to be-on him.”
Edge Lighting with the Ice Light 3 RGBWW: Adding Warmth and Separation
To add separation between Justin and the background, Shanyn used an Ice Light 3 RGBWW set to 2700K and about 30% brightness. This light acted as both a warm edge light and a subtle flood that warmed up the scene behind him.
The warm tone helped balance the cool daylight key, creating a pleasing mix that felt organic. This balance of color temperatures made the shot feel more like a natural moment than a staged setup, perfect for documentary work.
Background Lighting Setup: Creating Depth and Texture with Ice Light 3s
For the background, Shanyn placed two additional Ice Light 3s, also set to 2700K, around the bike shop. These lights added gentle highlights on gear, bikes, and tools, giving depth and texture to the scene without feeling artificial.
By controlling these lights through the Westcott app, Shanyn was able to group them together and adjust both color temperature and power at once. This made it easy to dial in just the right amount of warmth to keep the scene inviting.
B-Roll Lighting Setup – Keeping a Consistent Look Across Shots
When it came time to film b-roll, shots of Justin working on bikes; the setup stayed the same. The L120-B remained the key light, and the Ice Lights continued to add warmth and dimension to the background. This consistency ensured that both the interview and b-roll matched visually. Shanyn then adjusted angles and positions to highlight motion and details, like Justin’s hands working on a bike or the light glinting off the tools.
Creating Mood with Ambient and Constant Light
After capturing the main interview and b-roll, Shanyn experimented by turning off the key light and filming using only ambient light and the warm Ice Lights. The mix of shop lights, natural light through the door, and the soft glow from the Ice Lights created a moody, peaceful look-almost like early morning or late night. “I loved the quiet mood of this setup,” Shanyn says. “It felt personal and reflective—just Justin in his own space, working on his craft.”
Key Takeaways: Small, Portable Lights for Documentary Filmmaking
Shanyn and her small crew, producer Kat Hash, and second shooter Caleb Doranz captured all the interview and b-roll footage in under half a day, thanks to the portability and versatility of their Westcott lighting setup. The Ice Light 3s proved especially valuable, easily fitting into tight corners, clamping onto shelves, and lighting areas where larger fixtures couldn’t reach.
For Shanyn, the biggest takeaway was how effortless it can be to create natural, cinematic lighting with compact constant lights. “The Ice Lights let us shape light exactly where we needed it,” she says. “They’re small, flexible, and powerful—perfect for documentary work in real-world spaces.”
Want to learn more about lighting for video?
Check out Lighting Breakdown: How to Film a Corporate Video, where Westcott videographer Jacob Schoonover takes you behind the scenes of a commercial shoot for a local business and shares how he approached lighting for a clean, professional look.
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