In short: A TV lighting director designs the lighting for a multi-camera programme. They agree the mood with the director and producer, work with the production designer, write the lighting plan and decide how many lighting staff are needed. The lighting console operators work to their plan, and the role is senior, usually reached after years on the rig.
A TV lighting director designs the look of a multi-camera programme and writes the plan that the lighting team works to. On a studio show the lighting is part of the set design, and on an outside broadcast the lighting director adapts to the venue, whether that is a theatre, a cathedral or a concert hall.
What a lighting director does on a shoot day
The lighting director does much of the work before the day, when the plan is written. On the day they check the look against the cameras, make changes with the console operator and keep the crew working safely.
Their work covers these tasks:
- Agree the mood. They agree the style of the programme with the producer and the director.
- Work with the set. They work with the production designer so the lighting suits the set and the technical needs.
- Write the plot. They create the lighting plan, covering the fixtures, their positions and the effects.
- Run the extras. They oversee other elements such as LED screens and moving lights.
- Manage the crew. They decide how many lighting staff are needed, oversee health and safety and manage the budget.
Who they work with
The lighting director works with the producer, the director and the production designer, and with the camera department, who need the lighting to look right through the lens. They lead the lighting console operators and work with senior electricians, sparks and gaffers, who make the plan happen on the rig.
For the roles on the rig, see what a lighting console operator does and what a spark does.
Kit and skills
The kit includes spotlights and moving lights, lasers and smoke effects, gobos (stencils that shape light into patterns), LED screens and lighting consoles for programming and operation. Granary's own desks are a grandMA2 and a Zero 88 Fat Frog, and the studio's house lighting runs on an 8-bar grid, but a visiting production may bring its own rig.
The skills the role needs are:
- Creativity, and an eye for colour, texture and shape on camera.
- Thorough knowledge of the equipment and how it behaves.
- Organisation and a clear plan that others can follow.
- Communication and leadership, plus strong health and safety awareness, including working at height.
How to become a lighting director
This is a senior role, so experience comes first. ScreenSkills describes these routes:
- Kit room assistant. Start in a kit room and move on to lighting console operator, spark or the camera department.
- Transfer in. Lighting work in theatre, events, photography or advertising carries over.
- Qualifications. Electrical or lighting qualifications help, and the Screen Lighting Technician apprenticeship standard is one route. A degree is optional.
- Experience. Volunteering, short courses, networking and free crew databases all build a track record.
- Bectu. Bectu, the union for people working in the creative industries, offers freelancers advice and career support as members.
Do you need one on a small shoot?
- A talking head or single-camera interview: no. One person can light the set and check it on the camera monitor.
- A multi-camera show or a live stream with several looks: yes. The lighting changes with the camera and the programme, and someone needs to own the plan.
- A set with LED screens, effects or lighting at height: yes, with a competent person assessing the rig and the risks.
The lighting on a rig is electrical work at height. The points here are general guidance only, and a competent person must assess the actual job. The gaffer and lighting crew page explains how lighting crew is booked with the studio.
Related roles
Sources
- ScreenSkills, Lighting director in the unscripted TV industry, job profile, read 5 November 2026
- Bectu, home page, read 5 November 2026
Related guides
Questions we get asked
What does a lighting director do on a TV show?
They set the colour, texture and mood of a programme and write the lighting plan, which covers the fixtures, positions and effects. They work with the director, the producer and the production designer, and they oversee the lighting crew and the safety of the rig.
Is a lighting director the same as a gaffer?
Not quite. A gaffer leads the lighting on a film set and works with the director of photography. A TV lighting director designs the look of a multi-camera programme, and works with the director, the producer and the production designer.
Do you need a lighting director on a small shoot?
Not for a single-camera interview, where one person can light the set. A lighting director earns their place on a multi-camera programme, a live show or a set with moving lights, LED screens and effects.
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