Learn the best tips and techniques to shoot high-quality interview videos that captivate your audience. From lighting to editing, we cover it all.

Master the Art of Shooting Professional Interview Videos

Capture Authentic Conversations with These Expert Techniques

Pre-Production

Choose the Right Location

Prepare Your Questions

Select the Right Gear

Setting Up Your Shot

Frame Your Shot

Lighting Your Subject

Recording Quality Audio

Conducting the Interview

Establish a Rapport

Active Listening

Follow-Up Questions

Post-Production

Organizing Your Footage

Editing Techniques

Adding Titles and Graphics

Promoting Your Video

Uploading and Sharing

Creating a Social Media Strategy

Analyzing Your Results

How to Shoot a Professional Interview Video

The background of your interview video can have a significant impact on the overall look and feel of the video. Choose a location that is visually appealing and relevant to the subject matter. For example, if you're interviewing a chef, a kitchen or restaurant would be a great location.

Consider the Background

Make sure you have control over the environment where you'll be shooting the interview. This means choosing a location where you can control the lighting, background noise, and other factors that could impact the quality of the video. Avoid shooting in public places where you have no control over the environment.

Control the Environment

Logistics are an important consideration when choosing a location for your interview. Make sure the location is easily accessible for both you and your subject. Also, consider things like parking, bathroom facilities, and any other amenities you may need during the shoot.

Consider Logistics

Before you start preparing your interview questions, research your subject to get a better understanding of their background, expertise, and interests. This will help you ask more informed and engaging questions that will elicit thoughtful responses.

Research Your Subject

Open-ended questions are great for eliciting thoughtful and detailed responses from your subject. Avoid yes or no questions, and instead focus on questions that start with 'why', 'how', or 'tell me about'.

Focus on Open-Ended Questions

Prepare follow-up questions in advance to keep the conversation flowing and to prompt deeper and more thoughtful responses from your subject. Make sure your follow-up questions are relevant to the topic at hand and build on the information that your subject has already shared.

Prepare Follow-Up Questions

Choose a camera that is capable of shooting high-quality video and has manual control over settings like exposure, focus, and white balance. A DSLR or mirrorless camera is a great option for shooting professional-looking interview videos.

Choose the Right Camera

A tripod is essential for keeping your camera steady and ensuring a professional-looking final product. Make sure your tripod is sturdy and can support the weight of your camera and lens.

Use a Tripod

Good lighting is essential for creating a polished and professional look for your interview video. Invest in a lighting kit that includes softbox lights and stands, or use natural light if it's available and appropriate for the location.

Invest in Good Lighting

Before you start shooting your interview, test all of your equipment to make sure everything is working properly. This includes your camera, tripod, lighting, and audio equipment. Make sure you have backup equipment on hand in case anything fails during the shoot.

Test Your Equipment

One of the most basic framing techniques is the rule of thirds, which involves dividing your frame into a grid of nine equal parts and positioning your subject at one of the intersections. This creates a more visually interesting composition than simply centering your subject in the frame.

Consider the Rule of Thirds

The background of your shot can be just as important as your subject. Look for interesting textures, colors, or patterns that can add visual interest to the shot without distracting from your subject. Additionally, consider adding depth to your shot by placing your subject in front of a background that has layers, such as a row of trees or a city skyline.

Think About Background and Depth

One of the most important factors in a successful interview is the comfort level of your subject. Make sure they feel at ease by chatting with them before the interview and providing clear directions on where to look or how to sit. Consider using a teleprompter to help them feel more prepared and confident.

Make Your Subject Feel Comfortable

There are three main types of lighting you can use for your interview: natural light, artificial light, or a combination of both. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so choose the type that will work best for your specific shoot.

Choose the Right Type of Light

When setting up your lights, make sure they are positioned correctly to avoid harsh shadows or hot spots on your subject's face. The three-point lighting technique is a classic setup that involves using a key light, fill light, and backlight to create a balanced and polished look.

Position Your Lights Correctly

Different light sources have different color temperatures, which can affect the overall look of your shot. Make sure your lights are all set to the same color temperature, or adjust in post-production if necessary.

Adjust for Color Temperature

The microphone you use can make a huge difference in the quality of your audio. Consider investing in a high-quality microphone, such as a shotgun or lavalier mic, to ensure clear and crisp audio.

Use a High-Quality Microphone

Before you start recording, make sure your audio levels are set correctly. You don't want your subject's voice to be too quiet or too loud. Use a sound meter to help you get the levels just right.

Check Your Levels

Background noise can be distracting and ruin an otherwise great interview. Try to find a quiet location to shoot, and consider using a noise-reducing tool in post-production if necessary.

Reduce Background Noise

Before starting the interview, take a few minutes to chat with your subject and create a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Ask them about their day or engage in small talk to help them feel more comfortable and at ease.

Create a Comfortable Atmosphere

Make sure your subject understands the interview process and what is expected of them. Explain the questions you will be asking and let them know if there are any specific topics you want to cover. This will help them feel more prepared and confident during the interview.

Explain the Interview Process

Throughout the interview, be respectful and professional towards your subject. Avoid interrupting them or making them feel uncomfortable. Show genuine interest in their responses and maintain eye contact to convey that you are fully engaged in the conversation.

Be Respectful and Professional

During the interview, give your subject your full attention. Avoid distractions such as checking your phone or fidgeting. Focus on the subject's responses and listen carefully to what they are saying.

Focus on the Subject

Taking notes during the interview can help you remember key points and follow up with more detailed questions later on. Make sure your note-taking is discreet and doesn't distract from the interview process.

Take Notes

If your subject mentions something interesting or insightful, don't be afraid to ask follow-up questions to encourage them to elaborate. This can lead to more thoughtful and engaging responses and help you get the most out of the interview.

Ask Follow-Up Questions

Open-ended questions are a great way to prompt deeper and more thoughtful responses from your subject. Avoid yes or no questions and instead ask questions that encourage your subject to elaborate and provide more detail.

Ask Open-Ended Questions

If your subject makes a general statement, ask them to provide specific examples or anecdotes to illustrate their point. This can help bring their responses to life and make them more engaging for your audience.

Ask for Specific Examples

Asking your subject about their personal experiences and reflections can lead to more insightful and engaging responses. Encourage them to share their own opinions and perspectives on the topic at hand.

Encourage Personal Reflection

Before you begin editing your interview footage, it's essential to organize your files in a way that makes sense to you. Start by creating a system for file naming that will allow you to easily locate the footage you need. You may want to organize your files by date, subject, or some other system that makes sense for your project. Additionally, consider creating a folder structure that mirrors the structure of your final video, with separate folders for each section or chapter.

Create a System for File Naming and Organization

Transcribing your interviews can be a time-consuming task, but it can also save you a lot of time in the long run. By transcribing your interviews, you'll have a written record of everything that was said, making it easier to locate specific quotes or moments in the footage. There are a variety of transcription services available online, or you can transcribe the interviews yourself using software like Dragon Naturally Speaking.

Transcribe Your Interviews

When you begin editing your interview footage, start by creating a rough cut of the video. This will give you a sense of the overall flow of the video and help you identify any sections that need to be cut or rearranged. Don't worry about getting everything perfect at this stage – the goal is to create a rough framework that you can refine later.

Start with a Rough Cut

One of the most effective ways to add visual interest to your interview video is to use B-roll footage. B-roll footage is supplementary footage that is used to support the main content of the video. For example, if your subject is talking about their work as a chef, you might show footage of them cooking in the kitchen. This not only adds visual interest to the video but can also help illustrate key points the subject is making.

Use B-roll to Add Visual Interest

While video is obviously important when it comes to editing your interview footage, don't overlook the importance of audio. Make sure that your subjects are easy to hear and that there are no distracting background noises. If necessary, consider using software like Audacity to edit and enhance your audio.

Pay Attention to Audio

Lower thirds are a common type of graphic used in interview videos. They are typically used to identify the subject of the interview, with their name and title appearing on the screen. Lower thirds are easy to create using software like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro, and can add a professional touch to your video.

Use Lower Thirds to Identify Your Subjects

In addition to lower thirds, consider using other types of graphics to illustrate key points your subjects are making. For example, if your subject is talking about a particular location, you might show a map or aerial footage of the area. Be creative in your use of graphics, but also make sure that they enhance the content of the video rather than distract from it.

Use Graphics to Illustrate Key Points

When it comes to uploading and sharing your interview video, you have a few options. YouTube is the most popular video-sharing platform and can be a great place to start. Vimeo is another popular option, known for its high-quality video hosting and customizable player. Other platforms to consider include Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Choose the platform(s) that best align with your target audience and promotion goals.

Choose the Best Platform

Once you've chosen a platform to upload your video to, it's important to optimize it for maximum reach. This includes adding a descriptive title, tags, and a detailed description that includes relevant keywords. You should also create a custom thumbnail that accurately represents your video and catches the viewer's attention.

Optimize Your Video

Once your video is uploaded and optimized, it's time to share it as widely as possible. Share it on your website, social media profiles, and in relevant online communities or forums. You can also reach out to influencers or industry leaders in your niche to share your video with their audience.

Share Widely

Before creating a social media strategy, it's important to know your target audience. Who are they? What social media platforms do they use most frequently? What type of content do they engage with the most? Once you have a clear understanding of your audience, you can create a strategy that's tailored to their interests and preferences.

Know Your Audience

Based on your audience research, choose the social media platforms that are most relevant to your target audience. For example, if you're targeting a younger demographic, you may want to focus on platforms like TikTok or Instagram. If your audience is more professional, LinkedIn may be a better fit. Don't try to be on every platform – focus on the ones that will give you the most reach and engagement.

Choose the Right Platforms

To promote your interview video on social media, you'll need to create engaging content that grabs your audience's attention. This could include teaser clips from the video, behind-the-scenes photos or videos, or relevant industry news or tips. Make sure your content is visually appealing and aligns with your overall brand messaging.

Create Engaging Content

To measure the success of your interview video, you'll need to track key metrics like views, engagement, and click-through rates. You can use tools like Google Analytics, YouTube Analytics, or social media platform analytics to gather this data. Make sure you have a clear understanding of what success looks like for your video before you start tracking metrics.

Track Key Metrics

Once you have your data, it's time to analyze it to understand what worked and what didn't. Look for patterns or trends in viewer behavior, such as which parts of the video were most engaging or which platforms had the most views. Use this information to inform future content and promotion strategies.

Analyze Your Data

Finally, use the insights you've gathered to iterate and improve your interview video and overall content strategy. This could include creating more targeted content, optimizing your videos for specific platforms, or experimenting with different promotion tactics. Keep track of your results and continue to refine your approach over time.

Iterate and Improve

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How To Shoot A Professional Interview Video

Capture Authentic Conversations with These Expert Techniques