How to Shoot Professional Interviews: A Comprehensive Guide
Interviews are a fundamental element of storytelling in video production, providing a platform for subjects to share their insights, experiences, and expertise. Whether you’re producing documentaries, corporate videos, or content for the web, shooting professional interviews is a skill that can greatly enhance your video projects. In this blog post, we’ll break down the process of shooting interviews, from selecting the right location to framing your shots and conducting engaging interviews.
Selecting the Right Location
1. Consider the Message
Choose a location that complements the message and tone of your interview. For a professional, formal interview, a quiet office or studio setting may be ideal, while an outdoor location might suit a more casual or personal interview.
2. Control the Environment
Control the lighting and sound as much as possible. Avoid noisy locations and choose well-lit areas. Use artificial lighting if necessary to ensure a consistent and flattering look.
3. Background Matters
Pay attention to the background. It should be relevant to the subject matter and free from distractions. A clean and uncluttered background works best.
Setting Up Your Equipment
1. Camera and Lenses
Use a high-quality camera with interchangeable lenses for flexibility in framing your shots. A lens with a wide aperture (e.g., f/1.8) can create a pleasing shallow depth of field, blurring the background and focusing attention on the subject.
2. Tripod and Stabilization
Use a tripod or stabilization equipment to ensure steady shots. Unwanted camera shake can distract viewers and reduce the professionalism of your interview.
3. Audio Equipment
Invest in good audio equipment. A lavalier microphone or shotgun microphone can capture clear, professional-quality audio. Always use headphones to monitor audio during recording.
Framing Your Shots
1. Rule of Thirds
Divide your frame into thirds horizontally and vertically. Position the subject’s eyes at one of the intersections of these lines to create a balanced and visually pleasing shot.
2. Composition
Consider the composition of your shots. Use headroom (the space above the subject’s head) appropriately, ensuring it’s not too tight or too much. Leave enough room in the frame for the subject to breathe.
3. Eye Line
Maintain the eye line. The subject should be looking directly into the camera for an engaging, direct connection with the viewer, or slightly off-camera if they’re being interviewed by someone.
Conducting Engaging Interviews
1. Prepare Questions
Before the interview, prepare a list of questions or topics you want to cover. This will keep the conversation focused and help avoid awkward pauses.
2. Build Rapport
Establish a rapport with the interviewee. Make them feel comfortable and relaxed, as this will lead to more genuine and engaging responses.
3. Active Listening
Listen actively to the interviewee’s responses. Respond appropriately to their answers and ask follow-up questions to dig deeper into interesting points.
4. Use Silence
Don’t be afraid of silence. Sometimes, the most insightful answers come after a moment of reflection. Avoid interrupting the interviewee, and give them space to speak.
5. Editing Considerations
Plan for editing in post-production. Record “room tone” (ambient sound) at the location for noise reduction purposes. Also, capture cutaway shots (B-roll) to use as visual inserts during editing.
Conclusion
Shooting professional interviews is an art that combines technical skills with effective communication and storytelling. By selecting the right location, setting up your equipment properly, framing your shots with care, and conducting engaging interviews, you can create interview segments that captivate viewers, convey meaningful messages, and elevate the overall quality of your video productions. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep honing your skills and refining your interview techniques to become a pro at shooting interviews.