Talking head-videos is one of Visual Domain’s specialities. But we understand it can be daunting stepping in front of the camera, especially if you have never done so before!
So without further adieu, here are our tried and tested tips for interviewees.
Usually the first question we get asked is “what should I wear?”. And that is a good question! What you wear can have an overall impact on the look and feel of the finished video, so do consider your filming background. Solid colours usually work best however make sure to avoid solid white if you are shooting in a studio with a white backdrop.
You may have also heard to avoid tight patterns and stripes and we agree with this rule. It can play havoc on the camera lens!
We usually use lapel mics to capture sound so we recommend you consider wearing a jacket or cardigan as that gives us something easy to clip on to, as well as helps us hide the wire. Two piece ensembles work best, for the same reason. We also recommend you avoid high necked clothing, again, for ease of clipping the mic on.
If you have booked a makeup artist for your shoot, we ask that you come with clean, dry hair and clean, moisturised skin.
If you are doing your own hair and makeup, we suggest that you avoid makeup with a glitter or sheen to it as it can come up shiny on camera. A natural look is best. The camera can tend to wash out your complexion so it is recommended you wear a bit of blush or bronzer.
We strongly recommend you bring translucent powder with you - this goes for both men and women! Sitting under the lights can lead to a shiny, sweaty face and a bit of powder can fix this right up.
It is important to become familiar with your material and practice answering questions in advance to build confidence in your answers. The more you can do to prepare, the quicker and easier the filming will go. We will also be on hand to help coach you through the filming.
On the day, the interviewer will ask you the questions and we ask that you paraphrase the question within your answer. This is because we will not hear the interviewers question in the edit, only your answer.
For example, answer your questions likes this:
Interviewer: “What year did you start working at ABC Company?”
Interviewee: “I started working at ABC Company in 2012”
Rather than:
Interviewer: “What year did you start working at ABC Company?”
Interviewee: “2012”
Like we said at the beginning of the article, being in front of the camera can be daunting! With all the lights, the camera and the crew, it can be confusing to know where to look but rest assured our experienced crew will be there to help you on the day. You will usually be looking into the lens of the camera, or at the interviewer, who will be situated just off-camera. Regardless of where you are asked to look, it is important to not let your eyes wander. Keeping your eyes focused on a single point will help you maintain a confident air.
We hope these tips are helpful for you! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate in contacting a dedicated Producer who will be happy to assist you. We aim to provide a professional and positive experience for each one of our customers and we can’t wait to get started on your shoot!