Shooting Interviews

Five Tips for Shooting an Effective Interview:

1. Position the camera, interviewer, and interviewee at eye level in relation to one another. If the interviewee has to look up or down at the interviewer, the viewer will realize that something is wrong and will become distracted.

2. Avoid placing the interviewee in front of a window. A darkened backlight image due to a window can diminish facial details, shape, and depth.

3. Follow the rule of thirds by placing the subject to the right or left of the center. Placing the subject to the right or left can produce a stronger and more visually pleasing composition.

4. Have the subject look slightly off-axis to the camera and never directly head-on. The subject should maintain eye contact with the interviewer as in a normal conversation.

5. Avoid swivel chairs. When a subject swivels in a chair, it distracts the viewer because the subjects eyes are darting back and forth unnaturally.