4 Video Interview Background Tips for a Pro Setup

3 types of interview videos you can create to reach your marketing goals

Video interviews are one of the most popular and engaging content formats. Audiences love getting the inside scoop from employees at their favorite brands, hearing about a CEO’s vision for their company, or what customers have to say about particular products.

Through a simple Q&A with an interviewee, brands and organizations can put their employees, customers, or industry experts in the spotlight to deliver messages to their audiences.

And it’s not only audiences that love video interviews. From your company website, to landing pages and social media — this type of content can be used across a variety of platforms to reach audiences far and wide, and achieve many marketing objectives.

Here are three types you can easily create, share with your audience, and get your message across.

• Customer interview videos: Want to give your sales pitch some credibility and authenticity? Virtual interviews with customers allow you to show appreciation for their loyalty, while building trust with prospective buyers. Drive new leads by filming a satisfied customer answering questions about your product or service!

Now that you have an idea of the content you can build, let’s explore why a nice background is so important — and the different options at your disposal.

The right video interview background boosts your brand image and reinforces your message

A well-prepared background is an essential element of any high-performing video interview. Audiences expect great content from their favorite brands, and choosing the right background is one the simplest ways to make your content look more professional. Why is a high-quality video background so important?

• A pro background sets the tone of your storytelling. Let’s say you’re interviewing the brand CEO about the charitable organization they support. It’s a serious topic and needs to be told in a way that evokes an emotional reaction from your audience. You don’t want anything to detract from the seriousness of your speaker’s message, and a well-prepared background will immerse the viewer into the subject of the round table. Whether you go for a neutral, solid color background or add branding elements like yours and a partner organization’s logo, make sure your background matches the tone of your topic.
• Your interview background reflects your brand identity. A home background lets you showcase some of your personality and invites the audience to connect with you on a personal level. It's better than a pure professional background. A colorful background that pops will convey curiosity and innovation, letting viewers get a sense of your personality. Filming in your office can communicate a sense of authenticity, spontaneity and openness (just let your colleagues know in advance so they can tidy their desks!) Regardless of whether you go for an artificial setup or a more natural one, your room background choice will make an impression on your audience.
• An effective background doesn’t distract from your interviewee. A background is like an accessory  — it amps up the quality but doesn’t overshadow it. It can be virtual or real. The main point of focus is the person being interviewed, so the background should never distract attention away from them. Keep your audience focused on the speaker and get your content across! That way, you should probably avoid things like Christmas background that could be too much. However you choose to style your background, a little planning and preparation makes your content look far more professional. This reflects on your brand image, keeps your audience focused on the interview, and reinforces your overall communication.

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There are several options for getting the most out of green screens.

• Rent a green screen studio: To get the best results for your high-profile interviews, consider using a studio. Are you creating a company CEO interview that you’ll share on your website, social media, and blog? Then it could be worth paying more to get a fully pro effect for your background.

• Buy an affordable green screen kit: If you’re new to this, it’s a nice idea to buy a simple setup to get started. Used by many Youtube creators all over the world, these affordable, easy-to-use kits come at around $50-100 and will give your background a more pro finish. Just make sure the fabric is fully stretched out (leaving no shadows), as this will make life easier during post-production editing.

• Do it yourself: If you have a spare wall in your office or work space, why not paint it green to achieve the same screen effect? A great option if you’re on a tight budget… But you will have to ask your office manager first! You can also try placing a stand behind your interviewee and hanging a long piece of green fabric from it. High-quality results are not guaranteed, however, and the DIY method should only be used for lower-profile content.

This kind of background can help you shape the tone of your interview. But remember, it should remain subtle, match the theme, and never distract from the interview itself. In post production, you can use video editing software to replace the green screen with your preferred images or clips.

If you want to use stock imagery for your background, check out these websites:

• GettyImages
• Coverr
• Shutterstock

2. Use a blurred out effect to remove distractions

A great way to bring focus to your interviewee is by using a blurred out effect, also known as ‘bokeh effect,’ on your background.

The ‘mise-en-scène’ of your interview can bring the discussion to life, provide more context for the audience, and help you to deliver your video with greater impact. Of course, the golden rule still applies: the background should never distract from the interview itself.

4. Use good lighting to bring the interviewee into focus

While a good light system is an essential part of any video, it's even more so when you’re shooting an interview. You want to make sure the interviewee is the main focus and clearly visible for the audience. Good interview lighting is gonna make your interviewee look authentic, relatable, and trustworthy. The result? Your audience is far more likely to pay attention to what they’re saying, rather than looking at the odd shadows on their face.

So how do you go about creating the perfect lighting setup for your interview video?

• Test different locations for daylight: In an office space, you’ll probably have a variety of sources you can make the most of. The lighting on the interviewee’s face must be well balanced wherever you film. This involves adjusting the position of your interviewee to avoid intense lights or creating shadows on their face. Whether you’re filming indoors or outside, always test to see how it looks on cam before recording!
• Experiment with 3-point lightning: 3-point lighting refers to having a key light (main source), a fill light (to fill the shadows created by key light) and a back one (a source that comes from behind your subject) This is the standard setup for most corporate video.

Making the most of nature is a handy, cost-effective option. But it won’t always deliver the results you are looking for. A 3-point lighting setup is ideal for video interviews as you can adjust it exactly to your needs. While a video lighting kit will add a little to your costs, it’s definitely a worthwhile investment for creating high-quality video.

4 tips to make sure your video interview turns out pixel-perfect

Now you know how to set up a HQ video background for your next round table, depending on your  goals.. But don’t stop there! Here are some extra tips to make your video look even more corporate. Get your communication across in style and make a lasting impression on your audience.

1. Prepare the script / questions before filming

Preparing a script will allow you to structure the questions, keep it on-topic, and help your speaker feel more comfortable. After all, not everyone is comfortable on camera!

Give your speaker a rough idea of the round table questions or themes you’ll be covering. This way, they’ll have a concrete idea of what they want to say. However, while preparing the script, allow for spontaneity. You don’t want it to look overly scripted. Authenticity is key if you want your viewers to stay engaged with the video and keep watching.

2. Set up the right technical gear (for audio and video)

From microphones to tripods, make sure you have all the essentials required to shoot the video. Having the right technical gear at your disposal (and checking if it’s in working condition) prior to shooting the video will spare  you  complications on the day.

Here’s a checklist of the essential video equipment for shooting a HQ video interview.

• Camera: These days, you can shoot HD videos on most smartphone cameras and these gonna do the trick for many interviews. If you want to use a corporate one, there’s a learning curve involved. So make sure you know exactly how to use one before shooting.
• Microphone: Good audio can be a gamechanger for your content. After all, would you pay attention to a question and answer session where you can barely hear the speaker? Probably not. One of the most popular microphones is Røde SmartLav+ Lavalier Microphone, and is what we’d call a ‘sound’ investment!
• Tripod: Stable recording is essential, and a tripod is your most cost-effective option to achieve this. Depending on whether you’re using a smartphone to shoot your video or a professional camera, there are a variety  of affordable tripod options to choose from.
• Lights: Light, as we’ve discussed before, is a critical element of a professional looking video. If you don’t have enough natural light to shoot in, consider investing in a 3-point lighting setup.

3. Try different camera positions to make the video more dynamic

There are a variety of positions you can experiment with to make your final content more dynamic and engaging to watch.

Some basic angles include:

• Close up: As the name suggests, this is when you shoot a closeup of your subject to capture sharp details. This works great when your interviewee is telling a particularly moving story or an important fact.
• Medium shot: This is shot at a medium distance from the subject. When you have multiple subjects in the video, it gives the viewers a clear look at all of them — also showing their body language.
• Long shot: This camera shot shows the full length of the subject, the background and everything in between. It’s a nice idea to start your content with a long shot, to set the scene, and end with it as well.

4. Set up a dress code that matches your interviewee with your brand image

To establish consistent branding and having the colors of your interviewee’s clothing don’t clash with the background, set up a dress code beforehand. Clothes and accessories have the power to set the mood, so choose the right clothes according to the vibe you’re going for.

Shooting a fun and playful video interview?

Go for an informal dress.

Shooting a serious video?

Formal attire works best.

Whatever your dress code, try to avoid intricate patterns, as these can look strange on camera and be a real distraction for your audience.

Stand out with quality video backgrounds

Equipped with these tips and ideas, you and your team are going to be able to make stand-out videos in-house more easily. From green screen and branded animations, to the blurred out effect and filming in the great outdoors… there are a wide range of simple background options for your next interview.

Knowing how to select the right background will make your interviews look far more corporate. As a result, you are going to communicate a strong brand image to your audience, get your message across effectively, and stand out from the competition.

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