Lights, Camera, Action: A Guide to Lighting Your Corporate Video Interview

Key Takeaways

• The location chosen to conduct a marketing video interview should be spacious with sufficient lighting and an unobtrusive background.

• Good lighting is key; the three-point lighting setup using LED lights, softboxes, or ring lights is a reliable and straightforward method for illuminating interview subjects.

• Adjusting the brightness and angle of the lights, as well as setting the white balance correctly, can make a huge difference in the video's outcome.

• Proactively testing the lighting setup before recording will help ensure the best possible conditions for recording.

• With consistency and practice, producing captivating videos that promote a brand can become a gratifying experience.

Introduction

Marketing videos can do wonders for showcasing your business, products, or brand. And when it comes to creating these videos, interviews are super important because they help humanize your brand and connect with your audience. But to really make your interview videos look professional, you need to make sure you've got good lighting. After all, no one wants to watch an interview that's too dark or has weird shadows.

Whether you're a business owner or part of a marketing agency, it's essential to learn how to light an interview for a marketing video. In this blog post, we'll share some helpful tips and tricks on how to properly light your interview for a marketing video. Let's get started!

Choose the Right Location

When creating a marketing video interview, the location is a critical factor in achieving optimal lighting. The ideal setting for conducting an interview should be a room that is spacious and noise-free, with sufficient lighting, preferably from natural sources. It is advisable to choose a space that has large windows to allow natural light to filter in.

It is essential to avoid selecting rooms with bright or highly reflective wall colors, as they may cause intense reflections and glare, resulting in poor video quality. The background should be simple and unobtrusive, complementing the interviewee and not drawing focus away from them.

We understand that creating a professional marketing video can be challenging, but with the right lighting, you can achieve a polished look. Our favorite style of lighting for interviews is the three-point lighting setup is a reliable and straightforward method for illuminating your interview subject. It involves using three lights: the key light, fill light, and backlight, which can work together to create a well-balanced and diffused lighting effect.

There are a lot of popular video lights nowadays, but our very favorite is Aputure. You can use LED lights, softboxes, or ring lights to achieve this effect. Remember to experiment with different angles and positions to achieve the perfect balance and create a great video.

Control the Light Levels

Did you know that adjusting the brightness and angle of the lights during an interview can make a big difference in how the video turns out? If you want a more dramatic effect, try using hard or undiffused light to create cool shadows on the subject's face. But if you're going for a softer vibe, diffused light is the way to go instead. To avoid unflattering shadows under the subject's nose or eyes, just use a reflector to bounce the light back onto their face. Cool, right?

White Balance

White balance is another crucial aspect of lighting that should not be overlooked. Getting the white balance right will prevent your video from having a color cast. A color cast is when the video has a dominant color, and it's not intentional. To ensure that the colors look natural, it's essential to set the white balance correctly either manually or with an auto-function feature on your camera. Taking the time to adjust the white balance before recording will save you time in post-production.

Test Your Lighting Setup

It's important to keep in mind that testing your lighting setup prior to recording is a crucial step. Taking the necessary time to thoroughly examine your lighting and make any required adjustments will ensure that the best possible recording conditions are achieved. This proactive approach will help avoid any unforeseen problems that may arise during the recording process.

Conclusion:

Undertaking an interview for a marketing video can be a daunting task for those who are not accustomed to the process. However, with consistent practice, it can become a gratifying experience. To craft captivating videos that promote your brand and captivate your viewers, it is essential to employ the appropriate tools, lighting techniques, and settings. It is also crucial to allocate sufficient time, experiment with various methods, and most importantly, enjoy the whole process. By doing so, you can create videos that are not only visually stunning but also leave a lasting impact on your audience.

If you are looking for a Minneapolis production company we want you to feel prepared and informed. Check out the next blog to learn about the essential gear needed for high-quality content.