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Being interviewed? How to get camera ready.

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Getting in front of the camera can be daunting but it doesn’t have to be. The reason you have been chosen to interview is because people want to hear what you have to say. All you need to do is be yourself and with a bit of preparation you’ll be giving the most charismatic celebrities and politicians a run for their money.

Here’s our advice for giving the best interview and looking your best on camera.

Prep

  1. Think about what you want to say in the interview.
  2. What are the key points you want to get across?
  3. What do you want to get out of the interview?
  4. Don’t be afraid to ask for time to prepare.
  5. Confidence
  6. You are the expert, people want to hear what you have to say and see who you are.
  7. Don’t try and learn a script, it won’t come across naturally. As long as you have done some interview prep and thought about the questions it’s always better to be natural.

Delivery

  1. Think about the audience not the interviewer.
  2. Try to deliver sound bites, these are the snappy sections that will most likely get used.
  3. Keep it concise and know when to stop, there is no need to fill the silence, they’ll edit that out.
  4. Use examples. Don’t list or number things.
  5. Try to start strong and end strong.
  6. Slow down and speak clearly.
  7. If its not live, ask to retake answers you’re not happy with.
  8. Pro tip; eat an apple. Not whilst on camera, that would not be a good look but you might be surprised to hear that apples can help with your pronunciation as they absorb your saliva. Google it.

Appearance

  1. Smile. A smile immediately engages the viewer and puts the audience at ease. However if you are discussing a serious or upsetting issue ensure your facial expressions meet the tone of the interview and the topic.
  2. Wear strong bright colours but avoid stripes.
  3. If you are wearing a suit and you are sitting, don’t button it up. Make sure your tie is straight.
  4. If you wear glasses, make sure they’re clean, no one wants 4k dirt.
  5. If you wear make-up and you know there won’t be a make-up artist, give yourself slightly more coverage than your usual routine. Check out YouTube for tutorials for make-up tips. Even if you don’t usually wear make-up a bit of powder will always help, as the reflection from the lights make you look shiny. Top tip – you can buy mattifying, shine-control paper that will help remove the shine.
  6. The crew are there to make you look good, ask them how you look and sound. You can ask to watch yourself back.

Body Language

  1. Keep an open stance and don’t cross your arms.
  2. Stand or sit up straight and avoid leaning over to one side or another, it might feel more comfortable but it can be distracting.
  3. Some gesturing is good and hand movement is very important, however make sure the movement stays below the shoulder line. Hands moving in and out the shot and in front of your face takes the focus away from what you are saying. Ask the camera operator what the frame size is.
  4. If you feel like you use your hands a lot, place them in front of you just below your stomach or on your knees, tips of fingers touching or hold onto your thumb with one hand.

So that’s it! A few handy tips to take away the pre-interview nerves and provide you with the best chance of giving an interview that you are happy to share with your clients, customers, colleagues and the world!

Need help filming an interview? Check out the work we have done with Featherstone Partners here and get in touch.

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