How to film an interview: framing, audio & lighting
A good interview is three things done well: framing, audio and light. Get those right and the content carries itself. Here's a dependable setup you can repeat on any shoot.
- Frame eyes on the upper third; subject looks just off-lens.
- Lav + a backup camera-mic track is non-negotiable for clean audio.
- A soft key + gentle fill + background separation is all you need.
Watch: how to shoot an interview
A complete, beginner-friendly walkthrough of setting up and filming an in-person interview.
Framing & cameras
Put the eyes on the upper third and leave a little look-room in the direction the subject faces (just off-lens, not down the barrel). A second camera at a different focal length gives you clean cutaways and a way to hide edits.
- Eyes on the upper third; subject looks just to one side of the lens.
- Two cameras (wide + tight) make editing painless.
- Lock the cameras off on tripods — let the subject move, not the frame.
Audio first
Audio makes or breaks an interview. Put a wireless lav on the subject for close, clean dialogue and record a backup on the camera mic. In a hard room, add soft furnishings or a blanket just out of frame to kill echo.
- Lav for the subject + camera-mic safety track — see our audio guide.
- Tame room echo with soft furnishings off-camera.
- Headphones on while you roll — catch problems before, not after.
Simple, flattering light
A soft key at ~45°, a gentle fill to lift the shadows, and a little separation behind the subject is all most interviews need. Soften your source with a softbox or diffusion and keep the background a stop or two darker.
- One soft key + bounce fill looks professional and is fast to set up.
- Separate the subject from the background with a kicker or practical.
- See our three-point lighting guide for the full setup.
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