Video Interviews

Videography can be an impactful tool for bringing content to life, and another way to show off SYPartners’ thinking and capabilities. The following guidelines help to create the best possible video capture and uphold quality across all we produce.

 

 

Natural Lighting

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1.
Interviews should always have a shallow depth of field. This keeps the focus on the subject while still allowing atmospheric backgrounds.

 

2.
Lighting should should be dynamic and give the subject dimension without overly contrasting so that the subject loses detail or shape. The person speaking should be placed in the center, either head on or at a 3/4 angle.

3.
Natural light should be used whenever possible. Placing a subject near a bright or diffused window will often achieve better quality than studio lighting, and will give the subject a more natural look.

 

Natural lighting in Use

 

Studio Lighting

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1.
Interviews should always have a shallow depth of field. This keeps the focus on the subject while still allowing atmospheric backgrounds.

2.
Three point lighting should be used whenever possible and when equipment is available. This involves a key light, back light, and a fill light.

3.
The eye line should always be directly aligned with the lens.

Setting Up Lights

Studio lighting can be arranged in many different ways. This is one of many that can be used as a starting point

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Studio Lighting in Use


Clothing Recommendations for Video Interviewees

This is intended to provide you with suggestions for choosing a video-friendly wardrobe. Video cameras handle certain clothing choices better than others, and the general rule of thumb is to avoid extreme contrast and to keep things simple.

Recommended:

  • Solid colors.

  • Pastels, as well as off-whites, grays, browns, and blues.

  • Greens are also good, but with one major exception: Your shoot involves a GREEN SCREEN/CHROMA KEY (a green background that is used in the editing process to insert a background image).

To avoid:

  • Bright reds –including lipstick or lip gloss -- and oranges, as well as bright white and black.

  • Extremely lighter-complected people should avoid black or very dark colors; darker-complected people should avoid white or very light colors.

  • Fine, high-contrast pinstripes, corduroy, herringbone, checks and similarly complex patterns, or bold, geometric patterns.

  • High-contrast color combinations — e.g. black with white.

  • Sparkly, shiny, or jingly jewelry.

Other things to consider:

  • Darker colors are more slimming than lighter colors; solids more than patterns.

  • We may be clipping a lavalier or lapel microphone to your shirt or jacket.

  • Eyeglasses can produce unwanted reflections and shine; if you don’t have contacts or simply prefer to wear glasses, we may ask you to adjust their angle.