How To Film Yourself For An Interview (Using a Phone)
By: Prostock-studio
Pick your perfect spot to present yourself
A location to film yourself in should aim to be visually pleasing. Areas with interesting architecture, appealing colors, and amusing textures will surely offer an interesting space to present yourself onscreen. While every space may not be the most visually pleasing it is important to present the space in its best version. Be sure the area is tidy and organized in a way that suitably presents yourself. Rather than filming yourself in a corner feel free to turn around and show the entirety of your space. A good-looking background will not only look pleasing, but it will also complement your message onscreen. Most importantly be comfortable with the space you choose. Pick an area you feel you can truly be yourself in to let the interview flow naturally.
Make sure you have good lighting
Your space will need to be well illuminated so the camera can see you clearly. Positioning yourself to face a window in the daylight is a good way to ensure you are well lit. Do not have your back to a window as it will create an unforgiving silhouette for the camera and unsightly shadows on your face. If you must use artificial lighting, avoid locations that rely on overhead lighting. If you must film yourself in the evening, or if there isn’t enough natural light, you can set up a two-point lighting setup from everyday house lamps. Place two lamps at 45-degree angles from your face and keep your phone in the center for a natural light effect. The softer the lighting source the better. Avoid using your phone’s flashlight for lighting as it may look unflattering and harsh.
Pick a quiet space
Not only is the appearance and lighting of your space important but so is the noise level (or lack of). Be sure the room you select is as quiet as possible and can ensure a noise-free setup. If you have noisy appliances or systems on, consider turning them off to keep the noise level to a minimum. Phones tend to capture every sound in their surrounding area. It’s important the only sound that should be available to capture is your voice. If you have access to a lavalier or a directional microphone that can be plugged into your phone, please feel free to use it. An external microphone can be a great tool to use to sharpen the quality of your voice recording. However, when in doubt, the best advice to record good sound will always be to record it in a quiet room.
Wear the right clothing
Choose an outfit that you think you look great in. Avoid wearing solid patterns, stripes, and high-contrast clothing. Avoid wearing outfits with logos. Most importantly, choose an outfit that you’re comfortable wearing. The right outfit can not only look great but also inspire confidence in both you and your audience.
Have the correct video setup for your phone
Make sure the video setting on your phone is set to the highest quality option available. The ideal video settings for our interviews are 4K resolution with a frame rate of 23.976/24fps or 29.976/30fps. If 4K is not an option, please select the highest quality option available. This could be 1080P for example. We do not have a need for a high frame rate video (greater than 30fps).
Be sure you have enough storage on your phone to record the videos. We recommend having a minimum of 15Gb of storage available on your phone to be ready to record video. The greater storage available, the better!
If you have access to a lavalier or a directional microphone that can be plugged into your phone, please feel free to use it.
Don’t forget to silence your phone during the interview as it may produce unwanted sounds from notifications/vibrations.
Make sure you have good framing/composition
The ideal camera framing would capture from your chest to slightly above your head. Be sure not to fill up the entire frame with your face. Keep your phone at a decent distance from you (about 2-3feet). Make sure that the camera is at your eye level – not too low, nor too high. Ideally, position yourself in the center of the frame to maintain symmetry.
Look into the lens
While recording yourself for these interviews, look into camera the lens rather than the screen. This eye-line will give the viewer the perception that you are looking at them and having a conversation with them.
Be presentable and have fun!
Finally, be comfortable and project your confidence. Make sure you maintain good posture. Keep your back straight whether you’re sitting or standing. Slouching can look unsightly onscreen, and you will want to present the best version of yourself. If you’re having a good time and enjoying yourself, viewers will pick up on that and enjoy spending time with you.