A professional-looking interview usually starts well before the camera begins recording.

The quality of a finished interview video depends on decisions made during the planning process: what the interview needs to accomplish, who will be on camera, what questions will be asked, how the interview should look, where the subject will sit, how the frame will be composed, how the space will be lit, what the background will be, how audio will be captured, what the subject will wear, and how much time the production actually requires.

Working inside a dedicated production studio can provide a controlled physical environment where these elements can be planned deliberately rather than improvised on the day of the shoot.

This is a practical guide for planning a studio-based video interview.

Start With the Purpose of the Interview

Production planning should begin with the final objective, not with cameras or lighting.

Interviews serve different purposes. A production might be creating an executive interview, an employee story, a customer testimonial, educational content, a company announcement, a brand story, an expert interview, social media content, or a documentary-style piece.

Understanding where the finished video will appear and who will watch it influences the questions, the framing, the length, and the overall production style. A short social clip and a long-form corporate documentary require different approaches even when both involve a single person speaking on camera.

Decide What the Final Video Needs to Deliver

Before filming, define the deliverables.

One interview session may potentially provide material for multiple formats: a long-form interview, an edited corporate video, a website video, short social clips, vertical content for mobile platforms, individual sound bites, or multiple edited versions for different audiences.

Planning for these formats in advance is much easier than discovering afterward that the framing or pacing does not translate well to a different format. Determine what the production needs to deliver before the shoot day.

Prepare Interview Questions Before the Shoot

Interview questions should generally be prepared in advance rather than improvised during the session.

Open-ended questions that encourage complete, thoughtful answers tend to produce more usable material than questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no. Organizing questions by topic helps the interview flow naturally and makes editing more manageable.

The interviewer should understand which answers are essential and which questions are optional if time runs short. Follow-up questions can be valuable when an interesting answer develops naturally during the session.

Prepare the Person Being Interviewed

Many people appearing in corporate or branded videos are not professional on-camera talent. Providing basic expectations beforehand can make the process more comfortable and the recording more productive.

Before the shoot, tell the subject approximately how much time is reserved, what general topics will be discussed, what wardrobe may be appropriate, whether they will look toward an off-camera interviewer or directly into the camera, whether multiple takes may be recorded, and how the finished video is expected to be used.

A subject who understands the process tends to be more relaxed and natural on camera.

Choose the Visual Style Before Arriving

An interview can look dramatically different depending on background, lighting and composition. A production might want something bright and minimal, neutral and professional, darker and more dramatic, branded with specific colors, clean white, or environmental.

Establishing a visual direction before arriving at the studio helps the production team determine equipment, lighting and background requirements. Arriving without a clear visual direction often means spending valuable studio time making decisions that could have been made in advance.

Choosing an Interview Background

The background should support the subject rather than unintentionally distract from them.

White or Neutral Background

A simple background can keep attention on the person speaking. Studio 33 has a 14' x 14' white cyclorama wall, which uses a curved transition between the vertical wall and the floor to create a seamless background appearance on camera when lit and framed correctly. For a more detailed explanation of how a cyclorama wall works, see What Is a Cyclorama Wall? A Guide for Chicago Photographers. For a focused look at using a cyc specifically for video productions like interviews and branded content, see Cyclorama Wall Video Production: How to Use a Cyc for Interviews, Commercials and Branded Content.

Colored Background

RGB lighting can visually change a neutral white background. Color might be selected based on the production's visual direction, brand palette, or the intended mood of the finished video. Studio 33 has three RGB panels positioned on the ceiling lighting grid and one additional RGB panel on a C-stand.

Environmental Background

Some interviews benefit from showing an office, workplace or other relevant environment. In those situations, filming on location may make more creative sense than using a studio. If you are weighing a studio against a location shoot, the decision depends on the specific production.

Plan Your Camera Framing

Interview framing should be determined by the intended style and final deliverables before the shoot day.

Common considerations include tighter head-and-shoulders framing, medium compositions that show more of the subject, wider environmental framing that incorporates the background, the subject looking toward an off-camera interviewer, or the subject looking directly into the camera.

None of these approaches is universally correct. The appropriate framing depends on the intended communication style and where the video will be used.

Think About Horizontal and Vertical Video

Video may need to appear across multiple platforms and screen formats. Traditional website and corporate video typically uses horizontal framing. Social platforms may require vertical versions for mobile viewing.

Determine these needs before filming rather than discovering afterward that the primary framing does not translate well to a different format. When both horizontal and vertical content are needed, capturing separate compositions during the session may be worth planning for.

Lighting a Professional Video Interview

Interview lighting generally needs to make the subject clearly visible, support the desired visual style, create appropriate separation between the subject and the background, and remain consistent throughout recording.

Lighting does not have to be flat or completely neutral. Different productions may intentionally choose brighter, softer, more dramatic or colored approaches depending on the intended look.

Studio 33 has a professional ceiling lighting grid providing flexible overhead lighting positions. Production teams should determine and bring the lighting equipment appropriate for their specific project.

Using RGB Lighting for Video Interviews

RGB lighting can be used to introduce color into an interview environment. Possible approaches include a colored background, a subtle color accent, a gradient, contrasting colors, or an edge or rim light behind the subject.

Studio 33 has three RGB panels on the ceiling lighting grid and one additional panel on a C-stand. For additional color-lighting concepts that can also inspire video productions, see RGB Lighting Ideas for Portrait Photography.

Photography and video lighting have different technical requirements, but the visual concepts around color and mood translate across both.

Audio Deserves Its Own Plan

Excellent visuals do not compensate for poorly planned audio in an interview. Audio planning should happen before the shoot day, not after the camera is already rolling.

Depending on the production, audio recording might involve lavalier microphones, boom microphones, shotgun microphones, dedicated audio recorders, camera-recorded audio, or a combination of approaches with a backup recording running in parallel.

These are general production examples. Production teams should determine and bring the audio equipment appropriate for their project. Studio 33 should not be described as a soundproof studio. Teams with specific audio requirements should plan and evaluate their recording setup accordingly.

Monitor audio throughout the session and test the recording setup before beginning the full interview. Discovering an audio problem after the interview is finished is a difficult situation to recover from.

Think About Wardrobe

Wardrobe can interact with the background and lighting in ways that are worth thinking through before the shoot day.

Encourage subjects to consider how colors, patterns, logos, jewelry, reflective materials and clothing choices interact with the chosen background and lighting. Wardrobe decisions depend on the intended visual style rather than a fixed set of rules.

Studio 33 has a private green room with two vanity stations, a large sofa, a wardrobe rack, a privacy divider and device chargers. This gives subjects and production teams a dedicated preparation area separate from the primary shooting space. Makeup artists and wardrobe professionals are not provided as part of the rental.

Plan Time for Setup and Testing

Studio rental time includes more than the actual interview recording.

A production may need time for equipment setup, camera placement, lighting, audio setup, framing, exposure testing, audio testing, subject preparation, the interview itself, B-roll, and breakdown at the end of the session.

Realistic scheduling matters. A session that requires 45 minutes of setup and 20 minutes of breakdown leaves less actual recording time than the total reservation suggests. For a detailed framework for estimating how much studio time a production actually requires, see How Long Should You Rent a Photo Studio? For broader guidance on preparing for a studio session, see How to Prepare for Your First Photo Studio Rental.

Don't Forget B-Roll

B-roll is supplemental footage used alongside the primary interview in the edit. It gives editors additional visual material to work with and can help cover cuts, illustrate what the subject is describing, or add visual variety to the finished video.

Depending on the project, B-roll might include the subject working, product details, hands or close-up activity, branded elements, equipment, or additional portrait-style video. Planning a B-roll list before the shoot day helps ensure the production team captures the footage the editor will need.

Consider Still Photography During the Production

Some productions may benefit from creating still photographs while the subject and production team are already assembled.

Potential uses include headshots, website portraits, social media images, press photographs and promotional imagery. Studio 33 is designed for both photography and video production, which provides a physical environment where both types of content can be planned within the same session.

A photographer is not included as part of the studio rental.

What to Look for in a Video Interview Studio

When evaluating a studio for an interview production, practical factors include appropriate shooting space, background options, available lighting infrastructure, a preparation area for subjects, accessibility for the production team, parking, a climate-controlled environment, Wi-Fi, and the ability to support the intended production.

Every production has different requirements. A studio that works well for one type of interview may not be the right fit for another.

Planning a Video Interview at Studio 33 Chicago

Studio 33 Chicago is located at 33 N. Addison Rd. in Addison, Illinois. Studio 33 serves videographers, content creators, businesses, brands, agencies and production teams throughout Chicago and the surrounding western and northwestern suburbs.

The video studio rental includes access to the following verified production environment:

• 14' x 14' white cyclorama wall
• RGB lighting (three ceiling-grid panels and one C-stand panel)
• Professional ceiling lighting grid
• Private green room with two vanity stations, sofa, wardrobe rack, privacy divider and device chargers
• High-speed Wi-Fi
• Climate-controlled studio
• Men's and women's restrooms
• Free on-site parking
• Sandbags and apple boxes

Cameras, microphones, audio equipment, videographers and production crews are not included. Production teams should determine and bring the specialized equipment required for their project.

Video Interview Production Checklist

Before the shoot:

• Define the purpose of the interview
• Determine final deliverables (horizontal, vertical, long-form, short clips)
• Prepare interview questions
• Brief the person being interviewed
• Decide on visual style
• Choose the background
• Determine camera and lens requirements
• Determine audio recording approach
• Plan lighting
• Prepare wardrobe
• Create a B-roll list
• Confirm studio reservation
• Allow time for setup and breakdown
• Charge batteries
• Prepare memory cards and storage

Exact requirements depend on the production. Use this as a starting point and adjust for the specific project.

Frequently Asked Questions About Studio Video Interviews

Is it better to film an interview in a studio?

It depends on the production. A studio may be useful when a dedicated production environment and greater control over lighting and background are important. A location may be preferable when the environment itself is part of the story.

What equipment do I need to film a professional interview?

Requirements vary by production, but may include cameras, lenses, support equipment, lighting, microphones, audio recording devices, batteries, memory cards and other production-specific equipment. Production teams should determine and bring the equipment their project requires.

How should I light a video interview?

There is no single correct setup. Lighting should make the subject clearly visible and support the intended visual style while maintaining consistency throughout recording. The right approach depends on the production.

What is the best background for a video interview?

The appropriate background depends on the project. Options can include a neutral background, a white cyclorama environment, a colored background using RGB lighting, or a real-world location. The background should support the subject rather than distract from them.

Can Studio 33 be used for interviews?

Yes. Studio 33 is a photo and video production space that can provide an environment for interview productions. Production teams should determine and bring the specialized camera and audio equipment required for their project unless current booking information specifies otherwise.

Is Studio 33 soundproof?

Studio 33 should not be described as a soundproof studio. Production teams with specific audio requirements should plan and evaluate their recording setup accordingly.

Where is Studio 33 Chicago located?

Studio 33 Chicago is located at 33 N. Addison Rd. in Addison, Illinois, serving Chicago and the surrounding western and northwestern suburbs.

Plan Your Next Video Production

A successful interview starts with planning rather than simply turning on a camera.

Before the shoot day, determine what the interview needs to accomplish, what the final deliverables are, how the interview should look, what equipment is required, how audio will be recorded, and how much setup and recording time is realistic.

For productions that benefit from a dedicated studio environment, explore Studio 33's studio amenities and current rental availability.

If your production includes formats beyond interviews, such as product demonstrations, brand storytelling or social content, see How to Create Professional Video Content for Your Business for a broader planning guide.