Filming Interviews 101: Finding the Perfect Location for Your Story

Jamie Perez • January 1, 2024

Choosing the right spot for an interview location can make all the difference in the aesthetics of how your final video turns out.

Let’s explore some tips on how to choose the perfect backdrop that'll make your videos pop!

1. Noise Control is Key: Make sure the location you choose won’t have distracting noises in the background like trains passing by, people talking in the other room, or construction going on outside. Opt for a quiet location where you have control over background sounds. The last thing you want is unwanted interruptions stealing the spotlight from your interviewee's insights.

2. Lighting Love Affair: Lighting can make or break your video. Natural light works wonders, so if you can find a spot with ample sunlight, you're on the right track. But don’t shoot towards a window. You can absolutely use lighting from a window to light your subject, but make sure your subject is looking OUT of the window and don’t have your interviewee placed directly in front of it. It creates a nasty shadow that will ruin the look of your shot. It’s also always a great idea to invest in some portable lights so you can manipulate the look and feel of your video in case natural lighting isn’t doing what you want it to do. A well lit interview can take your video up several notches in quality!

3. Keep Distractions at Bay : A bustling crowd or an eye-catching artwork might seem interesting, but they can steal attention from your interviewee. Opt for a clean, clutter-free background that complements your subject, rather than competing with them. Remember, your backdrop is a supporting actor in your video's story.

4. Storytelling Atmosphere: The right location can set the tone for your interview. If you're discussing something heartfelt and emotional, a cozy, intimate setting might work wonders. On the flip side, if you're sharing exciting news, a vibrant and energetic environment could be the perfect match. The atmosphere should amplify the emotions you're trying to convey.

5. Depth of Field: Having a background where you can create sharp focus on your interviewee, and blur out everything else looks like a really high production product! Most of the time this look can be achieved with the right type of lens, but in case you don’t have a lens that creates good depth of field ( A higher F-stop {smaller aperture} increases the depth of field, making more of the scene sharp and in focus {useful for landscapes}), make sure your interview location has enough space in the background to try and achieve this look.

All the tips above were for in person interviews. Sometimes, like during a pandemic, you’re stuck with settling on Zoom interviews. So where is the best place for a zoom interview?

If this is something you need to consider for your video, make sure you check the following:

Think of all these tips as tools for setting the stage to boost the aesthetics of your final video product! You can always adjust and play around with color-grading in the editing process.

Happy filming, and may your locations be as epic as your stories!

Let me guide you through interviews to bring your story to life. Contact me today.

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5 Science‑Backed Storytelling Tips That Make People Actually Listen

By Jamie Perez • May 15, 2026

Discover 5 science‑backed storytelling tips that build trust, spark emotion, and drive action through oxytocin‑based connection.

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The Art of Video Editing - 4 Tips to Make Your Videos Better

By Jamie Perez • September 2, 2025

When it comes to video production, a major part of the art happens during the editing process. A good editor can take bad footage and still make a decent story out of it. But a bad editor cannot take great footage and make a great story out of it. You should be able to be decent at both, but if your footage isn't the greatest, a good edit can still save you. Here are some key elements to thoroughly consider when editing your videos to ensure the final product is as great as it can be: 1) Music selection: Music will drive the narrative and set the tone for whatever emotion you want your audience to feel. The music needs to compliment the video. In many music libraries online you can narrow down the search results by putting in filters like instruments, mood, beats per second, etc. If you have a promo video that you want people to be excited about, for example, use music that is quick paced, has a hard bass, etc. 2) A-roll: These are your interviews, the driving sound that will literally narrate the video. The first ten seconds are super important. That's your hook. It's what captures the audience's attention. Once you start bringing the viewer into the middle of the narrative, stakes are high so it's important to choose soundbites that reveal more layers to the story to keep their attention on the story. One of the biggest challenges editors face is deciding what stays and what goes. When you have so much good sound, it's hard to decide. A bit of advice here is to step away from the project for a day and come back and watch it with fresh eyes and ears. Then decide-- what sound would move me the most if this were my first time watching it? What sound advances the story and does the best job of driving home the message? And then lastly -- how do you want your story to end? Choosing that final soundbite is important because that's the overall feeling that your audience will walk away with. If you are moved by the sounds you choose -- chances are your audience will be too. 3) B-Roll: These are your visuals. Anything that is not an interview shot that helps move the story. It's great to use the phrase "say dog, see dog" when choosing your b-roll. If the soundbite talks about walking on a beach looking at the sunset, choose footage that shows that. One of the other challenging parts during the editing process is you could have an amazing shot of something--- but if the soundbite that talks about that didn't make it into the final cut of the story, then you also have to cut that beautiful shot you were super proud of if it doesn't move the story forward. But this can always be used in a separate standalone cut to promote the video on social media. 4) Practice: All of these things take time to master. Even when you've been at it for years, it's still a continuous learning process because every story is different. Find the moments that move you and the shots that ignite some sort of emotion in you. Cut different versions until you find the right one. Most importantly, have fun with the process! Want to learn more about the art of video production? Let's talk .