How to Shoot a Talking Head Video that Is Engaging & Fun to Watch
Talking head videos are interview-style videos that generally feature a subject matter expert or interviewee that speaks on camera while an interviewer behind camera guides the communication. These videos have become incredibly popular over the years, but with popularity doesn’t always come professionalism. Unfortunately, many people with less than expert filmmaking skills think they know how to shoot a talking head video, but they lack the skills that are important to producing professional talking head videos that are engaging and fun for the viewer to experience.
Learning how to shoot a talking head video that’s actually going to draw the interest of your audience and keep them engaged is an art form that beginning video creators may not possess. At Beverly Boy Productions we like to take the art of talking head video production a step beyond the basics to include b-roll that turns a simple talking head interview into a cinematic production, special lighting that makes the video more dramatic, and the use of varied camera views, movements or graphics to further improve upon the “basics” that makeup the typical talking head production.
Learning how to shoot a talking head video that’s more than just a speaker centered in the frame of the camera is all about focusing on the finer details that you can use to make the video more engaging and fun. Follow along as we outline some of the steps we take to produce professional talking head videos for our clients.
Use Multiple Camera Setups to Create Dynamic Video
A typical talking head video can be filmed with a single camera setup, and for many beginning video creators this is the chosen process that seems to be easiest and ‘best,’ but it’s really not. While it may be the easiest, it’s certainly not the most engaging or interesting. Even if you’ve only got one camera operator, you can learn how to shoot a talking head video with two cameras!
Shooting with at least a two camera setup is one of the simplest steps that can be taken to produce a more dynamic talking head video. Two camera setups allow you to diversify the perspectives of your subject that are caught on camera so that your audience won’t get bored with a single camera view. If you don’t have another camera operator to assist with a multi-camera setup, consider placing one camera with a close-up view on a tripod and then operating the other camera to capture more creative shots with some movement involved.
Create Static & Dynamic Shots
The use of multiple cameras also allows for varied depth of field which will further add a level of dynamic view to your talking head video. Instead of a single camera that is stationary the entire time, even if you’re filming alone you can set your stationary camera and then use your second camera to capture dynamic footage. Consider switching between shots that are close and those that are a bit wider with greater depth of field to increase the emphasis that is placed on certain comments your subject makes and to further draw upon the interest of your audience.
Use Camera Movements to Further Accentuate Footage
The use of very basic camera movements can have powerful impacts when you’re learning how to shoot a talking head video. Consider tilting your camera in order to accentuate specific shots so that you can utilize them when transitioning to another question or to your b-roll footage. You can also try panning your camera to further add a layer of movement that will engage your viewer instead of sticking with the static scenes that are produced by a stationary camera such as the one on your tripod.
Incorporate B-Roll & Background Footage for a Cinematic Experience
Learning how to shoot a talking head video that provides your audience with a cinematic experience is important because this type of video experience is something that today’s consumers are most interested in. Consumers don’t want to just see someone speaking at the center of the frame. They want to hear a story, they want to see supporting visuals that help them to visualize the story, and they want to feel as if they are immersed into the video.
Incorporating b-roll and the use of dynamic background footage can help you to achieve these goals. Adding supportive b-roll footage into your talking head video will make the visuals much more compelling for your audience regardless of the subject, industry, or topic at hand.
Following these steps you can learn how to shoot a talking head video that’s engaging and fun for your audience to watch. For more on producing talking head videos, give Beverly Boy Productions a call! We can’t wait to help you shoot professional talking head videos that are going to amaze your audience and generate strong demand for your organization.