Knowing what to wear for a professional video shoot can help you look confident, comfortable and appropriate on camera, and at Wildwood Media our video production company regularly advises interviewees and presenters to choose clothing that represents their organisation while avoiding distracting patterns, uncomfortable outfits and anything that takes attention away from what they’re saying.
Being filmed can feel unfamiliar, particularly if you don’t regularly appear on camera.
One of the most common questions we’re asked before a shoot is:
“What should I wear?”
The good news is that you probably don’t need to buy anything special.
Whether you’re filming a corporate interview, promotional video, recruitment film, customer testimonial or presentation, the objective is usually to look like the best version of yourself – not somebody completely different.
What you wear should feel comfortable, reflect your role and suit the organisation you’re representing.
There are, however, a few practical considerations that can make a significant difference once the cameras start rolling.
What to Wear for a Video Interview: Advice From a Professional Video Production Company
The first rule is simple: wear something you feel comfortable and confident in.
If you wouldn’t normally wear a suit, forcing yourself into one for filming can make you feel uncomfortable. Equally, if you’re representing a professional organisation where formal clothing is expected, suddenly dressing casually because you’re appearing on video might not reflect your brand.
Think about what you’d wear to meet an important customer or client.
That’s often a good starting point.
Choose Simple Colours and Avoid Busy Patterns
Plain colours generally work extremely well on camera.
Very small checks, tight stripes and intricate patterns can sometimes create distracting visual effects when recorded on video. Your videographer may therefore suggest avoiding particularly busy designs.
You don’t necessarily need to avoid patterns completely – just keep them relatively simple.
Colours should also work with your filming environment.
If you’re being filmed against a white wall, for example, an entirely white outfit might not provide much separation. If your company’s branding heavily uses a particular colour, subtly incorporating it into clothing can sometimes work nicely.
You also don’t automatically need to wear your corporate colours.
The person should remain the focus.
Think About Microphones
This is something people often don’t consider.
During professional videography, contributors will frequently wear a small lapel microphone.
Shirts, jackets, jumpers and tops normally provide straightforward places for a videographer to attach one.
Very loose, noisy or complicated clothing can sometimes make microphone placement more difficult. Jewellery that continually knocks against clothing or the microphone can also create unwanted sound.
None of this should cause concern – an experienced production team will find solutions – but keeping it in mind can make things easier.
For our Video production Kent, Video production Maidstone, video production London and nationwide video production UK projects, we always want contributors concentrating on their interview rather than worrying about their clothes.
Video Production London and Kent: Looking Natural and Confident on Camera
What looks good on camera isn’t necessarily about looking formal.
It’s about looking appropriate.
A managing director discussing business strategy might wear something very different from an engineer being interviewed on a construction site, a teacher talking inside a classroom or a healthcare professional explaining a service.
Good media creation should represent the real organisation.
If everybody normally wears branded polo shirts, those may be perfect.
If employees normally wear smart office clothing, keep that authenticity.
If your team wears PPE, uniforms or specialist clothing while working, showing them dressed appropriately can actually strengthen the credibility of the film.
A professional video production agency shouldn’t try to make every organisation look the same.
Bring an Alternative Outfit If You’re Unsure
If you’re particularly concerned about what to wear on camera, bring options.
An alternative shirt, blouse, jacket or top gives the production team flexibility if something isn’t working visually with the location, lighting or background.
This can be especially helpful when several interviews are taking place.
Imagine filming six employees and discovering everybody has arrived wearing almost identical black tops. Individually they may look great, but collectively the film might benefit from more variety.
An experienced Videographer Kent, Videographer Maidstone or video production London crew can advise once they see the filming environment.
Don’t Forget Glasses, Hair and Makeup
If you normally wear glasses, you can normally wear them during filming.
Professional lighting and camera positioning can often minimise unwanted reflections.
Hair and makeup should follow the same principle as clothing: unless the production specifically requires a particular look, you should still look like yourself.
For many corporate video shoots, heavy television-style makeup simply isn’t necessary.
If you’re filming several interviews over a long day, however, it can be useful to have a hairbrush, basic makeup or powder available for small touch-ups.
Comfort Helps You Give a Better Interview
Perhaps the most important consideration is comfort.
An uncomfortable interviewee rarely gives their best performance.
If your collar feels restrictive, your shoes hurt or you’re constantly worrying about whether your outfit looks right, part of your attention isn’t on the conversation.
Professional filming should help contributors relax.
Our job as a video production company isn’t simply to operate cameras. A good videographer should create an environment where people who may never have been professionally filmed before feel comfortable enough to speak naturally.
Professional video editing UK can polish the finished production, but authentic, relaxed contributions begin during filming.
Whether you’re working with a Videographer Kent, looking for Video production Kent, Video production Maidstone, video production London or commissioning wider video production UK, don’t overthink your wardrobe.
Choose something comfortable, appropriate to your organisation and relatively simple on camera. Avoid very busy patterns, think about microphone placement and bring another option if you’re uncertain.
Most importantly, wear something that allows you to forget about what you’re wearing.
Because when the camera starts rolling, what you have to say should always be more important than the shirt you’re saying it in.