Video Interview Tips for Guests: How to Look Good on Camera

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The best video interview tips for guests come down to four things: put your camera at eye level, face a soft light source, use a quiet room with a simple background, and look at the lens when you speak. Get those right and you will look professional on almost any laptop or phone, with no special gear.

If you have been invited onto a video show, you are probably thinking about your message, not your lighting. That is the right priority. But viewers judge quickly, and a dark, wobbly or echoey picture distracts from what you have to say. The good news is that looking good on camera is mostly a matter of setup, and you can do it in about twenty minutes.

This guide is for coaches, consultants, business owners, authors and experts who are booked as guests on video interview shows, YouTube channels, livestreams and webinars. Hosts will find it handy to send to their guests too.

Start With Your Camera Position

Camera height does more for your appearance than any piece of equipment. A camera that sits low, pointing up at your chin, is the most common mistake, and it happens whenever a laptop sits flat on a desk.

• Raise the camera to eye level. Stack a few books or a sturdy box under your laptop until the lens is level with your eyes.
• Sit an arm's length away. Your head and shoulders should fill the frame with a little space above your head.
• Keep it steady. A shaky frame is tiring to watch, so avoid balancing the device on your knees.

If you are using a phone, turn it sideways (landscape) unless the host has asked for a vertical video, and prop it on a stand or against something solid.

Get Your Lighting Right

Good light makes ordinary cameras look much better. The aim is soft, even light on your face.

Face the light, never sit with it behind you

A window in front of you, off to one side of the screen, is ideal. If the window is behind you, the camera will darken your face and you will look like a silhouette. If you can, close the blinds behind you and open the ones in front.

Add a lamp if the room is dim

An ordinary desk lamp pointed at a wall or the ceiling in front of you gives a gentle glow. A ring light or small panel helps too, but it is not required. Avoid harsh overhead lighting on its own, because it casts shadows under your eyes.

Choose a Simple Background

Pick a background that says "professional" without taking attention away from you. A tidy bookshelf, a plain wall or a neat corner of your office works well.

• Remove clutter, washing and anything distracting behind you.
• Sit a little way in front of the wall so you do not look pinned against it.
• Be careful with virtual backgrounds. They can make the edges of your head flicker, so use one only if you have to and test it first.
• Tell family or housemates when you are recording, and put pets in another room.

Sound Matters As Much As Picture

Viewers forgive an average picture far sooner than bad audio. Echoey rooms, fan noise and laptop microphones are the biggest culprits.

1. Choose a smaller, softer room with curtains, rugs or sofas, which absorb echo.
2. Wear wired headphones to stop the host's voice leaking into your microphone.
3. If you can, use a simple external or headset microphone instead of your laptop's built-in one.
4. Turn off phone notifications, email alerts and anything that pings.

We cover this in more detail in our guest tech setup checklist, and the same checks apply to any remote video recording.

What to Wear on Camera

Wear something comfortable that suits the show and your audience. A few simple rules help:

• Pick solid, mid-tone colours. Blues, greens, burgundy and soft neutrals usually work well.
• Avoid tiny stripes and busy patterns. They can shimmer on camera.
• Skip large logos and noisy jewellery. Dangling earrings and bracelets can clink against a desk or microphone.
• Be aware of your background colour. A white shirt against a white wall can look washed out.

If you are unsure about the tone of the show, check a few earlier episodes and dress one notch smarter than the host.

Look and Sound Natural on Camera

This is the part most guests worry about. A few habits make a big difference.

Look at the lens when you speak

It feels odd, but looking at the camera lens makes viewers feel you are speaking to them. When you listen, it is fine to look at the host on screen. Some guests put a small sticky note with a smiley face next to the lens as a reminder.

Keep your energy up

Video flattens your personality a little, so speak slightly more warmly and with more expression than you would in a normal chat. Smile when it fits, nod while the host is speaking and sit up straight.

Use your hands, but gently

Natural gestures are good. Keep them within the frame and avoid big sweeping movements or tapping the desk.

Keep notes minimal

Jot down three or four key points and keep them near the camera. Reading from a script sounds stiff, and you will lose eye contact.

Do a Test Run Before You Record

A ten-minute test saves a lot of stress. Open your camera app or record a short clip, then check:

1. Is the camera at eye level, and is your face clearly lit?
2. Is there anything odd in the background?
3. Does your voice sound clear, with no echo or hum?
4. Is your internet connection stable? If Wi-Fi is patchy, plug in with a cable or move closer to the router.

Join the call a few minutes early on the day. Close other programs, plug in your laptop and make sure your phone is on silent. If the host has asked for a particular platform such as a browser-based recording tool, click the link beforehand so you are not downloading software at the last moment.

Different formats ask for slightly different habits. For example, a live show leaves no room for retakes, which we cover in our livestream interview checklist for hosts, and audio-only radio calls have their own rules in our guide to preparing for a radio interview as a guest.

Finding Video Shows That Suit You

Once you feel confident on camera, the next step is finding hosts who want guests with your message. In the free Guest & Host Directory on Guest Booking System, hosts and guests list themselves for free and search by topic or name. Each listing shows up front whether an interview is free or paid, so there are no surprises.

When you apply to a show, you share your topic, a short bio, your website and your social links. The host reviews your application and approves it before you pick a time, and you can message the host inside the system. Our guest guide walks through the whole process. If you are just starting out, our article on how to get booked as a guest covers pitching and follow-up, and the same ideas apply to video shows.

After your interview goes live, make the most of it. Our post-interview checklist for guests explains how to share and repurpose the episode.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best background for a video interview?

A tidy, simple background is best, such as a plain wall, a neat bookshelf or a clean corner of your office. Keep clutter out of the frame and sit a little in front of the wall so you do not look flat against it.

Do I need to buy equipment to be a video guest?

Not necessarily. A modern laptop or phone, a steady surface, a window or lamp in front of you and wired headphones are enough for most shows. If you can add one thing, make it an external or headset microphone for clearer sound.

Where should I look during a video interview?

Look at the camera lens while you are speaking, because it feels like eye contact to the viewer. When the host is talking, you can look at their face on screen and listen naturally.

Ready to Be Booked?

You do not need a studio to look and sound great on video. A raised camera, soft light, a quiet room and a little practice are enough. When you are ready to find shows that fit your message, create your free guest account, browse the directory and apply. If you run a show yourself, the host guide shows how to find and book guests, and you can learn more at Guest Booking System.