There are many interview approaches and styles: Are you looking for a hardcore journalistic approach or something less intense? Will you casually guide interviewees or follow a defined path? Video interview techniques will vary depending on project intent and focus and interviewee personalities.

Whatever your intent, it's important to pay attention to the basics before moving on to interview sessions. Interview techniques are as diverse as the questions you ask your interviewees.

Don't become so involved during prep and set up with the technical aspects that you overlook the needs of your interviewees. It's possible to have the perfect setup yet wind up with a bust. These interview techniques and tips will help you avoid that.

1. Plan Your Interview Approach

Interview techniques and decisions you should consider:

• Using one camera or two?
• Shooting a one person production or with a crew?
• Interviewing free style with open-ended questions?
• Recording the question-and-response or response only?
• Capturing single or multiple takes for each question/response?
• Using an interview style of a person on the street, in a formal studio setting, or a casual/business home or office location?
• Making your interview style provocative, to get the real story or casual and informative?
• Shooting one-on-one with a single interviewee or several simultaneously?

2. Time Isn't Always on Your Side

Time is a crucial, even critical, factor when it comes to what needs to be done before and during interviews. It's impossible to avoid every delay and problem, but give yourself as much time as is realistically and economically feasible to get the interviews you need.

Take time to check and prep equipment before you think about shooting interviews. Sure, that goes without saying, but too often too many video producers take equipment and batteries for granted. Given the opportunity, this stuff will let you down. Don't show up for interviews and discover your mic is missing, batteries are dead or you left your notes on the kitchen counter.

3. Prepping the Interviewee

Having jammed up on interview techniques and tips, you're ready to put them to work. You've made notes to help guide the interviewees.

The first thing to do is prepare your interviewees so they know what to expect and what is expected of them. Good interview techniques include content and visuals. Discuss the topic focus and interview process with your subjects. Know your topic and your interviewees.

Time is the measure. Focus tightly on questions and anticipated responses. You should plan with an open schedule and plenty of time to allow for wandering off-script or even an extended session for extra content.

4. Put Them at Ease

It's hard to conduct positive interviews if you appear too aggressive. Some interviewers have been at this for a long time. Their reputations precede them. If you've developed interview techniques for hardcore, gritty interview style your interviewees may arrive with defensive attitudes or chips on their collective shoulders. On the other hand you and your subjects may have had very little exposure, experience or notoriety. Either way, most interviewers will discuss the purpose of their session with their subjects.

Except in a person-on-the-street interview, you should know the general questions you intend to ask and discuss them in a pre-production session. It's a better idea to prepare well in advance, providing your subjects with notes and question sheets prior to scheduled interviews.

Stay courteous, genuine and personable. Exuding an air of antagonism or judgmental attitude at the start is a sure way to sabotage your interviews. Essentially, regardless of your programming, interview style or provocative content or intent, being nice will put your interview subject at ease.