Stop Ruining Outdoor Video Interviews!

By Dean Butler

Especially in the Aussie Sun

One of the fastest ways to ruin a great video interview?
Plonk someone in full sun because “the light’s good.”
Bright? Sure.
Flattering? Absolutely not.

Welcome to the number one mistake we see when filming outdoors — and luckily, it’s easy to fix. Here are three simple ways to make your outdoor shots look instantly more professional (and keep your on-screen talent from looking like a squinting, sweaty mess).

1. Use a Portable Diffuser

Harsh light = harsh shadows = instant ugliness.

A collapsible diffuser softens the sun’s intensity, giving your subject clean, flattering light. They’re inexpensive, easy to carry, and make a massive difference — especially in the middle of the day when the light is unforgiving.

We bring them to every freelance shoot across WA. You can grab one for under $100 from places like DigiDirect, and it’ll save you and your talent from sun-scorched disaster.

2. Backlight Your Subject (Carefully)

Put the sun behind your subject — not blazing down on their face. This avoids squinting and blown-out highlights, and creates a soft rim light that gives the shot depth.

Want to take it a step further? Use a bounce reflector to kick some soft fill light back onto their face. Suddenly, you’ve got a natural-looking, cinematic setup — without any bulky gear. This technique works beautifully for corporate interviews filmed outdoors.

3. Avoid Filming at High Noon

Midday sun is harsh, directional, and throws deep shadows under eyes and noses. It’s the “haven’t slept in a week” look — not ideal unless you’re making a zombie movie.

If you have to shoot at midday:

  • Use both a diffuser and bounce

  • Be prepared to keep the frame tight (to hide crew holding gear)

  • Know you’ll need extra hands and time to make it look right

Whenever possible, aim for early morning or late afternoon — golden hour light makes everything look better. This is a standard part of our production planning process.

Final Thought

Your video’s message matters. But if your subject looks overexposed, sweaty, and uncomfortable? That message gets lost.

Great light = great interviews.

Even the best speaker will struggle to connect with an audience if they look like they’re being interrogated under a heat lamp.

So next time you head out to film:

  • Think soft light

  • Backlight the subject

  • Avoid the midday sun

Your camera — and your talent — will thank you.

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