How To Dress For A Television On Camera Interview
By Alacer Video Washington DC Video Production and Andy Field Washington DC Media Coaching
You would never create a product without designing an eye-catching package. Yet many executives
and first time TV guests don’t give a second thought to what they’ll wear on television. Don’t make
that mistake.
So, how should you dress for TV? Whether it's a live interview on the six o’clock news, an employee
training video or a on camera speech you’ll want to come across as someone reputable and reliable.
When you look good, the public will be more receptive to your message and see you as an authority
on the message you deliver.
Wearing wild colours, distracting clothing or jewellery will just add confusion and take away from
what you want to say. The bottom line – in TV as in life – first impressions count. If a person running
for president was on TV discussing economic policy dressed in cut-off jeans and a tie-dyed tee shirt –
the viewer scratches his head and wonders – what’s wrong with this picture? You may only get one
chance to make your point on television.
Looking your best helps focus your message Here’s how to do that:
1. Think carefully about what you will wear. Some clothing will look good to the camera and some
will distract. The worst on-camera offender - white clothes. You’ve seen this yourself – The on
camera interviewee sounds great – but their white shirt or jacket’s washed out in the lighting, the
detail is gone, the brightness burns your retina! The reason? A camera doesn’t see light the way your
eye does Too much bright to dark contrast and something’s got to give. So either the bright or dark
colour loses detail. In other words, just because it looks good to your eye does not mean it will look
good to the camera. The contrast ratio problem also applies to dark clothing. Pure black and navy
blue clothing will lose all detail and appear like a solid dark blob.
Also clothing with fine patterns will cause a moiré (a distracting wavy effect) pattern when seen on
TV. Examples of some clothing that my cause this are herringbone patterns on a jacket or small
check patterns. If in doubt bring several sets of clothing to the video shoot and consult with the
director. The best types of clothes to wear are solid colours and pastels.
2. Now that you’ve got clothing nailed down, it’s time to think accessories. These little things you
wear can distract from you or even ruin a shoot. Things to avoid include: Shinny jewellery (they
could glare and reflect light distracting the viewer from you and your message), Watches that beep,
pagers (even ones that are set on vibrate. because even if the viewers can’t hear it you will be
distracted), eyeglasses (they can reflect light).
3. Colours: Ever wonder why Presidential Candidates always stand in front of a royal blue curtain
background? No it’s not because they had a sale on blue fabric. That colour happens to be the most
flattering to most skin tones – It literally makes you “pop” out of the background. It’s also a good
colour to wear close to your skin. A royal blue blouse or shirt will make you look terrific – consider
wearing it when the local or national TV news asks for a comment.
Quick Checklist
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-No white or dark clothing
-Several set of clothes so the director has a choice
-No beeping watches
-Pager and cell phone turned off
-Take a comb, makeup, and mirror
-Eyeglasses, if must wear get glare free type or frames with no lenses
-Don’t forget to get a good night sleep before the shoot
Pay attention to the last point in the checklist as well as the clothing tips. Part of looking great is
feeling great. Don’t try to squeeze in that size too small suit – if it’s uncomfortable – you’ll be too. A
good night’s sleep will work wonders for your appearance.
Remember when dressing for TV the camera “sees” things differently than the human eye. Keep it
simple, solid colours, pastels, no fine patterns or distracting jewellery.
Also don’t forget if you have any questions call the director or your contact person before the day of
the video shoot. They will appreciate it and together you can look your best.
Do's and Don'ts for TV Appearances
by Mary Scott (omptv@juno.com)
Getting yourself or your client on television can be a dream for some and a nightmare for others.
Where do I look? How do I look? What do I say? Here is some very practical advice for those
occasions when it is planned and pre-arranged for the camera to be aimed at you.
Wear clothing that is neat and comfortable. It should be something that makes you feel good about
yourself & helps get your message across. Avoid small patterns of stripes or checks. American
television is still fairly low resolution, and tight patterns will start to jiggle and look like they are
going through a Star Trek transporter and be a distraction. Also bright red will bleed into the
background, and solid white can also be overpowering. This is just how current technology handles
things. Solid dark colours, beige and light pastels work very well. Men should not wear hats unless it
is a sporting event. The brim will shade your eyes from the viewer, not just the sun. If a man is
balding, it might do to put a little baby powder on to eliminate the shine. You want to look good. You
don't want highlights from jewellery, etc. taking focus off your message.
Don't talk to the camera unless you are asked to do so. Talk to the interviewer, or in a panel
situation, to the person you mean to address. Eye contact is important. Darting glances come off as
untrustworthy. If you can't look at a person, pick something to focus on. If you are passionate about
your message, just tell it and try to convince the person talking with you. Gestures are fine for
emphasis. Don't be threatening, however.
Finally the message. You must be passionate and you must be truthful. You must not have more
than three points to make. Anything that is to be edited later can misconstrue what you intend
unless you have a few "sound bites" where there is no room to edit. For example, "Smith Company
wants to show Suffolk County they can come through for the Special Olympics," "The Dress For
Success Program gives women the clothes and the confidence they need to be successful in the
interview and successful on the job." If you get an unexpected question, don't answer right away.
Collect your thoughts, and don't say "ummm". Don't ever tell a reporter not to talk about something.
Guaranteed, it will force them to ask about just that. Silent pauses are okay. And, if you really do not
have an answer or it is a subject about which you are not permitted to speak, say so. "I don't have
that information right now, but I will have someone get back to you." (Mayor Giuliani does this very
well.) "That event is still under investigation, and we will release information when we are sure of
our facts, or at a later time."
What Not To Wear When Doing a TV Interview
by Joanne Mallon, MediaLifeCoach
Your first TV appearance will be a very exciting experience, and you’ll probably spend hours carefully
preparing what you want to say. You’ll also very likely spend much time preparing what to wear. This
is a vital part of the process because TV is primarily a visual medium and how you look is an
important part of the package. So, to save you some time, here are the rules:
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Don’t wear all black. You’ll look as though you’re disappearing into a hole. This often throws
women into a panic, as we love the slimming properties of black, particularly when TV will
probably make you look slightly heavier than you are in real life. Black trousers or skirt will
normally be fine as a filmed interview will generally concentrate on your top half, but do go
for a colour on top if you can.
Don’t wear all white. It makes TV lights bounce back and you’ll look as though you just
descended from the heavens on a cloud.
Don’t wear anything with a very small pattern such as pin-stripes, tweed or polka dots.
Again, it has a strange effect on TV lights known as strobing. Men should avoid pinstripe
shirts – bring a change of clothes if you’re not sure.
No visible logos of companies or brands (watch out for this particularly on sportswear) as
this may be regarded as advertising. You may be asked to change if a logo is too obvious.
Avoid buying a new outfit the day before and acting as if you’re going to a job interview. If
you feel too stiff and formal in your clothes this will affect how you express yourself.
Above all, ensure that however you look is congruent with how you want to come across – if
your message is sober and serious, dress appropriately. Likewise, if your message is fun and
frivolous you can probably leave the navy suit at home. Some TV professionals reckon that
wearing pastel colours can make you look younger, but you may not necessarily want to look
younger, especially if you’re appearing in an expert role.
It’s worthwhile bearing these guidelines in mind any time you meet a member of the media, even if
it’s non-visual interview such as radio or print. How you look will still have an impact on how you are
perceived, so make sure you give the impression you intend to on all levels.
And in case you were wondering, it is true that television can make you look as if you’re a few
pounds heavier than you are in real life. It’s all to do with the fact that a TV picture is made up of a
series of horizontal lines, and other technical reasons I won’t bore you with.
Suffice to say, when you meet people who regularly appear on TV, they often look much smaller and
slimmer than you might expect – this is because many TV presenters (especially female ones) decide
to keep as skinny as possible in order to look regular size on the box.
Clothes To Wear For A TV Interview
Even if you’re the kind of person who pays little attention to what you wear on a day-to-day basis,
it’s useful to know a few things about the nature of clothing as it relates to TV and video.
Bear the obvious in mind: cameras, computer monitors and TV screens are not people, they’re
machines. And as such, they don’t discern fine visual differences like the human eye.
In the same way that photographers with still cameras cannot capture the full dynamic range of a
scene, as compared to our eyes, and therefore shoot to accentuate the range that will be viewable
on the final media (photo print, magazine, computer screen, etc), TV and video production have
similar limitations.
Here Are The Suggestions I Present to TV Interview Guests
1) First of all, wear clothes that are comfortable.
2) Avoid apparel that is very light (such as white) or very dark (such as black). Even a dark navy blue
jacket can blend into a dark background, in the same way that a light beige could blend into a light
background. Also, if white is worn against a dark background, the range of contrast could result in
the white being burned out, in other words, having no details at all. Conversely, if black is worn
against a white, or very light background, the black clothing could be completely devoid of detail.
3) Additionally, avoid bright colours, such a red or orange, which tend to draw attention away from
the subject’s face.
4) Generally speaking, solid collars work best. Avoid checked patterns, plaids, extreme stripes or
dramatic herringbone patterns – they have a tendency to moiré on screen (which means appear to
vibrate).
5) It’s useful to wear a buttoned shirt or blouse, which makes it easier to attach a lapel microphone.
6) Beware of jewellery that can make noise. The slight rattling or jangling noise that you may not be
normally aware of, can be magnified by the microphone during an interview. Be particularly cautious
of a necklace that might touch a lapel microphone, and especially avoid bracelets, which can create
distracting noises for a person who gestures with their hands. In general, minimize jewellery for TV
and video interviews.
7) Eye glasses can reflect distracting lights, but if you normally wear glasses, and that’s how people
know you, you should wear them. However, a glare-free type or frames with no lenses would be
ideal.
8) In many instances, it would be best to bring an alternative selection of clothing to help the
Director present you in the best possible light.