Bone up on who you are interviewing and the topic at hand. If you’re speaking to the head of the debate team, for example, study up on some of their most current issues. That way you’ll be able to bring up key talking points.

Don’t come to an interview with a few questions scribbled down on a piece of paper. You are a professional reflection of the yearbook. Take time to type up a complete list of questions. You don’t have to ask every one, but they are there if you need them.

It’s important to ask open-ended questions – who, what, where, when, how. The more developed your questions are, the more willing your subject will be to elaborate and be comfortable overall. 

Stay away from “yes” or “no” questions, and don’t get too complicated with the dreaded double-barreled questions.

Interviewees want to know that the interviewer actually cares about what they are saying. Don’t do the active listening thing –“mmhm, ok.” Make eye contact, nod, but don’t speak out of turn. Wait until the person has finished what they are saying, and wait a few seconds to take it all in before moving on to the next topic.

Just like you want your voice to be heard in your writing, a good subject wants their voice to be heard in the interview. Understand your subject’s voice and what they want to say. That way, when you take a quote for the yearbook, it will be a good reflection of that person.

Even if you think it’s a bore to hear about the fancy moves the chess club captain pulled out at their latest match, it’s important to never let them see that. You get what you give, so if you want respect for what you do, give the subject that same respect.

You are not there to intimidate or make the interviewee look dumb. Create a level of comfort between you and the subject – ask some ice-breaker questions before the full interview gets underway.

The interviewee did you a favor with their willingness to participate in the yearbook.  Don’t take anything they say out of context that may make them look bad – it’s dishonest.

• Shutter speed

• Iris (Aperture)

• Gain (ISO)

• White Balance (WB)

• Audio

• To get good audio you need to carefully LOOK and LISTEN. Look at your viewfinder to make sure your levels aren’t peaking.

• Listen with headphones to check for distortion. 

• You may want to consider the use of an auxiliary microphone rather than the mounted shotgun microphone on the camera. 

• Some of your options are a hand-held microphone for getting “man on the street” audio, or a lavalier (lav Mic) for in-depth, high quality audio.