Improve your camera confidence by using these tips for 10
You've put up your lighting, hit [rec] the camera you prefer you've set up your camera, and... you couldn't be more anxious. When you're filming on your own the feeling of freezing up, having trouble on your own words or just feeling uncomfortable on the camera can be extremely common.
But building your confidence on cameras is essential to create an impact on our video-forward world, both in and out of the screen. "Being assured on camera is a skill which can be a factor in every area of your life," says an entrepreneur and productivity specialist Ali Abdaal. "I've discovered that having made the effort in front of the camera has helped me increase my confidence on the job as well."
10 ways that have been tested and proven to help you make you feel (and look) more comfortable on camera
We'll be honest - it's totally normal to feel weird at the thought of directly talking to camera. There are, however, numerous strategies and techniques that could help you overcome those obstacles and ease your anxiety. Before your next screen performance, make sure to read our guide on how to nail your on-camera presence at every stage of production.
Then, before you shoot
1. Set the mood
If you're lacking the energy of others to tap into, it's easy to seem a little low-energy. A good listen to your favourite music that pumps you up gives your mood an extra boost, and can naturally increase your mood while you are seated to record. Extra points if you perform a song - it'll serve double duty to loosen you up and warm up that vocal box.
While you're there take the time to clear your environment from distracting factors. It's astonishing how an accidental Slack ping or phone call could cause to sabotage your level. Locate a quiet spot at home or in the office or office, then set the technology to not disturb you so that you can focus completely during filming.
2. You can make it look attractive
Get your backdrop set up. Check your backdrop for color, lighting and overall aesthetics. Locate a space at your workplace or in your home which is visually appealing, yet isn't visually distracting. There's nothing better than a corner near a bookcase or any other comfy backdrop to add texture without distracting from the real star: you!
Dress comfortably, but keep it simple. As a general rule, solid colors look best on cameras, however you should choose outfits make you feel most you. You won't be playing with your neck or moving around your seat.
3. Prepare what you're planning to be saying.
Your mileage will probably depend on the sort of pre-recording you'll need to complete prior to sitting down to record. For certain people, a comprehensive script is required to ensure you're comfortable recording. Others, a basic logline can be enough to keep on track.
Every person is different, however we recommend preparing an outline in bullets of your message to allow your speech to flow naturally and without straying from your point or forgetting your main points.
"A lot of people like to create their videos exactly to the letter," says YouTuber Vanessa Lau. "Over the years, I've come to realize is that the best technique is to use a bullet point method. It means I'm aware of at a minimum a handful of distinct focal points. And because I'm able to easily identify them on my script, it's harder for me to get off track."
4. Make sure you practice with your camera off
For many, the mere act of turning the camera's on may cause heart rate spikes as well as sweaty palms. For a less uncomfortable experience make sure you run your outline before your camera prior to pressing record. Not only will this ease you into the actual act of recording, it will also help you notice any issues with your script so you can fix the issues prior to rolling tape.
During your shooting
5. Speak to one person
Any speech writer or public speaker worth their salt knows that when planning to speak to any kind of group of people is crucial to understand exactly who you're speaking to. If you're making an update to your coworkers or creating content for TikTok, having a strong awareness of who is paying attention - and the way you'll speak to them - will give you the best chances of keeping their attention.
If you're aware of who your audience is and you know who your audience is, be more specific Confidence coach Chalene Johnson recommends speaking to just one personwhen filming the video. "Whenever I'm making a video it, I do not think of everyone who will watch the video, I think of just one person," she says. "It's simple to be authentic and feel comfortable."
6. Try a teleprompter
Even as a seasoned pro talking without the benefit of cueing is incredibly difficult. But using cards or staring at the laptop's screen could disrupt your connection to the camera, which can be distracting both to you as well as your listeners. Teleprompters can be a wonderful option to ensure that your recording is secure without the need for card-shuffling and rote memory. This'll help keep your bullet points top of mind, whether you're delivering a polished speech or just a quick group update.
7. Make fear into excitement
Whatever you do to prep, a certain amount of nerves when recording is completely normal. To channel that energy, try to reframe those physical symptoms of nervousness as excitement. As those feelings - like an increased heart rate, discomfort in your chest and throat - are associated with both emotions, attempt to tell your body and mind that your feelings are a result of being exuberant to speak and rather than being afraid. (You could be shocked by how effective it is.)
8. Be aware of your body language, and look at your eyesline
Like in world, body language is crucial to convey confidence. Keep an eye on these three aspects when making your next video.
Pay attention to the line of your eyes. When you're talking to your camera, it's, well, a little strange. Eyes are accustomed to wander about the room, or gaze towards your hands. Do your best, though you must maintain eye contact with your camera to keep your viewer(s) engaged.
Use the hands. Especially when filming from sitting down You can increase your screen presence by moving your hands around the middle of your body when you are speaking. This adds energy to the final film and keep you from looking stiff.
Speak with a smile. One way to kick your energy on camera up a gear is to increase your smile's corners when delivering your message. This doesn't need to be a full tooth-bearing grin. However, smile a little while you deliver your message could make a huge difference. "It appears fake at first," says Ali Abdaal. "But it really seems more confident."
9. Reduce it
It's normal to complete your own film with as soon as possible. However, this could lead to you rushing through your script or seeming harried in front of the your camera. Remember to breathe (even doing a short breathing exercise prior to recording could be helpful!) And try speaking slowly so you don't feel like rushing through your message.
Following your shoot
10. Review your work in a non-critical manner.
Just like any skill, developing on-camera confidence is all about practicing, practicing, and practice. Just like an athlete reviewing their gameday footage, we suggest watching back your video to discover the things you could modify as well as what you like about your latest recording effort. Take a moment to clock the manner of speaking or gestures which could be distracting to the future viewers. But do not forget to be nice to yourself. This is a great opportunity to improve your abilities, don't beat yourself up!
The final point is about on-camera confidence
While following the tips above will get you towards confident camera shots Don't stress about being flawless. Every person has their own distinct screen appearance - figuring out which one you are (and acknowledging it!) is among the most effective methods to boost your confidence in the future. Now get out there and crush your next video!