COMFORTABLE ON CAMERA
So, let me guess if this has happened to you. You’ve finally got everything prepared to create your first video. Stood in a comfortable on camera and you completely blanked. Suddenly you don’t know what you are supposed to do or how you’re supposed to behave. Everything feels really awkward and you can’t seem to get the words out.
If this has happened to you, don’t feel bad. This has happened to literally every single person who’s ever created a video. And if I’m being totally honest, I still hate the way I look and sound on camera. But it’s time to finally get over that fear because if you’re going to create videos, you need to get used to being in front of the camera.
Here are five tips that you can use to become more comfortable on camera because if you’re uncomfortable on camera, your audience will feel uncomfortable too. But if you feel confident and project confidence, your audience will have confidence in you. Before we get started, let me know in the comments below, what is your biggest fear about being on camera.
A lot of times we overthink it. We’re concerned about what other people are going to think, how we look, or even how we sound. The truth is that anyone who has ever made a video, has had the same concerns comfortable on camera. Even people who have been creating videos and public speaking for years, still get nervous. But if you can put aside all that judgment and focus on the valuable information you would like to share with the world, your new perspective will help you get the job done. So here are my five tips on how you can start practicing to feel more confident in front of the camera.
TIP # 1 – DON’T MEMORIZE YOUR SCRIPT
Now I know that sounds a little counterintuitive, because if you had everything memorized, wouldn’t you feel more confident. But the truth is that, when we memorize our scripts, we often end up spending so much time trying to remember what we’re saying that we end up talking in a monotonous voice because we’re just repeating words.
Instead, I would suggest you create a document that has your main bullet points of what you want to get across. Have your intro sentence, and three to five main ideas and a closing. This will help you keep the flow when you’re talking and don’t get lost and or start rambling on some tangent. But it will also not limit you to exactly the words you have on the page, and will make things feel a little bit more natural when you’re talking.
Even if you say something that makes absolutely no sense, which happens to me literally all the time, then you can just edit it out or start over. Don’t worry about things being perfect, the more you practice, the more you get used to it, the more you will feel comfortable on camera speaking off the cuff, the more natural, it will be.
TIP # 2 – USE PROPS TO MAKE YOURSELF MORE COMFORTABLE
Something that works for me and you can also try, is putting a picture of somebody that you know and like on the other side of the camera so that it feels a little bit more natural. Instead of just talking to a camera lens. I find that this works really well because actually having a person in the room when you’re filming can feel a little bit awkward and weird, but if you have the face of someone to look at, it’ll feel much more natural and kind of like you’re just giving them information or having a conversation. This will help you get used to having a more conversational tone, and not just having it be you reading from a script.
TIP # 3 – CHANNEL SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE
I know that when you’re just starting out, a lot of people recommend that you just be yourself on camera, but honestly I think that’s a really hard thing to do when you’ve just beginning. Instead, one of the tips that they give you in acting school or whenever you’re taking a public speaking course is to find a persona or a person that you feel embodies confidence and kind of mimic their behavior when you’re on camera so you kind of channel that person.
Choose somebody who you think really speaks well, or gives over information clearly and really channel, all the hand movements that they do, the tone of voice that they use, and even the structure their sentences. Before long, it becomes natural and you’ll start feeling a lot more confident in your abilities.
TIP # 4 – PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
Now, my favorite place to do this is Instagram stories. I think it’s such a fantastic way for you to get used to being on camera, but with really minimal risk. And if it really sucked after 24 hours it’s gone anyway. Plus there’s so little expectations from people when it comes to Instagram stories. You could be walking and talking, with your hair not done. You don’t have to memorize a script. This is a really good way for you to start feeling comfortable on camera putting your face out there, talking to your audience and listening to what they have to say back.
Now, the more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel when you finally set your camera up and do things. Feel free to also try practicing in front of the mirror. It’s not about having it be perfect. It’s just about continuously repeating the process until it starts to feel natural.
TIP # 5 – GET OVER IT
This is the most important one. Just get over it. The truth is that you are a lot more critical on yourself than other people are. Think how much guts and confidence, it takes to create a video and put yourself out there. Give yourself a lot of respect for being somebody who’s doing that. And if people have comments to say that your video isn’t perfect, or you messed up a line, or maybe your lighting wasn’t great. Who cares! One of the best quotes I’ve heard is…don’t take criticism from somebody you wouldn’t ask for advice from, and this goes with creating videos as well.
Now, if you feel really nervous at the beginning then start off just by sharing your videos to a select group of people who you know will give you positive feedback. And then when you’re ready, share it with the world. But stop trying to be perfect because perfection is just procrastination. It doesn’t matter how good your first video is when you start, because you’re always going to get better. So, if you finally have the script, and you’re ready to start filming a video, don’t let your fear of being on camera stand in your way. I know that you’re going to be awesome and I can’t wait to see the videos that you create.
But if you’re still not ready to be on camera. Don’t panic. There are plenty of types of videos you can create that don’t require you putting your face on camera. If you’re ready to finally start creating your videos and you want to know how to script, the perfect social media video, then check out our other blog posts and articles on our blog here.