How to look and feel more confident on camera
How to look and feel more confident on camera
The biggest mistake you might be making when introducing video into your content strategy is not taking command of the camera. When you don’t command the camera, in the sense of showing up confident and ready, you might appear nervous, timid, monotone or disinterested. Which leads to your audience dropping off and never watching your videos again. That’s a lot of work going to waste! Instead, work on your camera presence which will make you look and feel more confident in front of your viewers.
Follow these six steps to help you look and feel more confident on camera:
ONE - Stand up straight and look at the lens. You’d be surprised how many creators are not looking at the camera lens when they speak to the camera. They might think they are, but many of us have made the mistake of looking just above or below. It’s easier to make this mistake when you record on your phone. To avoid this, use a tripod and record with the back lens of your phone, not the front. This way you won’t be distracted by your face on the screen. Also, take your phone and line up the camera lens with your eyes, now pull it back directly in front of you, and place the tripod stand there. In regards to your posture, try standing instead of sitting when you record so you can get a better feel for where your balance is. Your feet should be shoulder distance apart, your neck should be in-line with your shoulders and hips. Now lift up your chin and push those shoulders down and back. Don’t forget to relax your face muscles so you’re not frowning.
TWO - Think of one person instead of many. If you get nervous thinking about the hundreds or thousands of people who might see your video, change your perspective and only focus on one. Think of the one person who you are making this video for, they should be your ideal customer or target audience. If this person is someone you know, even better, imagine them sitting right where the camera lens is and just speak to them. If you don’t have a specific person in mind, make up a name and give your target audience a persona or avatar so you can imagine them more clearly. This technique helps take the pressure off because it makes your video feel like a 1:1 conversation, rather than a stage presentation.
THREE - Take a breath. Do me a favor and breathe! You can’t command the camera if you’re running out of air when you speak. In many scenarios our breath gets shallow when we’re nervous or under stress. So start by taking five deep inhales and exhales before you press record. Then loosen up your shoulders and relax your face muscles. Watch this example of how I prepare to record when I’m feeling a nervous:
FOUR - Let your passion show! Allow your excitement for the topic you’re discussing to come through. It’s easier to get people to engage with your content when you’re genuinely engaged in the topic. It also helps when you’re knowledgeable of the topics you are discussing in your videos. I think it goes without saying that preparation and proper research are key to you sounding more passionate and confident. Maybe you’re not someone who gets “excited” about the things you’re passionate about, but you show your interest in different ways, if this is the case, have five people in your target audience watch your videos and ask them how they felt after they watched. As a side note, if you’re discussing things that you are not passionate about on your content creation strategy, it might be time to change your strategy.
FIVE - Work with a speech therapist or voice coach. Sounding monotone can wreck your engagement levels because people will loose interest quickly. This is a common issue for people who read their content from a teleprompter. I’m a huge fan of teleprompters so I won’t discourage you from using them, but nobody wants to watch you read. I’ve seen clients get a lot more confident on camera after working with a voice coach or speech therapist. A voice coach can help you tap into your vocal cords correctly, teach you better breath control, and also help you avoid the monotone syndrome. A speech therapist can help with enunciation problems or speech deficits, if they’re what holds you back from feeling confident on camera.
HOT TIP - If you sound monotone, and you’re not reading, try saying a sentence in the voice of a little whinny human, then try repeating the same sentence in the voice of a character from a western movie. I’m your Huckleberry! (That’s me practicing this exercise.)
SIX - Stretch your mouth before you begin speaking on camera. If you can’t afford a voice coach or a speech therapist, try this exercise first: OPEN YOUR MOUTH and stick out your tongue several times before you start recording. Stretching your mouth muscles helps you enunciate more clearly and avoid mumbling.