How to Get Comfortable on Camera

Key Takeaways

When it comes to making videos, there's one big hurdle that keeps people away from doing it. And that is feeling like you're not very good on camera. But I'm here to tell you, you are good on camera. You just have to be yourself. And I know that's easier said than done, but I have seven P's that you need to live by if you want to be good on camera. So, I'm going to get into those today. The first P is play. Play around on camera. Talk about something you're really interested in and only watch it back by yourself. and make note of the little things that work and don't work and the mannerisms that you like and you dislike. But I guarantee you'll surprise yourself with how well you come across. And then once you feel comfortable, also show your close friends and family. They know you best, so they know if you're not really being yourself on camera, and they can give you some really valuable feedback to improve your presentation. Another great way to play around on camera is using apps like Periscope and Snapchat. I put tutorials below to both of those apps. Uh, but with Periscope, you're live. So, all you have to do is just turn it on and start talking and interacting with your audience and your community. That's a great way to gain a little bit of practice. Same with Snapchat. There's no pressure of editing on Snapchat. So, just get used to yourself on camera, used to hearing yourself on camera, and over time you will improve. The second P is personalize. So, this may sound a little bit crazy, but when I was in broadcasting school, one of the little tricks that I was taught was to put a photo of somebody that I really loved and felt really comfortable with on the camera or on the microphone. So, it helps you visualize that you're speaking to just that one person as opposed to this big audience that's going to be watching your video. So, that's a great way to feel a little more comfortable and a little bit more like yourself and have a more intimate conversation because at the end of the day, the goal is for each person in your audience who's watching your video to feel like you're only talking to them. The third P is pace. Now, I'm often criticized for being a fast talker, but this is actually just my normal pace of talking. However, believe it or not, I often remind myself just in my head to slow down a little bit because I know not everyone is used to this pace and it can be a little too much too fast. So, whatever your normal pace of talking is, whenever you're on camera, nerves and things can affect it and make you talk a little faster. So, in your head, just remind yourself to slow down and to breathe. The next thing is adding excitement. So, when you're on camera and you're talking about something you're passionate about, your audience needs to see that. So, wherever your excitement level's at, add about 10% to that and make it seem authentic and genuine. And another great tip is just to smile and be a little more approachable. Um, because that smile allows you to sound a little more excited about it and a little bit more happy while you're talking about. And nobody wants to watch someone on camera who's a Debbie Downer. So, remember that. The fourth P is to pretend. I am not saying to copy anybody, but everybody has their favorite people that they watch online or on TV. And so, watch them and dissect what they do and what it is that you like about their presentation. Make some notes and try and incorporate that into your own on camera presence. The fifth P is pretty simple. It's passion. If you're not passionate and interested in what you're talking about, it's going to be really hard for your audience to be passionate and interested in what you're saying. So whether it's the script or the wording or whatever else that's maybe not working or feeling right to you, make it work for you so that you come across as being genuinely interested in the subject matter and not just a talking head. The sixth P is pressure. Take it off your shoulders. There is no pressure when you're filming a video or whatever else. Being human is more relatable than anything else. If you make a mistake, that's okay. You can keep recording as many times as you want till you you're comfortable and you're happy with the end result. So don't think about how many people are going to watch the video and how much pressure there is to make it perfect. Think about just being yourself, being passionate about what you're saying. And that will translate more than being a perfect little robot on camera. The seventh P is practice, practice, practice. The best way to get comfortable on camera is to just keep practicing and playing around with it. So, use all those different apps like I mentioned earlier, Snapchat, Periscope, Instagram Video, Twitter video. There's video now on every platform. So, just play around with it. Get used to hearing yourself and seeing yourself on camera. And I promise you'll see slow and gradual improvements in your comfort level, and you'll start to feel like more like yourself on camera. Being comfortable on camera builds your confidence in so many other ways, whether that's for speaking engagements or for media appearances. So, just have fun with it and practice. And if you have tips for getting comfortable on camera, I'd love to hear them. Leave them in the comments section below. If you like this video, hit the like button below, share it with your friends, and subscribe. And for more information on social media and video marketing tips and tricks, be sure to sign up for my exclusive weekly emails that come out every single Tuesday. The link to sign up is below this video. Thanks so much for watching, and I will see you guys next time.