4 Tips for Confidence on Camera
Confidence on camera isn’t something that happens overnight. Professionals hire professionals to help them learn the ins and outs of on-camera presence — and even public speaking. With a push towards video marketing, it’s important for small business owners to familiarize themselves with video marketing and their camera presence.
Read on for four tips that will walk you through preparation and practice, with a bit of encouragement to be yourself on and off camera
Tip 1: Preparing to Be on Camera
Preparation is key. You don’t know what you don’t know until you need to learn it. That’s simply human. So step one of building confidence on camera is preparation. The more prepared you are, the more comfortable you will be.
To start, you can record yourself on your phone and self-critique it. However, knowing we are all our worst critics, this might be a good time to ask 2-3 people for their unbiased opinion. Then, re-shoot that clip with their feedback and see how you feel about it.
When you’re comfortable in your skin, another way to prepare is to familiarize yourself with the subject matter. If it’s something you know inside out, explain it in the simplest of terms. If you cannot explain it simply, you may lose your audience.
Tip 2: Practicing Builds Confidence on Camera
The more you practice, the more likely you are to be successful. The next step in building confidence on camera is to practice. Practice different answers if you know the topic or questions ahead of time. First, answer each one in 60 seconds, then 30 seconds, then 10 seconds. Be sure you speak slowly so that those watching can understand what you’re trying to say.
Camera Confidence Bonus Tip
Repeat the question back to the person asking it. This shows you heard what they just said and it buys you a few seconds to gather your thoughts.
Tip 3: Camera Do’s and Don’ts
On the day of the shoot, check these three things as you build your confidence on camera. First, ensure your clothes are not wrinkled, and the patterns are too busy. Houndstooth, plaid, and shiny materials do not film well. Next, ensure your hair is exactly as it should be — then leave it alone. The more you touch it, the more of a chance you have to mess it up. Lastly, don’t stare into the camera like it’s the abyss staring back into you. Look at it as though it were a person you’re having a conversation with — with a light gaze and intent focus.
Tip 4: Be Authentic
With all things, be authentic. The goal of building confidence on camera means your true personality can shine through for all to see. If you are robotic or stiff in your presence or responses, you’ll have a much different experience.
Video marketing has become more prominent over the years — and for good reason. It lets the public see you, your brand, and your product in ways they can’t experience with a simple e-commerce website or as they pass by your products in a store. Consider the $7 million dollar ad spots during the recent Super Bowl. Beyond the price tag for 30 seconds of airtime, they paid to create the ads, and everyone in those ads sought training at some point. They were all confident and everyone benefited from that confidence on camera.
To learn more about video marketing and to get started with your marketing strategy, contact MDINC today.
