Tips for feeling more confident in front of the camera
I hear it often from clients, one of the hardest things about being present online is showing your face! My longtime followers know I am pretty comfortable in front of the camera! You’ve seen me right after my sweatiest days at the gym and occasionally in the midst of a migraine attack. Some days, I’m on camera before I have my first coffee of the day and again once I get my caffeine fix. But it wasn’t always as easy as I find it now. I learned a lot from trial and error!
I’ve outlined ideas here for gaining confidence on camera in both photos and videos. With the addition of Stories and Reels, public speaking is a new, very real challenge for people in the digital marketing world. Let me know if you want a full blog on public speaking tips! I have a few of those up my sleeve, too.
Write a script
Woodrow Wilson was the 28th president of the United States. He never had the chance to hop on Instagram Stories, but he did have a great saying about public speaking: “If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days; if an hour, I am ready now.”
It takes enormous preparation to say something clearly and quickly, which is what social media is all about. A ten-second reel might take you a day to plan. Conversely, if you jump on Instagram to share an announcement without a roadmap, your audience might have to swipe past twenty Stories to get to the main point. Most of them won’t last that long!
When you sit down to batch schedule your content for the week, jot down an outline for each Story you plan to post. It can be contained in three bullet points or spread across fifteen color-coded post-its, but as long as you spend time preparing, you will save yourself and your followers time.
Warm up
I’ve been living in front of the camera for years, but if you’re new to the game, don’t be afraid to go full theater kid and do a warm up. Some people need to strike a power pose for a minute before they get in front of a camera. Others like to practice their facial expressions in the mirror. You might find that you prefer to do a quick speaking exercise.
Repeat after me: Unique New York, unique New York, unique New York…
Even if a “warm up” isn’t your thing, it is always important to take a moment or two of quiet, calm thought before you get in front of a camera and connect with your audience.
This tip might sound like it only applies to speaking on video, but it’s also important to warm up for still shots. Take power posing to the next level and try out a variety of angles and stances for each picture you want to take. Photography is a process of trial and error. If you allow the time for practice shots, you will become more comfortable in front of the camera and learn how you prefer to pose. If you look at my Instagram or any influencer accounts, you will notice that all of us have certain poses and backdrops that we really like, and you need to discover your own favorites.
Dress for the job you want
Your hair, makeup, and clothes might not be the subject of your photos, but your audience will see it all anyway. Don’t panic! This doesn’t mean you have to dress up for every post.
Instead, think about the message you want to convey, and use your outfit as another tool in your belt to get that across. Are you sharing your favorite Fall recipes? Bundle up in an autumnal sweater and jeans for a cozy look. Are you launching a line of high-quality jewelry? Slap on some lipstick and build your camera confidence with an elegant outfit.
Some people can get in front of the camera anytime, anywhere. Someday, that will be you! Your career on camera is only beginning, and your confidence will grow over time.
