In 2015, I was a new coach looking for ways to get the word out about my business. There was a new app called Periscope that was blowing up, and I knew it was my best chance at getting in front of potential clients.
The only problem?
Periscope was a livestreaming tool… and I was terrified of being on camera. 😬
Almost a decade later, Periscope has gone but its legacy lives on—live streaming is huge.
If you want to grow your business or build an audience, one of the best ways to do that is by getting in front of a camera, whether that’s by going live on Facebook, posting reels on Instagram, or making videos for TikTok.
And if you’re anything like I was, that’s a big problem.
But I learned how to be comfortable in front of a video camera, and you can too!
If you put off making videos because it just feels so uncomfortable and you cringe when you do see yourself on camera, this post is for you.
I’m going to share a whole bunch of the practices, approaches, and ways of thinking that I learned on my own journey, so you too can relax on camera.
How to be more comfortable on camera
First, I’d like to share some practices and approaches that can help you get more comfortable in front of the camera in general. These are things you can be doing in your everyday life that will pay off when it comes to actually recording yourself.
1. Practice casual speaking
This can be with friends and family, colleagues, or even with yourself while you’re driving or doing something else like cleaning. The more you practice articulating your ideas, the more comfortable you’ll become doing this in front of a camera.
2. Practice recording yourself
Making videos of yourself is going to be uncomfortable at first, like it was when I started going live on Periscope. And just pushing through your fear won’t resolve your speaking anxiety completely, but the more you do it, the more familiar and comfortable it will become.
Aim to do one short recording a day to get started. (And if you want support with this, have a look at my program, Comfy on Camera, where we do this together for 28 days.)
3. Learn how your body likes to move
The more connected you feel to your body, the more you’ll trust it and the more comfortable you’ll feel in your own skin. So pay attention to how it likes to move and interact with the world.
My favorite way to do this is by closing my eyes and letting my body move how it wants, without judging or criticizing. Try it out!
4. Remember that your view of yourself is biased and flawed
While you might think your smile is weird or your voice is too nasal, the chances are that other people haven’t even noticed or, if they have, they really don’t care. Your view of yourself is not an objective reality, so don’t treat it as one. Don’t let your own self-criticism hold you back.
How to get comfortable recording yourself
Now that we’ve looked at how to get comfortable on camera using more general practices, let’s move on to the actual recording process.
Here are some tips to help you feel more at ease when it’s time to hit record.
1. Actively relax
It’s obvious when you think about it, but the simplest way to make yourself feel comfortable is by actively trying to relax your body.
Before you start filming, ground yourself by doing some meditation, yoga, or calming rituals. This will calm your body but also your mind, which will help you to think and speak more normally.
It’s also important to make sure you’re physically comfortable for the recording. Choose a room you feel relaxed in, sit in a comfy chair, and wear clothes you feel at home in.
2. Do some visualizations
Top athletes and performers use something called mental rehearsal or visualization before important events, and I teach my coaching students to do this too.
Think about how you’d like to feel when you’re talking to the camera. Imagine it feeling fun and easy. Believe it’s possible.
3. Experiment
Some ways of speaking and behaving are going to feel more natural to you than others, so experiment to find out what feels best.
You might want to try out using a script, holding prompt cards, or just speaking off the cuff. You could see how it feels to sit or stand or even demonstrate something.
If everyone in your industry does serious how-to videos, and you don’t feel like that’s you, try out that wacky idea you have and see how it goes. Don’t force yourself to act like everyone else!
4. Pretend the camera is your friend
You talk to people you know all day long, so pretend the camera is someone you know and talk to them specifically. You can even put googly eyes or a photo of them near the lens!
5. Talk about things that excite you
Have you ever been at a party with people you didn’t know, and felt really awkward until you found out you had a shared interest with someone there and you ended up talking for ages, completely absorbed in the conversation?
When we talk about things we’re passionate about or share personal anecdotes, we tend to get much more animated and engaged in what we’re saying, to the point that we can even forget we were feeling anxious altogether.
While you’re building your confidence, don’t worry about making the most informative videos in the world. Dip your toe in by talking about things you care about or stories that illustrate a point. You’ll find it much easier than trying to deliver a perfect mini lesson.
6. Forget about perfection
Likewise, really, really don’t worry about making the perfect video. It’s okay if you stumble over your words or keep saying ‘um’ or if your cat strolls in front of you. These little quirks make you more relatable, and your audience will appreciate that.
Do you want to learn how to be comfortable in front of a video camera?
If you know you should be making videos to grow your business but you keep putting it off because you feel so awkward on camera, I highly recommend you take a look at my 7-week program, Comfy On Camera.
Comfy On Camera is for entrepreneurs who want to learn how to be more comfortable on camera, so they can finally get their message in front of the people who need to hear it.
Each day, I guide you to explore how to stay grounded, speak your thoughts, and be more naturally self-expressive on camera. By the end of the program, you’ll have made 28 short videos and you might even have learned to enjoy being on camera. 😉
The next round starts on Feb. 26, 2024. Enroll now!
0 Comments