When I was a video journalist I had to go on-air every day whether I felt like it or not. I reported through bad hair days, zero make-up days, gales, storms, being heckled by teenagers, and attacked by cats. Glamorous? Nope! But it did teach me how to feel confident on camera.
I think there’s a huge misconception that some people are just ‘good on camera’. But everyone I know who’s great on video spends time practicing and preparing. You can learn how to do it.
Over the years, I’ve developed a few strategies that have really helped me feel more comfortable on camera. These are the methods that have helped me show up on video and it all happens before I hit record. So this is what has helped me turn up
FIND YOUR SECRET WEAPON
When you go on camera, you want to show up as your best self. I have a few little rituals that I like to do before I make a video. They don’t all make a difference to how I look, but they do make a big difference how I feel about myself, and that’s way more important.
Before I record a video I’ll choose an outfit that makes me feel good and put on some make up. But the one thing I have to do is spritz on some perfume. (FYI, my current faves are Donson by Diptyque or Black Vetyver Cafe by Jo Malone.) I know it’s video and no one can tell if I smell good, but it’s like a magic mist that makes me feel pulled together and polished.
So what’s your secret weapon? What is it that makes you feel amazing, strong, calm or confident? It could be wearing red lipstick or putting on a favourite pair of shoes. Maybe you’ve got a jacket with red lining that makes you feel like a million dollars. Or perhaps you’ve got a special pendant you could tuck under your shirt or keep in a pocket. Find your thing. Because whatever it is, using it will help you show up as your best self.
PRO TIP: It doesn’t matter if you can see your secret weapon or not when you get on camera. It’s not about how it looks, it’s about how it makes you feel.
BRING GOOD ENERGY
Energy is SO important in your videos. It’s contagious! If you’re grumpy or tired it’ll come across on screen and your viewers will feel it. You want to leave people feeling positive after watching your content. So there are a couple ways to quickly elevate your mood if you need to.
POWER POSE
My favourite confidence booster is to power pose. If you haven’t seen Amy Cuddy’s TedX Talk about power posing watch it HERE, it’s incredible. The idea is that your body language can impact how YOU feel about yourself. And by adopting a ‘power pose’ for two minutes, you can reduce your feelings of stress and boost your feelings of confidence.
There are a few different poses you can do, but I usually just stand up and either put my hands on my hips or open my arms out wide. Then I’ll put a timer on for two minutes and hold the pose while taking some nice deep breaths. It always leaves me feeling settled and strong.
DANCING
The other massive mood booster is music. And you can really get your energy up by putting on your favourite tracks and having a personal dance party. Choose some music you just can’t sit still to
Start curating a playlist of your favourite feel-good tracks. If you can’t (or won’t) dance, you can still put your earbuds in and turn up the volume on your favourite tunes for a few minutes before you hit record. It never fails to get those happy vibes going.
PLAN + SCRIPT!!
One of my favourite sayings when I’m teaching my video students is: start with the end in mind. It is uncomfortable getting on screen if you’ve got no idea of what you’re trying to create or what to say. So if you want to hit record with confidence, take some time to plan and script your videos in advance.
For my YouTube videos, I script them out fully. This is partly because I repurpose my scripts for these blog posts, but it also means I get all my ideas straight in my head. It gives me a structure to work from that keeps me on track.
Even if I’m making shorter social media videos I will still scribble some notes or jot down a few bullet points to keep my thoughts clear.
Planning your video doesn’t just mean you’ll be more organised in your production and filming, it’s good for your mindset too because you’ll feel clear headed and focused. You’ll know exactly what you want to say, in what order. You’ll be less likely to go off on a tangent, get distracted, or start talking about something unrelated, which can be frustrating.
PRO TIP: No matter how short the video NEVER hit record without a plan. It’s a total waste of time. Even a few bullet points on a sticky note will help you feel more focused and confident.
#4 TALK TO YOURSELF
This might sound weird, but it works for me. This practice really just helps you get used to the sound of your own voice.
Let’s face it, talking to a machine is not natural. Human beings like talking to other human beings, but we have to find a way to get used to speaking to a machine – our camera or our phone – like it’s a real person.
So about 15 or 20 minutes before I hit record I’ll start talking to myself (if I’m not already.) I might just begin voicing my thoughts, or maybe dictating an email. You can start chatting to yourself while you’re setting up your kit and getting ready to film.
This habit of talking to yourself helps you get used to hearing the sound of your own voice coming out of your mouth and I find it puts my brain in the right gear to feel like it’s ready to have a one-sided conversation.
PRO TIP: A useful way to use this tactic is to start reading your script aloud to yourself. It’ll help you spot any stumbling blocks in the text and put you in the right mindset for recording.
Now it’s time to practice!
Ok, so there you have it. My top tips for feeling confident on camera before you even hit that record button. You just need to find your secret weapon; bring your best energy; plan your video; and start chatting to yourself. I think you’ll find that even using just one of those tactics will help you feel more comfortable.
But remember, you won’t get more confident on camera by just reading about it. The only way you’ll get better is to practice. A LOT! The more you get on screen, the more confident you’ll become. So this is your permission to go out there and start making videos.
