I arrived to do a shoot with a client who was telling me how nervous she was, and how she had never been in front of the camera before. She asked me if I was nervous about the shoot.
I thought, that’s such a strange question, why would I be nervous? I get to do this every day! No one had ever asked me that before.
But it got me thinking back to when I was a junior videographer and I was a complete ball of nerves; what if the client didn’t think I was very professional, what if they thought I was too young…
All these thoughts would run through my head about whether or not I was actually good enough to be there.
I was filming with CEOs of big corporations, charismatic people who were larger-than-life with years more life experience than me. Who was I to tell them how they should sit, stand, walk and talk on camera.
But they were asking for my advice.
I realised that as much as I looked at them as the expert in their field, they looked at me equally as the expert in mine.
That’s when I really fell in love with doing video because it wasn’t just about the shots and the lights anymore; it stopped being about this daunting film set and became two people having a conversation and creating something together.
Talking on camera can be daunting for anyone, regardless of who they are or what their job title is.
When I work with my clients I get to coach them through being more comfortable talking in front of the camera, and how to be confident being themselves.
I want to share with you five tips I take them through to feel more confident on camera.
1. Be confident that you know your stuff, because you do know your stuff!
You work with your clients or your staff every day, sharing your expertise and knowledge of your industry.
Recording your knowledge and skills on video is another way to reach more clients virtually, connect with your existing customers and to share your story.
Your audience can get to know you better when you show up on video, and we all would prefer doing business or buying products from someone we know, like and trust.
2. Have some notes available, but don’t read from a script
As soon as you start reading from a script it seems more staged, less personal and people want to be able to connect with the person that they’re watching.
Have some notes handy that you can look at in between talking points but then just talk as if you’re talking to a friend – and like I said before, you do know your stuff!
3. There is no wrong way to tell your story
Something my clients ask me at almost every shoot is, ‘am I saying the right things?’
There is no right or wrong way to share your story about your business.
As long as you’re staying true to your values and your story then whatever you say is going to be the right thing to say.
4. Be yourself!
Don’t get too hung up on sounding really professional because as soon as you try to be someone that you’re not, your audience is not going to connect with you.
If you are being your most authentic self when you’re on video and in your social presence, you’re going to attract more of the people who are your ideal clients.
It’s not something that you’re gonna nail the very first time, it does come with practice. The more that you get on camera and start talking about your story and your business and what you can bring to your customers, the more comfortable you’re going to be with being yourself on camera.
“Marketing is no longer about the stuff that you make, but about the stories you tell.” – Seth Godin
5. Don’t be too self-critical when you look back at your footage
So much great content hits the cutting room floor because we are so critical of what we look like and sound like on video – and I still put my hand up as guilty of this one sometimes.
You have awesome knowledge and experience that your audience needs to hear! The majority of people don’t even see the ‘flaws’ that we often fixate on… and what’s more, who cares if they do!
It takes guts to put yourself on camera, and most people will admire you for it.
In the wise words of Dr Suess, “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
It’s time to get out that camera and share your story with the world.
I hope these tips help you to feel more confident on camera, but remember, the best way to gain confidence in something is to do it all the time!