Tips on Talking in Front of a Camera

Do you feel uncomfortable or anxious being in front of a camera? Are you camera shy?  Are you worried about what to say or how you look? Do you avoid being in front of a camera? If you answer yes to any of these questions, this article will give you strategies on how to enhance you presentation skills so that you will become more confident and successful in front of a camera no matter what stage or experience you have. This information is especially helpful for individuals and professionals who are considering creating training or instructional videos, but it also beneficial for anyone  who is just wanting to gain confidence in front of a camera.

1. Write a script

There are so many benefits to writing a script before talking in front of a camera. Not only does it allow you to have the time to think about what you want to say but it helps you organize your thoughts in a logical and sequential order highlighting the key points you want to make. I find people may have to write there script more than once. And if you are with a large corporation or in a industry that is under various guidelines, you will want to make sure you say it correctly. In some cases, you may need approval by your company’s advisor or legal team. Plus when you have a script, it allows you time to practice it over and over again. This helps build confidence and familiarity with the content.  The challenge with a written script is being able to say the words correctly and not make mistakes while you read it off of a teleprompter. Don’t fool yourself in believing you will be able to go through your entire script without a mistake. It happens. Many times when your brain reads one thing, your mouth says something else. My advice is don’t get frustrated. Again, it happens. Take breaks if you need, but don’t force yourself if you are making mistakes. Sometime you may have had a busy and stressed day, so trying to film later in the day can be challenging. Try to be as relaxed and stress-free as possible before you begin to film.

Challenges with not writing a script

I have had a number of people who believe they can just get in front of a camera and begin talking like they would at the office, with co-workers, or even when presenting at a conference. However, filming in front of a camera is a whole different experience. This is not to make anyone believe they cant speak in front of camera, but everyone is different and you need to know your skill and comfort level. There have been only a handful of professional people over the years who have been able to start and stop after filming for 20 minutes without making a mistake. This is rare, but when it happens it amazes me. However for the majority of presenters trying to talk off the cuff of your head brings more challenges than not. Not long ago, a group of individuals came to our office to talk about creating some videos for their company. The conversation went very well and we were able to identify a number of needed videos. As the meeting was nearing the end, they asked if they could start filming that day. I asked if they needed time to write the scripts before we begin filming and they stated no. I warned them of the difficulty doing this, but they were one hundred percent positive they could pull it off. They were, of course, leading experts in their field. They had a wealth of experience and knowledge. Well, you can only imagine what happened. Their dialogue was disorganized, they had to pause often to talk about what next question or topic to cover, many times the word ah was stated as they were trying to figure out what to say and how to say it correctly.  When this happens I call it the Hit and Miss because most of what you film misses the mark and is not useful while only a few clips have any value. I cannot over emphasis that being an expert and having extensive knowledge rarely results in being able to present that information in front of a camera without having to put some time into practicing.

2. Relax, take your time, talk at a slow yet reasonable pace, and breath

Many times when you begin filming in front of a camera, it is a different beast. You don’t have an audience, there is not down time when others talk, and it is just you in front of the camera. This is not to scare you, but to help you build confidence that you can do a great job talking in front of a camera. Relax is the first step. You may have a lot of material to cover, but don’t get overwhelmed, just pace yourself and take your time. The next step is to talk at a slow yet reasonable pace. You don’t want to go too slow and bore your audience, but you want to go at a pace that your audience can process the information being presented. And lastly, breath in and out but don’t take exaggerated breathes.

3. Ignore the camera

Although it is important to look directly at the camera, unless other instructed by your video director, you need to try to forget that the camera is there. Instead, view the camera as representing the audience you are talking too whether they be customers, professionals, or co-workers.

4. Be aware of your facial and body movements and voice tone

Most people don’t realize how they appear until they are filmed. It is so common for people to be critical of themselves after they have had a chance to view their video clips. I look like that, I didn’t smile, I didn’t want to say that, I moved too much. Some people are very animated when they talk, and to some degree that is accepted and can be a positive thing. However, there are times when people are moving their heads, shoulders, and hands so much that is too distracting for viewers. I don’t want people to be robotic or flat, but I did have one person who after he viewed his clips couldn’t believe how extreme his facial movements were during the training sessions that it was a distraction. He spent a few days afterwards practicing trying not to be so animated. Lastly, your voice tone and inflection is just as important to pay attention to when speaking. Sometime being fearful and feeling anxious can be reflective in your voice tone. Your voice may sound deeper than normal or you may appear scared or less than enthusiastic.

5. Limit or eliminate your jewelry appearance

This tends to occur more with women than men. Of course, everyone wants to have their best “look” forward when filming, but wearing earrings, necklaces, or bracelets can often cause clinging sounds which initially may not be very noticeable to most people but too often than not they are sounds which are captured through wireless mics. This is especially true for individuals who insists on using a headset mic as earrings can be clanging against the mic piece that wraps around the ear. As a result, this can make post-production editing process more challenging.

6. Environmental conditions

When talking in front of a camera, it is not uncommon for people to become thirsty. Most production studios take into consideration their environmental conditions to make it comfortable for individuals to film. However, I have tried to film at various companies and organizations where the air is very dry. This can result in a very dry mouth and, in turn, it becomes hard to speak. If the site or location you are considering to film at is too dry, it may be wise to find a different location. Sometimes having a candy drop before you film may help, but avoid having gum or candy in your mouth when filming.

7. Use a professional video production company

The videos you post whether it be on your website or other social media sites (e.g. Youtube) will be evaluated by viewers on quality and professionalism. If having a professional look is important, you are strongly encouraged to have a video production company assist you. Not only will the video quality be unmatched, but the audio quality and overall special effects will be impressive by viewers. Over the years, I have had a few people who would bring their own footage only to be disappointed with their camera’s video and audio quality. Many times their color balance was off, their camera’s had poor lux values,  used cheap tripods and tripod heads, or they filmed where there were environmental sounds which were annoying. In addition, most video production companies are skilled in green screen shots and being able to remove the background without having green edges around the presenters.

8. Schedule a 2 hour pre-test filming session before you begin your video project

Setting up a pre-test session for about 2 hours with a video production company is a very wise decision, especially if you are doing a series of videos. This way you can have yourself filmed and work out some of the issues mentioned above. It is best if you schedule the pre-test session at least 2 weeks before starting your video project so that way you can have time to analyze your clips and make the necessary corrections. I have found showing family, friends, and co-workers your clips can be very helpful and provide you with very good and honest feedback.

How did I sound?

Did I look like I was enjoying myself?

Where you bored when you watched it?

Was I too stiff or did I seem too anxious?

Did I look confident?

What didn’t you like about it?

What could I do differently?

Of course if you don’t choose to do a pre-test, your video director will help you with this while you are filming but you lose valuable time and possibly becoming more frustrated. If you work out some of your filming challenges before you begin your series of videos, you will find you will start on a better note and have more success in the long run.