When you’re presenting on camera without prior training, what you don’t know WILL hurt you!
Do you want to create a video or present on camera, but feel like you’ve got no idea what you’re doing? Or perhaps, you’ve prepared a solid script for your corporate video, yet somehow, it just falls flat in no time, as soon as you hear “lights, camera, action”? No worries! Not many of us feel comfortable on camera – at least not when we lack prior training or experience.
So, if you were looking for practical tips on how to present well on camera, time and again, you have come to the right page! Our team of videographers and video production experts share a few of their best tips that will make the difference between disaster and success. Let’s cut to the chase, and jump right in!
It’s never a good idea to dive straight into a take! Instead, you should start with a short warm-up session with one of your colleagues, so that you can practice, in advance, what you’re going to say on camera. This way, you can get used to speaking with confidence in front of the camera, and also memorise the structure of the content you’re going to present in the video. Once you’re done warming up, take some time to breathe and relax, before the camera starts rolling!
No one likes watching a video with a person in it who sounds monotonous or looks like they should rather be elsewhere. If your videos look upbeat and full of enthusiasm, your audience will naturally feel a lot more positive about your brand and messaging, than they would otherwise. Just don’t go over the top with your energy; you certainly want it to look authentic.
You should try and keep in mind your ideal client or audience, when you’re presenting on camera. This helps set the right kind of tone, right from the start, and the viewers will feel like you’re talking directly to them, personally. As a result, they will feel more engaged and you will be able to build a real connection with them, through your video.
If you’ve tried presenting on camera before and failed, you already know that memorising the script isn’t everything. Needless to say, you don’t want your audience to feel your video is a bit ’scripted’, to begin with. So, it will certainly help to pace and rehearse your speech delivery, more than a couple of times, by speaking out loud. It’s also a good idea to lay emphasis on certain words as you speak, save the pace notations in your script, and print out a copy of it to rehearse your delivery.
Practice how to demonstrate more positive body language. In general, find a neutral position that makes you feel focused and comfortable, at the same time. Use open-handed gestures, but avoid unnecessary hand movements that might end up becoming a distraction for the viewers. Most importantly, avoid making any gestures that might come across as condescending to anyone and stay grounded.
Being filmed on camera is already daunting enough, especially if you’re not used to it. If you have more people on the set than what’s actually required, it can be distracting and even feel overwhelming. So, make sure you have as relaxed of an atmosphere in the room as possible, and request anyone who’s not required on the set to leave the room.
Make yourself comfortable with the idea of looking at the camera lens. If you can’t maintain decent eye contact and keep looking away or have shifty eyes, it might make you look untrustworthy in front of your audience.
For the best results, you would want your viewers to keep watching your video till the end. You may want to say something intriguing or interesting enough within the first few seconds of your video, in order to grab their attention. No need to rush it through by speaking too fast! Just make sure you speak slowly and concisely, take brief pauses between sentences, and try to mimic natural speech. Speaking in a conversational tone helps a lot, too.
There’s usually a lot of equipment required for making professional-quality videos, from lighting and cameras to microphones and other AV production equipment. If you’re not used to seeing them around, you might feel uncomfortable at first. However, try to get into your zone and ignore all the noise and equipment that’s around you, when you’re in front of the camera.
The fear of fumbling or making a mistake in front of the camera can hurt your performance. You can always edit out or re-record those parts later, if required. Take the help of your video editor to find and keep the best clips from all the pieces you end up recording.
We’re naturally drawn to people who look happy and cheerful. So, there’s nothing like a winning smile to draw the attention of your viewers and make that connection with them. With that in mind, you should try and relax your face muscles, and take a deep breath, before you start filming.
If you follow the tips shared above, you will find yourself presenting well on camera, in almost no time! Remember that there are very few people who are comfortable on camera, but everyone needs to start somewhere. Try to get yourself in a positive frame of mind and be fully prepared, before you start presenting on camera.
We hope you found this post to be useful. Still not sure if you can pull this off? Feel free to contact us for more professional advice and support with your video project!
