Preparing to be on camera
“In today's world, more and more people are being asked to appear on camera. This could be for a variety of reasons, such as giving a presentation, appearing in a video, or even just being interviewed for a job.”
For many people, the thought of being on camera can be daunting. They may worry about how they look, how they sound, or what they will say. Most people can’t even stand to hear the sound of their own voice in a recording… But that’s okay, it’s totally normal to feel that way. You’re not alone, the camera can often feel like a heavy spotlight of attention.
If you are one of the people who struggles with being on camera, we understand and we’re here to help. Our clients are normal everyday business people, not trained actors. So we know how to guide you along the process and help you complete your video project.
Here are a few tips:
Get involved in the script writing process. Even if your script needs to get approved by the higher ups in corporate, it needs to be written in a way that you would naturally communicate. In front of the camera is not the right place to test out some new vocabulary that you just learned.
Practice, practice, practice. The more you practice being on camera, the more comfortable you will become. You can practice by recording yourself giving a presentation, reading a script, or even just talking to yourself in front of a mirror.
During a filming session, we usually start with a few takes to help you warm-up. Then things start to flow a little better once there is some comfort and momentum going. This is the sweet spot, where a lot of good takes will happen and it will feel like time is flying by… After a while, fatigue sets in and you know it’s time to take a break, mix things up or call it a day.
The teleprompter is a huge help because remembering lines is tough and there are better uses of your time than rote memorization. There is a lot of flexibility to adjust the teleprompter to you. We can adjust the speed, size of the text and more so don’t be afraid to ask. Just don’t send us your script last minute, we need some time to review and format it to look correct on the teleprompter.
What do I wear? Feel free to look the part, keep in mind the business or organization that you are representing. Try not to wear neon colors or busy patterns. If you know the background or setting that you will be filmed in, then try to not wear the same color because you will accidentally camouflage yourself.
If you follow these tips, you will be well on your way to becoming a more confident and effective on-camera performer! This is just one of the many ways that we are dedicated to making your video project a success.
