Read time: 3 to 4 minutes
Have you been asked to be on camera for an interview but never done it before?
Are you getting ready to represent your company in a video but aren’t sure where to start?
Do you need to film your CEO speaking on camera and want to make sure they come across well?
These simple tips will help you feel more confident and professional on camera — whether you’re behind the lens or in front of it.
This is the key difference between presenting to a camera and presenting to a live audience. When presenting to a camera, your relationship with the viewer is far more intimate and it’s important to be aware of this. Seek to build a relationship with the viewer through your presenting.
Try to imagine that the camera lens is your friend and that you are engaging in conversation with it. This will make you appear more relaxed and in turn, make the viewer feel friendlier towards you, enabling them to trust you more easily.
When presenting to camera your audience can see your face very clearly and therefore every facial expression will be noticed. Making sure you keep eye contact with the lens, remaining focussed and feeling confident but relaxed will come across in your facial expressions.
Are you nervous or concentrating too hard? Or are you relaxed and smiling?
Practice your smile because the first impression will set the tone of your entire message. If you are being interviewed, it is important that you remember to always look at the interviewer when being asked a question and to resist the temptation to look at the camera or notes.
This may sound strange but it’s generally only experienced broadcasters and presenters that can get away with learning prewritten scripts in a natural and believable style. It can come across as stilted and unnatural if you try to learn a script word for word. Be yourself using your own natural language, and talk in a conversational style.
If you’re being interviewed, you can often feel rushed and pressurised. It can often be tempting to talk, and keep on talking – desperately trying to avoid awkward pauses. It’s much better however to pause before you start, compose yourself, think about your answer and keep it concise and to the point!
…and then practice again! If you know the questions you’re going to be asked, get a friend or colleague to help you practice – or practice in the mirror. Look for what you can improve on next time and ask others to point things out that you may not have noticed – body language, twitches, excessive ‘ums and ‘ers’.
If you’re not sure what questions will come up, focus on doing your homework and really knowing your topic inside and out. The better prepared you are, the more confident you’ll feel — and if you’ve covered all the bases, you’ll be ready for anything that comes your way!
By far the most important thing when choosing your outfit is that you feel comfortable. That said though, it is important for your appearance to reflect the style, content and message of your video and that you bear in mind the intended audience. For example, a CEO message to staff should probably be presented by someone wearing appropriate smart clothing, not jeans and T shirt!
Red clothes are worth avoiding, as are pin-stripes and finely chequered patterns.
Most importantly, if you are being filmed in front of a chroma key green-screen then don’t wear anything green.
It doesn’t matter – remember, unless you are broadcasting live, if you make a mistake, it can be filmed again – and again if necessary. Don’t forget that it’s in the video crew’s best interest to make you look and sound as good on camera as possible!
If you have a written script, using an autocue (teleprompter) can kill those nerves and significantly enhance your delivery. Here’s why:
Enhances Delivery and Flow: An autocue allows you to maintain a steady pace without the need to glance at notes, resulting in a smoother and more professional presentation.
Boosts Confidence: With your script displayed clearly, you can focus on your delivery rather than worrying about forgetting lines, leading to a more relaxed and confident performance.
Improves Eye Contact: By reading directly from the autocue, you can maintain consistent eye contact with the camera, fostering a stronger connection with your audience.
Saves Time and Reduces Effort: An autocue eliminates the need for repeated takes due to forgotten lines, streamlining the filming process, saving valuable time and keeping you relaxed!
Ensures Accurate Messaging: For content that requires precise wording, such as legal or compliance-related information, an autocue ensures you deliver the message exactly as intended.
Whatever you are presenting, if you have a written script, using an autocue can elevate the quality and effectiveness of your on-camera delivery.
Feel free to contact us about the training we offer in presenting to camera.
