How to Get More Comfortable on Camera

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Daily Zoom video chats and weekly Microsoft Teams meetings have made being comfortable on camera the new normal.

Even before the pandemic forced most businesses to move online, becoming more comfortable on camera was becoming a daily necessity. Between YouTube, Instagram Stories, Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram Reels, doing take after take of looking just the right amount of cute, casual and spontaneous left us with an enormous amount of unused rough cuts in our Photo apps.

But being comfortable on camera is no longer exclusive to our hobby or side-hustle hours. With most companies now one hundred percent virtual, daily Zoom video chats and weekly Microsoft Teams meetings, have made being comfortable on camera the new normal for our 9-5pm work hours too.

That’s why it’s important to feel comfortable in your skin as you appear on camera. Your confidence can make or break your on-camera experience for presentations, job interviews, or just funny videos for social media.

How to Get More Comfortable on Camera

1. Convince Yourself

Have you ever heard of the phrase, “fake it till you make it,”? That is precisely what you will have to do! This does not mean to jump right in front of the camera without any preparation.

Tell yourself every day in the morning and at night and even throughout the day just how great you are and how beautiful you are on camera. Eventually, you will begin to believe these positive affirmations, and your confidence will skyrocket.

2. Do Something That Makes you Feel Good

Something such as sprucing up your physical appearance will make you feel more comfortable on camera. If you enjoy wearing those fierce false lashes, or if you want to add a bit more blush because it accentuates your cheekbones, go for it! You should also practice in the mirror to see what your best angles are.

Once you have a general idea, you can try this in the camera and find a place where lighting is great to ensure you do look your best. You also want to make sure that your background looks just as presentable as your physical appearance.

3. Record Yourself

If you’re worried about how you appear or sound on camera, the best way to find out is to get in front of that camera! You don’t have to share this footage with anybody but yourself.

Record yourself every day and build that confidence needed when the time comes. With enough practice, you can be your own director, and you’ll know exactly how you move and how you sound when operating on camera.

4. Practice with Your Friends

Gather a group of friends, Zoom meeting style, and practice your speech or presentation with them. Allow them to give constructive feedback on how you look, how you sound, and how your overall delivery comes across.

If your friends are quite the goofballs, maybe see if a family member or even a mentor will assist you in practicing your on-camera presence. Not only will you get more experience with being comfortable on camera, but you’ll have experience with people watching you.

5. Compose a Plan

Once you have mastered your on-camera presence, write down your plan of action and jot down some notes. Use note cards when giving a presentation to colleagues or even cue cards if you have somebody around to help you if performing skits for TikTok.

These note cards will be comforting, and whenever you get nervous or thrown off, you can always glance at them as a reminder of what to do or what to say.

Each of these tips is very conducive to gaining the confidence needed to appear on camera whether you are entertaining an audience or presenting something professionally.

It can take time for you to become comfortable while on camera genuinely. But it gets easier with time. Getting in front of the camera will become so natural to you that you won’t even realize it’s on! Smize!

 

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