HOW TO BE SUPER ON CAMERA
Such a large part of using social media for your business now-a-days is using video. Showing up and being present. Building a relationship with your audience and getting them to know, like and trust you.
Now I love being on camera. At one point in my youth I was keen to be a children’s TV presenter. So for me, being on camera now is my way to fulfil that passion.
It also helps that in my previous career, I worked for a film production company for 15 years. Using real people to tell real stories. So I have been around film communications for a long time.
For some people, being on camera doesn’t come naturally and that’s fine, but it is worth giving it a go, you never know, you might even enjoy it.
Here are my top 9 tips, for getting on camera:
1. GET OVER YOURSELF
This is a harsh truth, but the most important one to remember. Pretty much anyone I’ve ever come across hates the sound of their own voice which makes playback of your video rather difficult. I can guarantee that the only person worrying about what you sound like (or indeed what you look like) when watching your video, is you.
2. BE CONSISTENT
This doesn’t mean showing up every day if that isn’t realistically achievable for you. But it does mean planning when you’re going to show up, being consistent about it and telling your audience about it. I try and show up every day on stories in some capacity. But if what’s realistic for you is twice a week, then do that. And do it consistently, twice a week, every week on the same days.
3. LIGHTING
The one simple tip you need to remember when filming anything, but especially yourself, is to face the window. Stand or sit square on to the window, so all the lovely natural light floods onto your face.
4. SOUND
If you’re just filming yourself chatting to camera, then the mic on your phone is going to be fine – just make sure you’re not covering it with your hand when you record. If you are interviewing anyone or filming something that is further away, you’ll need to use a proper microphone.
5. BACKGROUND
OK, so this doesn’t mean you needs lots of set dressing but have a little think about what’s behind you in shot. Try and make it as tidy as you can. Move any piles of rubbish if possible or reposition yourself by another window. A simple background/wall is the best.
6. ADD CAPTIONS
I bang on about this ALL THE TIME but it is so important. Without it, you are losing potential viewers of your content. It’s important not just for accessibility reasons, but many many people watch content on their phones in public places or whilst watching TV. They are interested in your content but don’t necessarily want to hear you saying it.
There are many ways to add captions. I use Kapwing for an IGTV or long form content. For Insta stories, I use the microphone function on my phone. Once you’ve recorded your story, click on the Aa as if to add text, then click on the microphone to the left of the space bar. Rerecord your audio here and it types it out for you. You still need to double check it but it is much quicker than manually typing it.
7. DON’T USE FILTERS
If you are saying something important or positioning yourself as an authority in your field with whatever you are saying, then leave the filters alone. There is a time and a place for filters and it is fun to play around with them. But leave them well alone if you are talking about your products or something important.
8. PRACTICE
An oldie but a goodie, the more you get on camera, the more comfortable you’ll feel and the more natural it will become. You may even come to enjoy it!
9. CREATE YOUR OWN STYLE
If you really really don’t want to be visible on camera, then there are other ways to communicate your personality to your audience. You could use a selfie and then different text blocks to communicate a variety of thoughts and ideas, as if telling a story.
However, there really is no substitute for showing up and doing talking stories, it is the quickest, most effective way for your audience to build up a relationship with you.
I’d love to hear how you get on. Do tag me in your videos / stories @be_super_ social