October 9

Overcoming Camera Anxiety

Do you find yourself wanting to make a video, but never getting around to it because you are too afraid to appear on camera? Well, you’re not alone.

So-called “camera shyness” is incredibly common and is probably the single biggest reason why people put off making the videos they want to make. They simply do not feel comfortable appearing on camera.

video iterview

What are people actually afraid of? It’s not like the camera is going to bite them. I have literally put thousands of people on camera and I promise it boils down to one of two things. First and foremost, people are insecure about the way they look or sound. They’re afraid they look too fat, too skinny, too old or too ugly. They’re stuck with a face made for radio.

The other thing that bothers folks is the fear of that they will make a mistake. Goof up. They’re afraid of saying the wrong thing and that people watching the video will laugh at them.

Well, guess what? Although perfectly understandable, neither fear is truly justified if you think about it this way.

First, if you goof, don’t worry about it. Just do it again. When you make a video, you have total control. It is NOT live TV. You can allow take #900 if necessary. Destroy the bad takes. No one will ever see them! Pretend they never happened.

dog wearing orange cowboy hat using a camera
Smile for the camera!

Professional actors goof all the time, it’s certainly nothing to be ashamed of. Retakes and editing are the solution.

Now the other fear is a little more difficult to handle. Most of us are a little insecure about how we look and sound on camera. That’s only natural. Here’s how to handle it.

For one thing, remember that most viewers really don’t WANT to be staring at lots of gorgeous people. Constantly looking at Barbie and Ken dolls is intimidating for most viewers because it makes them feel bad about their own looks. They feel like they can’t measure up. Psychological research that shows being bombarded with images of sexy, gorgeous people all the time breeds insecurity and leads to things like eating disorders.

Watching a “normal” looking person on camera actually helps viewers feel more comfortable. They will relate to the normal looking person more easily, and THAT’S what you really want, to build that relationship through video.

People are sick and tired of seeing drop-dead gorgeous people on TV all the time. Viewers have come to distrust that sort of thing because they know that paid spokesmen will say whatever they are told to say, so red flags start popping up.

Especially when making videos for the internet, if you come across as too polished, viewers will think the video is just another corporate public relations job. They won’t trust you as much, and trust is what you want to build.  So embrace your non-model appearance as a marketing tool for trust.

Now see, isn’t that a magnificent and reassuring way to think about it?

watching tv clip art

Don’t think for one second that Internet video needs to be held to the same standards as professional TV. In fact, the truth is, viewers like Internet video in part because it is NOT professional TV. Everyone knows “real” TV is fake…staged. People crave reality, so go ahead and give it to them.

Now, here are a few technical video production tips to help you look your best, and feel comfortable on camera.

  • You will look your best if you use soft, diffused lighting. No matter who you are or what you look like, soft diffused lighting is the most flattering. It helps hide wrinkles and other imperfections.
  • Another trick is to stand or sit behind something. A podium, a chair, a desk. This way, you won’t feel quite so exposed. Make sure the viewer has something to look at besides you.
  • The type of shot you use will also affect how you look. Very few people look good in an extreme close up. Move the camera back a bit to a wider shot. No point in showing people your nose hairs.
  • Let the on-camera person look away from the camera and stare at a person off to the side of the camera.  This will make it look like an interview, so is not appropriate for every situation, but if someone can look at something other than a lens, they will feel less nervous.
  • Another great tool to help you feel comfortable is some deep breathing. Those jitters might just disappear if you spend a few minutes taking some deep breaths before the camera rolls.
  • Use a soft focus filter either while you shoot or in editing.
  • Do a voice-over instead of face on camera.  VOs are so much easier.  Obviously, you lose something, but in some cases, this can help.  A variation of this option is to do PART of it on camera and most of it as voice over.
  • Feeling comfortable on camera might take some practice. So allow yourself some time to get used to it. Very few people feel comfortable right away, so don’t expect to be any different from the crowd.

I hope this advice helps you overcome any anxiety you might feel appearing on camera. Remember, you don’t have to be perfect, in fact, being perfect is something you actually want to avoid. Now we can all rejoice at that!

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

  • What are your personal feelings about appearing on video camera?  Does it make you nervous, do you think it’s incredible fun, or somewhere in between?
  • In your own words, describe why viewers actually enjoy seeing “real” people in a video.
  • List three video production tactics that can help a nervous person feel more comfortable appearing on video camera.

Thanks for reading Video Production Tips

Lorraine Grula


Tags

being on camera, how to appear on camera, i am scared to be on video, overcome camera shyness


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  1. Hi.
    There are two main ways you can search for content on video production tips.
    One, is to use the search box function you see in the upper right.
    Second, is to go to the site map and look at all the article titles. I try very hard to make sure all my articles have clear titles that explain what they are about. I have about 300 articles on video production right here on this blog so you should be able to find any subject you are looking for.
    Thanks for your interest in video production tips.
    Lorraine Grula

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