Being filmed isn’t something many people are comfortable with. It’s easy to stress over how you’ll look and come across on camera. As someone who's done numerous videos, I can relate. But with experience, it gets easier. To help, I'd like to share some tips I've collected that help me when preparing to go on camera.
Determine what to wear
Avoid colors that will wash out your skin tone. Determine your skin tone, which colors you should wear and which you should avoid. Also, avoid colors that are going to either blend in or contrast with the background.
Makeup
Make sure your makeup is blended well and to bring extra for touch ups. Avoid a lot of color and instead go for a more natural look. Also, avoid any translucent powders. These will show up white on camera and make you look washed out.
Determine your audience
If you know who your audience is, it's going to help you feel a lot more comfortable on camera. Cater your voice and your word choice toward your target audience.
Hair touch-ups
Have either a clear mascara or a hairspray nearby to quickly fix any fly aways on your hair. These will stand out on camera, even if you can't see them well in person.
Eye focus
Discuss with the videographer or director where your focus should be. It may be straightforward or off to the side. You don't want your eyes darting back and forth or looking down – you want your eyes to engage your audience.
Notes
If your text is scripted, keep an outline of your notes nearby. You can glance at them for a quick refresher or take a break to collect your thoughts.
Wardrobe check
Just before filming, get in position and have the videographer or someone nearby make sure all your clothing is laying properly on you. Make sure to check jewelry, jackets and your hair. Also, make sure you have a lint roller nearby to get rid of any fuzzies, as these will stick out a lot more on camera than they do off camera.
Reduce shine
Just before filming blot your face, neck and chest with either a tissue or blotting paper. Shine shows up a lot more on camera than it does off.
Review the footage
Immediately after you’ve finished filming your footage, review what you’ve just captured. By checking the footage immediately, you can re-film anything that didn’t come across quite right. It’s much easier to do that now while you’re wearing the same clothes and have the same setting and lighting.
Don't be overly critical
Remember, you're your own worst critic. If you do a few practice shoots and are prepared, you'll create a video that your audience is going to enjoy. But most of all, don't be overly picky with your looks, your voice, etc. Your audience won’t care about that nearly as much as you do.
Review your video's comments and metrics
After you've uploaded your video, take some time to review viewer comments and success metrics. This insight will help you prepare and improve on your next video.
I hope you’ve found these tips helpful. I'd love to know which one you found the most useful, or any piece of advice that you'd add to the list. Leave us a comment or tweet us @mediajunction.