Not sure how to get over your camera shyness and look natural on video? I was there too! I’m here to give some YouTube tips for beginners who are struggling to feel confident on camera.
Pro tip: It’s not about finding the best angle, an expensive camera lens, or an impressive light source. In fact, the best way to look confident in your YouTube video and then build up an online presence is completely free. As always, it’s the little things.
Before posting on a regular basis and treating every video as its own launch and posting about it on social media (which I covered in my last video), there are some other things you can do to “look good on camera” – keep on reading to find out what they are.
How to look good in front of the camera
Anyone with a YouTube channel has been here before. Have you ever stopped a recording because you were trying to find the most flattering angle, doing the right makeup, finding the right clothes, looking for the best ring light, forcing a natural smile, keeping a good posture…? If the answer is yes, I am here to tell you the solution is not in any of those issues.
There are three roadblocks that people face when starting on YouTube. Tech, talent, and time.
I’ll show you some different ways to look good in front of the camera and overcome all of those roadblocks – that you can implement right now – and will make a big difference in your next video.
Roadblock #1: Tech
The first roadblock is tech. Thinking you need expensive equipment is one of the biggest mistakes people make. A lot of people ask me, “What’s the best option for a camera?”, “Do I need a lighting kit?”, “What’s a good microphone to get rid of background noise?”, “Do I need to hire a makeup artist?” “What do I use for improving audio quality?”
While a professional look is important, it is not as important as actually getting started.
Many people, me included, started with just an iPhone without a tripod or ring light.
The important thing is remembering why you are doing this – you are providing value to your viewers!
Roadblock #2: Talent
The next roadblock many of us face is talent. People are shy, don’t know what to say or how to do it. But just like with anything else in life, the best thing you can do is to get started. A good rule of thumb is practicing, practicing, practicing. Some of the things I like to do before I start filming is to get into a state of feeling good and feeling confident.
To do that, you need to remember why you are doing this the whole time you are recording. Is it because you want to help people? Because you want to make more money? Whenever I start to get nervous, I like to think about who needs me and who needs this message, and just knowing that my expertise can help other people is stronger than my fears.
Let’s talk about getting your confidence up. What I like to do every day before I shoot is do everything I can to get into that state. I make sure I have a good night’s sleep the night before, that I had enough water, a good meal, have a little dance party, walk outside… Simply do whatever energizes you – because that energy is going to translate into your video. There’s no better way to have a real smile on camera.
Roadblock #3: Time
As entrepreneurs, we need to understand what are the most revenue-generating tasks in our business, and which ones we can outsource or delegate to someone else who has the talents in areas that aren’t necessarily our strengths.
For me, one of the first hires that I made was a video editor, then a personal assistant, and a copywriter. Hiring people who had superpowers I don’t is a great way for me to focus on working with clients and growing my business.
However, the one thing that I can’t outsource is me being in front of the camera and building relationships with my viewers. Delegation is an important aspect of any business and will make a huge difference in terms of making your processes more efficient. Even if these hires are just doing a little bit of work, they will give you the extra time you need to focus on more important things.
This extra time will go a long, long way in building up your YouTube channel.
Delegation is a major way to free up some of your time, but the other way is to be efficient.
These are my top tips for recording your first video. I hope this has given you the confidence to get over the tech, the talent, the time roadblocks that might be in your way. Remember that having a successful YouTube channel is not about the best camera angle or having the best light (although they help, for sure) – but it’s all about providing quality videos and value to your viewers.
All you need is a stack of books, a phone or laptop webcams, natural lighting, a good idea for a video, and you are all ready to record a professional video.
Your Next Step:
- Want to Read More: What Your YouTube Channel Says About You
- Want to Watch More: The Most Important Part of a YouTube Video
- Turn Your YouTube Channel into a Daily Lead Machine
Did you like these tips? Did we miss any other important one?