Talk to camera

Learn tips for talking to the camera with authenticity and confidence. Discover the value of your unique self, getting into a peak state, and using eye contact and pauses effectively. Plus, try the 3-point method for structured, natural delivery.

Published on

Do not index
Sub-item
Parent item
External Link

Your authenticity is valuable

  • You need to first shift your mindset and recognize that your authenticity is valuable.
  • Your viewers crave connection with real people, so what matters more than anything is that you show up as yourself.
  • Before you hit record, take a moment to set the intention that you're going to show up as your real self.

Get into state

  • You authentic self doesn't necessarily mean simply being 'emotional'.
  • Imagine how different your 'authentic self' would be after you just woke up, vs after an intense workout and a coffee.... different!
  • I would recommend doing your talking to the camera AFTER some kind of 'state heightening' activity - such as working out, breathing exercises, or even meditating.

Eye contact

  • Look at the lens of the camera. Do NOT look at your camera/phone screen. Look into the lens whilst talking.
  • However, don't let this make you feel unnatural and 'stary'
  • You can break eye contact sometimes. I would aim to look into the lens around 70-80% of the time.

Pause, rather than ‘Um’

  • Most of us have a very inbuilt habit of using filler sounds such as 'umm' or 'err' between words.
  • This can become more exaggerated when we're nervous (e.g. the first time we're talking to the camera...)
  • Instead of saying UM, leave a pause. This requires us to...
  • Be comfortable with silence

3-Point method

  • In general I wouldn't recommend reading from a script.
  • Instead, jot out 3 key points that you want to make/talk about.
  • Memorise these three simple points
  • You structure will be: 1) Intro 2) Your 3 Points 3) Outro.