How you can truly feel comfortable on camera (eliminating the “I look silly” syndrome)
“I feel fine and comfortable with myself, but not because I’m beautiful.” ~ Monica Bellucci (actress)
Quick Summary:
- Whatever nerves you have are perfectly normal—don’t try to “be relaxed”—be present!
- When deciding what to wear on camera, wear clothes that you feel good in.
- People will resonate with you *because* of how you look, so don’t worry about it!
To illustrate the points:
Here’s Brian Johnson, who is an online entrepreneur—you can sense he’s very comfortable on camera—and I believe that has a lot to do with him being comfortable with who he is, what he’s wearing, and how he looks.
And as an example of different body types from me (thin, white male – ha!), here are two very successful YouTubers:
Michelle Phan, who provides make-up and beauty tips. This video is from 5 years ago and shows what she was originally doing, and how she spoke to her audience
And here is Cenk Uygur from The Young Turks, a live daily news show online. Humble beginnings has brought him to this point, but the point is that the online space welcomes all kinds of people!
Time to practice!
- On camera: talk to the lens for 1-2 mins about any tension you’re feeling in your body: is it in your neck? Shoulders? When you name it, where does it move to? Post this video!
- On camera: Go into your closet and pick out 3-4 outfits that make you feel like YOU: totally comfortable, relaxed, empowered, and consistent with what you are presenting: now grab one and shoot a video on a short topic, and post it!