When you are presenting to camera framed in a medium to close-up shot, the viewer can see every nuance in your eyes and facial expressions.

I’ve previously written about some of the pitfalls to avoid when making eye contact with the camera – including the common“bug-eye” and “blinky” pitfalls.

To overcome these issues – here are a few performance techniques you might want to try:

Soften Your Gaze

When we are concentrating on a challenging task (like delivering a video presentation), it is easy for our eyes to become fixed and steely, or ‘glazed over’ with a blank stare. This tendency is exacerbated when we try to keep our eyes focused on the camera lens.

If you find yourself squinting to look at the camera lens (some are tiny), I recommend sticking some bright colored duct tape around the outside casing of the lens so you can quickly re-engage with the lens if you look away or drop eye-contact.

I’ve written previously about the “cold staring eye” of the camera and how it can psych you out.  A trick that can help you overcome this, is to stick a photo of a smiling family member or friend on the side of the camera. Avoid staring at the picture directly, because you still need to look at the camera lens dead-center, but having this photo visible in your peripheral vision can help to humanize the camera lens somewhat.

In my article How to Fall in Love with the Video Camera I cover a mindset technique to help you with this also.

Here is an excellent example of engaging eye-contact with the camera by Social Media Expert/Keynote Speaker & Facebook Passionista! Mari Smith.

Demonstrate Empathy With Your Viewers

Imagine your target audience is watching your presentation.  Imagine how they will feel about the message you are presenting. Get emotionally involved in your subject matter and “feel” the content of your message so your facial expressions match your content.

Look directly into the center of the camera lens and imagine you are looking into your friend’s eyes.

Also, you need to constantly remind yourself to “soften” your gaze, as you would if you were looking at a dear friend. Look directly into the center of the camera lens and imagine you are looking into your friend’s eyes. Remember to blink naturally – it helps with softening and relaxing the eyes. Smile with your eyes. (Learn how your viewers can spot Real vs. Fake Smiles in Your Video Presentations).

Remember the 3 Second Rule

Maintain friendly, constant eye-contact with your viewer (the camera). Beware of letting your eyes wander away from the camera lens unless you are scripted to do so. The rule is 3 seconds max – if you look away from the lens for any longer than that, you risk losing the viewer’s attention or they may become distracted and wonder what you are looking at – thus decreasing the impact of your videos message.

Camera Height

I recommend adjusting your camera height so that it meets your eye-line when you are standing up straight and looking at the camera. Make sure the camera angle is NOT looking down on you however, as this will lesson your authority and impact.

When looking at the camera, ensure that your eye-line meets the height of the camera lens square on. Keep your head and chin in a neutral level, as this will help your posture and keep your throat (vocals) open and shoulders balanced and relaxed.

Keep your head relatively still and relaxed. In fact, it is important to slow down all your movements on screen and make them really specific.

Any movement you perform in a close frame will be exaggerated by the camera (its a technical thing). Some presenters have an distracting habit of bobbing their heads about in the frame, which can make it hard for the viewer to keep eye contact with you. Also, excessive movement can upstage your delivery and dilute the impact of your key messages.

To help with this keep your head relatively still and relaxed – it will help enhance your screen presence. In fact, it is important to slow down all your movements on screen (so the camera can track them effectively i.e. they don’t blur on screen). Plus ensure that you keep your gestures “specific” to highlight your key points and avoid any unnecessary/random movement.  Remember stillness not stiffness commands attention on-screen.

Remember stillness not stiffness commands attention
on-screen. 

Practice “Eye Yoga”

Warm up your eyes by doing some gentle “eye yoga exercises” before you start recording. Alternate blinking forcefully, with opening your eyes as wide as you can several times. Then, when the camera is ready to roll, relax your eyes and think “soft smiling eyes” as you commence your delivery.

Remember – to have fun in front of the camera. It will help keep your presenting style natural and tension free.

Let me know in the comments below;

• What your biggest challenges are when it comes to presenting on video – or with creating your own Video Presentations?
• If this is all new for you,  tell me what you found most helpful with this article and how you will implement it in your next video?