How to Fall in Love With the Video Camera. Video Presentation Coaching

How to Fall in Love With the Video Camera

 

Many of my clients who are new to presenting on video tell me that they don’t like the way they come across on camera. They say they feel awkward  as though they are “talking into empty space or talking to themselves”.

I explain that this is common (I’ve heard it often) and that one of the main reasons they may feel this way – is because it can feel artificial when you are delivering your message to a camera lens, as opposed to speaking to a real person.

As I wrote in a previous article, the camera does not give you any feedback. The video camera doesn’t blink, smile, or give you encouraging feedback like a real person does – it’s a machine observing you with an intense robotic stare.  As you can imagine, this can be very off-putting when you are not used to it.

The Video Camera is Your Best Friend!

It can feel artificial when you are delivering your message to a camera lens, as opposed to speaking a real person.

Rather than let yourself be intimidated by this “machine”, I suggest you turn the tables in your favor.

How?

Imagine the camera is a person (or perhaps even a puppy) who just adores you.  There is nothing you could do wrong in their eyes, no matter how many times you stuff-up or make mistakes.

Best Ears Ever!

In fact, the camera is the best listener you ever had!  It wants to know more about you.  It doesn’t get distracted, it is 100% focused on every word you utter and every movement you make.  The camera does not judge you.  It won’t interrupt you or attempt to make you wrong.  It never gets bored.  It never zones out (well maybe its little battery will go flat after a while …) but you get the point!

The camera is the best listener you ever had!

That’s how you need to think when you are filming your video presentations – turn it around psychologically. The camera is there to capture you! Your thoughts, words and action – unconditionally.

For More Help With Your Video Presentations – Check Out These:

I’d love to hear from you! Let me know in the comments, what your biggest challenges are when it comes to presenting on camera – or with creating your own Video Presentations? If this is all new for you,  tell me what you found most helpful with this article or what you would like to learn more about?

Remember, you can always suggest a topic or ask a question (below) and the TakeTwo Team will endevour to answer it in future “TakeTwo Video Presentation Coaching” episodes. If you enjoyed this content remember to sign-up to receive our email updates.

Always listening and cheering you on with your online video presentations!

 

 

 

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+Bianca Te Rito is the founder & CEO of STEBIAN.com – Video presentation coaching to make you look good online. With a unique mix of business savvy, combined with screen acting, modeling and fronting commercials – Bianca offers a personalized virtual consulting service for rising stars and emerging leaders who want to deliver effective online video presentations; sales presentations, video blogging, video interviews, or sharing your thought leadership online. Are you a “diamond in the rough” needing a little polish? We make you look good online!

Posted in Look Good Online with Video by / February 10th, 2012 / 2 Comments »
  • Naomi raiselle

    Having watched many, many online video presentations I am convinced that it is not possible to present well to a camera. Even tv professionals often fail. We humans have subtle mirror neurons that respond in myriad ways to what we see and read in another’s facial and bodily responses to our speaking. Even without verbal response, these unconscious but important cues give us feedback that allow us to adjust our speaking so that it’s a natural response. You can’t take away a live, sensitive interviewer without losing that feedback loop and the naturalness of the presentation. No imagining that the camera is a puppy, baby or best friend can replace that. Sorry!

    • http://stebian.com/ Bianca Te Rito

      Hello Naomi

      Don’t be sorry. You are right in many ways. I agree that nothing can replace speaking to a real person in order to project authenticity and empathy. Like you, I see many TV professionals who are doing nothing more than reading an autocue, and as a result they fail the authenticity test (in my opinion). In interview situations, having an interviewer sitting to the side of the camera to ask questions is the best way to elicit an authentic response. In some cases the interviewee can work-off the interviewers energy (if the situation is a positive one).

      However, having a real person to speak to when you are being filmed is not always possible. That’s why the top presenters and entertainers use certain techniques (which I am describing here) to help them to master looking into “the cold staring eye” of the camera lens. These experts have learned how to convey their emotions to the camera so well, that they invoke our mirror neurons and make us feel empathy with them!

      Thank you for your great comments!