All marketing ways point towards video creation, yet so many of us feel awkward when the lens points straight at us. I wish I could say there is a simple, quick fix to feel comfortable, but there is not.

If you want to be comfortable in front of the camera, you have to practice. It's easier said than done. Start by practicing in the car and front of the mirror. Once you feel comfortable, start recording yourself with your phone and get used to talking to a camera. Before you record yourself, you can also ask family or friends to listen to you while you give your speech.

Eventually, you'll get used to seeing yourself on camera and will feel more confident. This blog post will provide helpful tips on how to be comfortable in front of a camera.

#1 Start small

If you are completely new and never recorded yourself with a camera, start small. Start by setting goals for yourself. For example, you can make it your mission to record three videos daily for your Instagram story where you talk to your followers and include them in your day.

Once you feel comfortable showing up on your stories, start by recording short-form content for TikTok and Instagram. These short-form videos are a great way to dip your feet into the water before recording long-from videos for YouTube.

If you do this for at least a month every day, you will notice a big difference in how you show up on video.

#2 Practice and prepare

The best way to get comfortable in front of a camera is to practice and prepare. The more you practice in front of a mirror or camera, the better you'll get.

Practice in front of a mirror, try it with friends and do it for a small audience - yes, your pets count as a small audience.

Remember: Practice makes perfect. You might not be a natural in front of the camera, but like anything else, you'll get better with time and effort. Don't wait until you think you sound perfect because if you do, you'll never start. Keep filming and publishing your video content. Your first couple of videos might not sound the best but keep going. Over time you'll find your style and be able to let your personality shine.

Practice and prepare for public speaking

#3 Know your material

Know the stuff you are talking about. Even if you are familiar with the topic you are talking about, conveying information on camera while trying to be authentic is a challenge, especially if you are new to filming yourself.

Take the time to review your material, practice it, and ensure everything is correct before starting. The way you present will be much more cohesive, and you won't have to worry about forgetting any part.

Tip for beginners: If you are recording content for your online channels, such as Youtube, start by filming your content in sections. This way, you can review the content before you hit the record button giving you extra confidence. Don't worry about any pauses; you can always edit them out.

I also found it helpful to have a list of items you want to cover. Break them down into bullet points. This way, it is easier to follow.

#4 Pronunciation

It's tempting to mumble *guilty*, or not fully enunciate the words *guilty as well* but make sure you speak clearly and loudly enough.

If you tend to talk softly, try practicing sitting up straight (or standing up) and making eye contact with the camera while speaking loudly.

Remember that being on camera is like being an actor. The only difference is that you are playing yourself, so there is no need to worry about sounding perfect or pretending to be someone else!

Tip: 30-minutes before you start recording yourself, drink some tea with honey to soothe your throat and "prepare" your voice for a talking session.

Pro tip: I do this every time before I speak, whether that is on camera or for an audience. This tip is a bit silly, but you'll instantly notice the difference. Stretch out your tongue as far as you can and start counting from one to twenty. Try to pronounce the numbers as best as you can. Doing this will open up your throat, and you sound better.

#5 Smile

You'll feel better when you smile. Mainly because you are tricking your brain into a chemical reaction, releasing certain hormones to reduce stress and increase happiness, according to articles on Google.

Smiling helps you to be more approachable, confident, and trustworthy. Why? Because smiling makes your face look relaxed and happy.

It also changes the way your voice sounds. This is especially important when recording yourself without video. Try it out, say a sentence without smiling, and then speak it while smiling. Do you hear the difference?

When you see someone smiling in a photo or video, they're more likely to seem approachable because they've made an effort to look friendly or engaged with the camera in some way (even if it doesn't involve a full-on grin).

Adding a simple smile to your videos improves how others perceive you.

How to be comfortable in front of the camera

#6 Body Language

Body language is everything, whether you are recording yourself or speaking to a live audience. Within a few seconds, your audience "judged" your character based on your body language - and that's not always intentional.

Crossed arms are a sign that you are closed off. Standing too close to a live audience might invade their personal space, and your arms dangling around might be perceived as you being bored.

Fold your hand in front of you and leave your arms "hanging" relaxed. This way, you look approachable, and it gives you the feeling of safety because you know what to do with your hands.

#7 Don't read a script

Read your lines out loud for about five minutes before you begin recording - in your head or aloud - so that they will be firmly implanted in your memory when you need them most.

The viewer will notice if you read off a script (even if they don't see you doing it) because it does not have the same energy as delivering it from your memory. As mentioned above, you can use bullet points as guidance but avoid reading off a script.

#8 Knowing your introduction and ending

You are much more confident in front of the camera if you have an introduction and ending memorized. Knowing what to say at the beginning and end will make you feel more relaxed and confident because you will not stutter when introducing yourself. This allows you to feel comfortable.

Conclusion

Don't be afraid to make mistakes - they're an important part of learning. If things aren't going your way and you feel stuck, ask for help from someone who knows what they're doing (like me!).

I've been there, too. I know how hard it is when things aren't working out quite right, but I can help you get there.

The most important thing to remember is that you are in control. You can control how you look and sound on camera, and if it feels like something is off, then change it!

If you do that enough times, it will eventually become second nature to look comfortable on camera.