It’s all about video these days, isn’t it? With all the vloggers on YouTube, and people live streaming on Periscope and Facebook Live every single day, there’s one thing we can be sure of: looking good on camera matters.
It’s not rocket science, you’re probably thinking. And you’re half-right.
But looking good on camera is much more difficult than you might think. For starters, the way you act and talk in front of a camera must be even more dynamic than doing it in person – mostly because your audience is surrounded by distractions.
We’ve got 5 tips to help you be your best self on camera, so that instead of looking like Marco Rubio…..
…your video will be engaging and professional.
5 Tips For Looking Good On Camera
Stick to The Topic
Unsurprisingly, this is one of the most common mistakes that’s preventing you from looking good on camera. Plus, when you start rambling and getting distracted, your audience gets distracted as well.
This is an easy fix: plan your topic and organize your thoughts before going on camera. Even a small checklist of what you want to talk about will help. If you’re live streaming, for instance, place your laptop near your eyesight, so that you can easily see your points if you forget one.
This way, no one will even know you’re reading off your laptop!
Nothing Beats a Smile
There’s nothing more inviting and soothing than a smile. Looking good on camera begins and ends with a smile – even if you’re not feeling too happy about your performance.
If you show even the smallest hint of irritation or boredom, people will notice. What would you think about a speaker who never smiles and always looks like he’d rather be doing something else?
You’ll probably turn his video off and forget about him in 5 minutes or less.
Dress for Success
None of us likes it, but we have to admit that when we see a speaker on stage, the first thing we do is look at what they are wearing. This is often how we draw our first impression.
Things don’t change much when you get off the stage and get in front of the camera. Most people will still focus somewhat on what you’re wearing, so it’s important to dress in a way that doesn’t distract from your message. Avoid clothing with busy patterns and bright white colors that may throw the lighting off. Also watch for the reflections of jewelry and eyeglasses that may distract.
We’re not saying you need to wear an Armani suit – we’re saying make sure you’re dressed the way you want to be perceived.
Camera Placement is Important
Regardless of the type of video you’re doing, if you’re going to speak to the camera, keep the lens just above your eye line. This applies to laptop and smartphone cameras as well.
This helps prevent double chin situations, plus it gives you a really great angle that most people look good from. If you’re shooting with a laptop, you can put it on a pile of books and angle it down toward your face.
Background
Simple elegance always works best. Keep your background clean – the fewer distractions, the better.
Pay attention to the colors as well: there’s a reason why many companies use dark grays and blues in their promotional videos. They look good regardless of how you and your surroundings look.
Bright colors, on the other hand, especially red and orange, tend to reflect color back onto you and influence the way your skin looks on camera.
Maximizing Make-Up
One thing most of us don’t want to admit is that it takes a certain amount of make up for us to look camera ready – and that includes men, too.
If you’re absolutely against putting anything on your face, at least buy yourself a regular translucent powder – it’s a miracle product. This is one of Manoush Zomorodi‘s tips, and she knows her stuff:
All in all, looking good on camera takes some effort – but once you get there, people will pay attention. Which makes it all worth it! And don’t forget: unless you’re doing live video, some editing always helps. That’s where expert video editing comes into play, and we at Valoso are here to meet that need.
