On-Camera Presentation Tips

Many moons ago, tips for improving on-camera appearances were exclusive to people giving media interviews. But thanks to new technologies – hello YouTube, Zoom, podcasts and the like – many of us have become on-camera personalities as part of our job descriptions.

Before I list the on-camera tips below, one single aspect is mandatory, regardless of your communications:

Prepare!

Know your …

• Goals – What’s your purpose?  Why are you speaking?  What do you hope to accomplish?
• Audience – Who will be listening to you?  Will it be live?  Recorded?  Why are they tuning in?  What do they want to accomplish?  What’s their current mindset?
• Messages – What are you going to say that aligns your purpose with their goals?
• Call-to-Action – What do you want people to do?

If you want some advice and suggestions before we go further, try these articles:

(The Message House)

If it’s not obvious, don’t put more emphasis on how you look than what comes out of your mouth.

One final caveat before I get started … 

If your on-camera presentation is a media interview, get a qualified trainer to help you prepare, not only your answers to the journalists’ questions but also how to look and respond. That said, some of these tips may be relevant to media interviews, such as look at, focus and talk to the interviewer – not the camera lens.  If you can, talk to the interviewer in advance to build a bit of rapport before the interview begins.

Here’s how to work with the camera

Invest in good equipment.  A good camera and microphone are everything. Personally, I don’t like surprises, so I usually have a back-up of everything. Given how dodgy my home broadband can be, I also have a back-up hotspot. Know how all your technology works. (You don’t want to look like the technology is leading you.) And, once everything is in place and working order, ignore it. Focus on the lens and the people beyond.

Warm-up your voice.  The first thing we hear shouldn’t be you clearing your throat to speak. I know it sounds trite but try vocal exercises beforehand. Avoid any beverage with milk; otherwise, you’ll be clearing your throat during the entire conversation.

Think like a TV news reader.  They are alone (except for the crew who aren’t really listening). There is no studio audience, meaning no reactions to sustain their energy. Good TV news anchors think of their performance as a part of a conversation with another (silent) person, not a one-sided dialogue. They are lively and enthusiastic, but at the same time, relaxed and natural. Speak as if you’re talking to a friend.

Adjust the camera lens so it is the same height as your eye line.  Whether mobile/cell phone, laptop or camera, raise the lens so that your eyes are the same height. We must see you full-faced, not slightly higher or lower than your head. We don’t want to see your neck waddle or your dining room ceiling. It’s up to you how far the camera is from you, but it’s best to focus on your upper torso.

Keep your background and lighting simple.  Get rid of things behind you which might look like they’re sprouting from your head. Light rings are great, but check the wattage as some are very bright and give headaches.

Gestures are incredibly important. Whether it’s your facial expressions or your hand/arm movements, gestures are your personality coming out in body action. Because the eye loves movement, gestures also help keep the audience attentive. In fact, the audience will watch your hands as much as they watch your face. Why? Because your hands add depth to your words through visual punctuation.

• The best gestures when standing are mid-chest, never broader than your body, never higher than your neck.
• The best gestures when seated are slightly above the table. Skip what your Grandma told you, you can put your elbows on the desk or table.

Keep your appearance simple, neat and generally conservative.  Hair, clothing and jewellery should be uncomplicated, and most of all, should not become a musical instrument. If they make any noise, remove. Clothes should be comfortable, so I suggest you not wear a new outfit for the first time on camera. If nothing else, make sure you can raise your arms a bit. If you’re in a studio, wear something light because it can be hot, and/or you’ll sweat if you’re nervous.

Yes, the camera adds pounds. It’s because of the focal point on the camera. To compensate, wear dark solid colours. Try not to dress in all one colour – particularly in all white, black, red or green. Avoid neons, stripes and prints.

Do a test run of your clothing. Watch the playback. Have your colour choices given your skin an odd glow or turn you ashen? Do the colours clash with the background? Or, are they so close in colour, you look like a floating head? Yes, I’m old fashioned. Iron your clothes so you don’t look like you just rolled out of bed.

Men

• • If you’re wearing a tie, gently tuck it into the waist-band of your trousers (under your coat, of course) so it remains straight.
  • Take everything out of your trouser pockets, especially things that jingle (like coins) or add strange bumps (like a cell/mobile or a wallet).
  • Get a haircut a few days before the interview.
  • Shave that morning, or if you have a beard, get it trimmed or shaped.
  • If it’s a production, sorry guys – use powder. It removes the glistening from sweat and oiliness which can make you look uncomfortable even if you’re not.

Women

• • Straighten your jewelry so it’s not wrapped awkwardly around one breast or both.
  • Never try a new hair-style for the camera.
  • If you’re particularly nervous, don’t wear high heels if you stand.
  • It’s OK for a bit of your personality to shine through, but whatever you wear that says “you” – a tie, a shirt, a piece of jewelry – should be discrete. It should speak softly for itself, not announce itself with a scream.

Eye contact establishs your credibility, even more when close-up.  If you do lots of work on camera, get non-reflective coating on your lens. If nothing else, clean your lens before the camera goes on.

It’s OK to look away.  When you do, look down, never up. A glance upward looks like you’re searching for what you want to say in the heavens. More so, it gives the impression you’re unprepared or you’re lying. Or worse, both.

Looking confident starts with standing/sitting up straight.

• To look confident while standing, your feet should be a bit less than shoulder-width apart. Stand flat on your feet, never on the balls of your feet. Your hands should be in front of you, never locked behind you.
• To look confident while seated, sit slightly forward. If you’re sitting at a table, you should be forward enough that your back doesn’t touch the chair. Sit up straight. Don’t swivel in the chair.
• For those who may know or remember the 1987 film Broadcast News, my favourite tip (courtesy of William Hurt) is sit on your coat or jacket so it brings down the fabric so it lies flat upon your shoulders.

Enunciation is making sure every word can be heard.  We must be able to understand what you say.  The key to enunciation is to put the final syllable or consonant on each word.

Speed is the next most important aspect.  To test yourself, ask a friend or colleague to listen to you but not look directly at you from a distance of 3-5 meters or 10-15 feet. If they can’t understand you without looking at you, you’re too fast.

Finally, a pause about pauses.  It’s preferable every now and then to stop talking, to breathe. Silence can be very powerful, and should primarily be used in a key spots when you want the audience to think about what you just said. That said, there’s nothing worse on-camera than too much silence. Pause for 1-2 beats and keep going.

Finally, how to manage your fear deserves its own post. Click to read .

In the meantime, anything else you’d suggest for on-camera presentation tips?