Professional Blogging

Are you shy in front of a video camera? Don’t worry, most people are. Even the biggest hams can turn into quiet introverts when the camera is on them. But there are ways to overcome being camera shy.

When my Creative Vado HD pocket camera arrived I thought it would be easy enough to just pull the thing out of my pocket and record anytime. Man was I wrong.

I didn’t consider being surrounded by other people in public or external noises like helicopters (what was that guy doing anyway). But these are things you’ll have to learn to live with if you plan to shoot video outside of your home studio.

But don’t worry. Here are a few things I’ve learned that will help you get comfortable in front of the camera:

• Just accept that there will always be people around. Some will stare and some may even ask questions. Let them stare and learn to turn questions into website traffic.
• Remember that the more you practice, the easier being in front of the camera will be. It will take a little time, but eventually it’ll be like brushing your teeth. If you want to get over camera shyness quickly, then record something (anything) everyday.
• Stop trying to be perfect. Don’t be boring and try to be organized about what you want to say, but make imperfection a goal. It’ll take a lot of pressure off of you and you’ll enjoy the process more. People will also connect with you better if they see you are real.
• Keep the camera rolling. If you mess up, then pause briefly and then start over where you left off. Video editing can work miracles afterwards and the viewer doesn’t know about all the parts you cut out, so don’t waste time trying to shoot the whole video in one go.
• Find someplace off the main path to record. If you’re having trouble overcoming camera shyness in public, try recording video outside, but off the main path. This’ll help you ease into recording in an unfamiliar setting but without the public onlookers.
• Look for good background scenery. It’s very positive to have interesting scenery in the background. There’s something creative about the process of finding a good backdrop and it helps take the pressure off of you as the focal point.

These are just some of the things I’ve learned so far while trying to learn how to shoot video for the Open Source Marketer blog.

What tips do you have to share? What makes it easier for you to record video in public? Leave a comment and tell me how you do it.

Charles McKeever
OpenSourceMarketer.com