Are you the kind who cringes at the thought of having to record themselves? Do you feel awkward and uncomfortable when you're on camera? Don't worry, you're not alone. Many people feel this way when they first start recording themselves. Indeed, it can be tough to get over that initial hurdle.
In this day and age, recording yourself is becoming an increasingly essential skill. With the ever-growing popularity of social media and video content, more and more people are having to record themselves for one reason or another. Whether for a work presentation or simply posting a video on Instagram, chances are you'll need to record yourself at some point.
Moreover, these days we communicate more via video calls than ever before. Zoom calls and FaceTime have become the new norm for many of us. Whether you're catching up with friends or attending an online class, recording yourself is now a part of everyday life.
So how can you get over your fear of recording yourself? This article will look at the top five essential tips for getting comfortable recording yourself.
How to get comfortable recording yourself
Here's 5 quick tips on how to put yourself at ease when recording audio or video content:
1) Don't be too hard on yourself, accept your faults and the fact that it will take time to get better.
2) Put yourself in your audience's shoes - no-one wants to see someone struggle, they are rooting for you to succeed!
3) Plan your speech, if you know what you want to say it will be easier to avoid stumbling and starting over.
4) Gather feedback and see what other people think, you're probably better at speaking than you realized!
5) Practice! Practice! Practice! Things get easier with time and as your muscle memory gets used to performing the task. Keep going!
1. Don't Be Hard on Yourself
That is to say - lower your expectations. When you're first starting out, it's essential not to be too hard on yourself. Accept that you might make a few mistakes, and that's okay. Give yourself some grace, and know it takes time to get comfortable in front of the camera.
Think about it this way - would you rather watch a video of someone perfect and polished, or someone real and relatable? More often than not, people would rather see the latter. So don't sweat it if you stumble over your words or your cat jumps on your table. Instead, focus on authentically using that situation to make your video more engaging. It'll make you more human, and people will be more likely to connect with you.
Of course, this doesn't mean you should never strive for excellence. If you're recording a video for work or an important presentation, then, by all means, aim to be as professional as possible. But in most cases, it's better not to put so much pressure on yourself.
Take a deep breath and remember it's not the end of the world if you make a few mistakes. Lowering your expectations from yourself will help take the pressure off and allow you to be more comfortable in front of the camera.
2. Put Yourself In Your Audience's Shoes
This tip is all about how you perceive yourself. More often than not, we're our own worst critics. We tend to be very critical of ourselves and how we come across to others. This can make it challenging to feel comfortable when recording ourselves.
One way to combat this is by listening to yourself from your audience's perspective. In other words, try to see yourself the way your audience does. Chances are they don't think you're as awkward or uncomfortable as you do. They are more likely to see you as a confident and competent individual, so tap into that perspective when recording yourself. It'll help you feel more comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera.
Moreover, it's important to remember that your audience is there to listen to you, not judge you. They want to hear what you have to say. So don't worry about how you look or sound. Just focus on delivering your message in the best way possible.
If you can put yourself in your audience's shoes and remember that they're on your side, it'll be much easier to get comfortable recording yourself.
3. Plan Out Your Speech
This tip is pretty self-explanatory. If you know what you're going to say, it'll be much easier. Take some time to plan out your speech before clicking the "Record" button. This doesn't mean you have to write a script, although it might be helpful if you do. But it does mean having a general idea of what you want to say and how you want to say it.
Some content creators find it helpful to create an outline of their speech. This can be a simple list of the main points you want to hit. Others prefer to write out a more detailed script. It depends on your personal preferences.
What's important is that you take the time to plan out what you want to say. This will help you feel more comfortable and confident when recording yourself.
Moreover, it's also a good idea to practice your speech before hitting the "Record" button. This will help you get a feel for how long your video should be and how fast or slow you should talk. It'll also help you iron out any glitches in your speech. Take the time to practice your speech beforehand, and it'll make a world of difference when it comes to feeling comfortable on camera.
4. Gather Feedback and Constructive Criticism
This tip is about how to use feedback to improve your videos. After you've recorded a few videos, getting feedback from others is essential. This can be friends, family, or even strangers.
Watch your videos back and take note of what you like and don't like. Then reach out to other people and ask for their opinions. Encourage them to provide constructive criticism you can use to improve your videos.
It's important to remember that feedback is essential for growth. If you're unwilling to take feedback and improve, you're less likely to get better at recording yourself. So be open to criticism and use it to your advantage.
5. Practice, Practice, and Practice!
By the way, did we mention you need to practice? That's because it's one of the most important tips for getting comfortable recording yourself. The more you practice, the better you'll get. And the better you get, the more comfortable you'll feel.
So don't be afraid to hit "Record" and start practicing. The more videos you make, the easier it'll be to get comfortable in front of the camera.
Bonus Pro Tip: Make Your Audio Sound Better
More often than not, we cringe - and lose confidence - when we watch and hear ourselves back in video. In such cases, perfecting your audio can be a lifesaver. If you're having trouble with your audio, Podcastle is your best bet to make it sound excellent with minimal effort. It's an AI-powered platform you can use to create, record, and edit audio and video material like a breeze.
Conclusion
These were the top five tips on how to get comfortable recording yourself. We hope they will help you overcome your fear of being on camera and allow you to improve and create great videos with ease.
Be sure to discover more of what Podcastle has to offer for content creators, be it audio or video, professional or casual. We can't wait to see what you create next!
