How to speak in front of a camera and express yourself well? 8 tips
Key ideas to apply when speaking in front of a lens.
Speaking in front of a camera can be both a stressful and complex experience. In front of the lens, there are people who feel so much pressure that they seem to forget basic social skills to the point that they notice how nothing they do is spontaneous; they seem to have to take "manual" control over each and every movement of their body, without being able to reach everything.
In this article we will see several tips on how to speak in front of a cameraIn this article we will see several tips on how to speak in front of a camera, dealing both with the aspects related to nerves and those that have to do with communicating better.
How to speak in front of a camera?
Our ability to adapt to the demands of our environment does not depend only on what we have mastered in the past, nor on what we know in a theoretical, intellectual way. An example of this is that, for example, someone who is usually very confident and extroverted can become completely blocked on stage or in front of a camera.
In other words, our ability to reach our goals effectively depends on both ourselves and the context in which we find ourselves. Something as simple as having a person observe us can completely transform the way we act. Y The same is true in the world of audiovisual media, with recordings using a cameraWhether the content generated is for television, film or the Internet.
So, if you've never faced an experience based on speaking in front of a camera, chances are you're going to have some problems. Fortunately, these are easy to polish with a little practice and some patience. Below you'll see a series of guidelines on how to achieve this. Apply them over several sessions to get results.
1. Do vocalization exercises
In front of a camera it is very important to vocalize because the people who are going to see you will not be able to ask you to repeat things and, on the other hand, it is possible that nerves may contribute to your vocalization, on the other hand, it is possible that nerves may contribute to you not doing it very much, either because of control problems or because you may not be able to control your voice.either because of Muscle control problems or dry mouth.
To do this, stand in front of a mirror and train your vocalization, slightly exaggerating your mouth movements to get used to the increased mobility. After the first training sessions. Record yourself doing it, to get used to the new context.
2. Warm up your muscles
To speak in front of a camera you need to uninhibit yourself a little. To do this, do a warm-up based on relaxing all the muscles from the trunk up while you make small jumps and emit random sounds without vocalizing or saying specific words.
3. Make sure you are comfortable
When speaking in front of the camera, if possible, make sure that you are comfortable: that it is neither hot nor cold, that you are not blinded by sunlight or artificial light, and that you have a bottle of water at hand in case your mouth dries up. This will have a positive impact on the way you communicate and make yourself understood.This will have a positive impact on the way you communicate and make yourself understood, as you will not feel vulnerable for entirely avoidable reasons.
4. Remember the sequence of ideas you are going to communicate.
It is not always necessary to memorize a script verbatim. In these cases, pay attention to memorize only the basic ideas that will structure your speech. In this way, you will be less likely to get stuck because of doubts about which word to use, since everything will be more spontaneous and fluid. everything will be more spontaneous and fluid..
5. Make a basic script
Prepare a small note on a sheet of paper that lists the main points you want to make, so that with a simple glance of a few seconds you can a simple glance of a few seconds you can refresh your memory and move on. and move on. This script should be more like an outline than a series of developed paragraphs.
6. Don't get fixated on the target
Paying too much attention to the lens is counterproductive, because it distracts you from other, more basic tasks when speaking in front of a camera. Simply put, try not to look away from the area in the center of which is the part you should be looking at..
7. Imagine your audience
The degree of uncertainty that can be experienced when speaking to an inanimate object often makes us more likely to hesitate about what to do and how to proceed with our speech. To avoid this, imagine the people who are watching or will watch you. As a matter of common sense, you will do this in a realistic way, similar to what is likely to happen or will happen when the video is broadcasted. This way you will have constant feedback that will make it easier for you to know what tone to use, what rhythm to use in your words, etc.
8. Take prosody classes
This is a special recommendation for those people who are going to speak in front of a camera constantly. Whether it is for making YouTube videos or for any other multi-day projectIf you have been working for several weeks or months, it is good to familiarize yourself with this type of activity and adopt a speaking style that suits you and in which you can move easily.
(Updated at Apr 12 / 2024)