As TikTok’s popularity continues to rise and Instagram keeps pushing Reels, it's becoming increasingly important for brands to be willing to show their face on camera in videos. Whether you’re a small business owner or a nonprofit marketing manager, showing up on camera can be a great way to connect with your audience.

But…it’s hard! It can be uncomfortable and awkward to film yourself and put it on the internet. If you’re looking to get more comfortable on camera so you can film TikToks and Reels, these tips are for you.

Getting Started

1) Follow people that inspire you.

I know this sounds cheesy, but if there’s something specific that you’re self conscious about, know that there are others like you who are creating and sharing content despite their insecurities. Find and follow them! Seeing people just like you putting themselves out there may give you the courage to do the same.

2) Only film when you’re feeling good.

Don’t force it. If I’m having a good hair day, you’d better believe that I’m filming seven TikToks! If I’m grumpy and haven’t showered in three days, I’m probably not filming any. With time, I’ve learned that how my hair looks doesn’t really matter. People are watching my videos because they care what I have to say, not because my hair looks good. At this point, I’m still more inclined to film if my hair looks good, but if I have something to say and my hair looks meh, I’ll probably record anyways!

3) Set aside time for filming.

This may seem a bit contradictory to the previous point, but it’s important to carve out time for filming. Ideally, you can get it to sync up with when you’re feeling good! If you’re a morning person, film in the morning. If you’re a night owl, film in the evening. Just make sure you’re planning time for it so you’re not in a rush to squeeze it in among other tasks and responsibilities. Rushing may make you seem stressed on camera, and no one wants that!

I usually set reminders in my phone for when to film specific TikTok ideas. Personally, I plan around when my husband is and isn’t home! I feel a little embarrassed filming when he’s right there, so I film when he’s at work or out volunteering.

Logistical Things

4) Be smiling already when you hit record.

This may seem unnatural, but trust me, it’s helpful! If you have on a ‘normal’ face, hit record, then start talking, it often appears that you have the dreaded ‘resting bitch face.’ Start smiling naturally, then hit record, then speak. You’ll appear friendlier that way!

5) Look at the camera

This one seems obvious, but it can feel odd or forced at first! You want to connect with your audience, so staring off into the distance or at the ground won’t work. It’s okay to look off to the side for a moment if you’re thinking, but for the most part, you should look right at the camera. If that feels too weird, try looking just above it–that’s usually not noticeable to the viewer.

6) Have an interesting but non-distracting background

You want your background to be appealing but not so visually cluttered that it distracts your viewer. I have a few places I like to record. I often record at my desk, where there’s art and knick knacks in the background. Sometimes I’ll film downstairs, on the floor, either in front of a spider plant (people often comment on the happy green plant!) or in front of our credenza that my husband made (it has a beautiful paint job but isn’t distracting).

7) Film in good lighting.

Even, front-facing lighting is ideal–like sitting in front of a window. Overhead lighting isn’t great, but sometimes you need to work with what you’ve got! If you like to film outside, just make sure it’s not so bright that you’ll get washed out.

8) Wear something you feel good in.

Sure, you want to look good on camera, but if you force yourself to wear a fancy outfit you’re not comfortable in. Your discomfort will show on camera. Wear what makes you feel most like yourself!

9) Consider angles.

Having the camera at or slightly above eye-level is best. Holding your phone low and shooting up at your face is a likely way to get a less-than-flattering angle. I don’t use a tripod or anything fancy; I typically set my phone against my laptop screen and sit in my desk chair. When I film downstairs, I set my phone on a dining room chair and sit on the floor. Try a few things to see what works for you! A simple setup that doesn’t take a lot of time to put together will make it easier to film when inspiration strikes.

10) Act natural.

Just because you’re on camera doesn’t mean you need to act like someone else! If you use a lot of hand gestures when you talk, that’s fine. If you make funny faces, that’s fine too! Just do whatever you’d normally do. Try to avoid crossing your arms though, as it makes you appear closed off and unapproachable.

Final Reminders

11) Give yourself permission to be yourself.

While there might be content creators whose videos you love (hello, Ghost Honey), you are not them. There’s no need to imitate them. It’s not sustainable or fun to pretend to be someone else! Just be you–I promise there’s someone out there who will want to watch your videos.

12) It’s okay to do a few takes if necessary.

To clarify, I don’t mean 14 takes, I mean two or three. Sometimes when you start filming, you need to talk a little to figure out where you’re going. Call it a test run. You don’t need to post the rambling original version; just film another take or two so you can hone your messaging.

Knowing what you want to say is essential to filming a good video. Don’t just make a video for the sake of making a video. Sometimes it helps to write some notes and keep them next to you while filming. I’ll often prop up a post-it note next to my camera with a few bullet points so I can make sure I don’t miss something important. You’ll get more eloquent and concise with practice!

13) Keep water nearby.

Make sure you have a glass of water handy on days when you opt to batch-record videos. If you’re recording multiple three-minute videos in a row, you may get parched in between!

14) Practice, practice, practice.

Yes, it may feel weird at first. You may feel self conscious and awkward. But it gets easier with practice. Feedback helps, too! Once you start uploading videos and getting a reaction from real humans, you’ll see that there’s value in what you’re sharing and that people are enjoying your content. It creates a cycle of positive reinforcement that encourages you to keep going!

15) Let go of perfection.

Sure, you might make a little mistake in your video. If it’s your fourth take and everything else is good, just post it! Mistakes are okay. Being imperfect is 1,000% normal. Videos that are too perfect aren’t relatable anyways! And remember, your earliest videos may not be your best, and that’s okay too. It’s all part of the learning and growing process.

For more social media insights, check out my unboring email newsletter.

Subscribe to SkyMail

Blog