Being on camera can be nerve-racking for even the most seasoned professionals. At Cape Creative, we've had a full range of people in front of the camera, from professional public speakers to toddlers(!). Here are some tips to look and feel your best on camera.
We recommend you start thinking about your upcoming video production at least a week ahead of time. Make sure you scroll to the bottom to see some of our favorite examples!
Self-Care
Drink lots of water: Help your skin shine! Be more mindful of hydrating the week before filming.
Avoid alcohol: Don't drink alcohol the week before filming (or as many days before filming as possible-- even not drinking the day before is helpful). Alcohol dehydrates your body and especially your skin.
Sleep: Try to get the recommended 8 hours of sleep the day before filming.
Stay positive: Tell yourself you're going to rock this! Call a mentor or friend for a pep talk if you need that extra inspiration.
Wardrobe
Prepare your clothes: bring your outfit on a hanger (tossing it in a gym bag leads to wrinkles). Iron, dry clean, and/or steam it ahead of time. Feel free to bring a couple options if you're not sure exactly what to wear. You may even want to consider a virtual styling session or personalized shopping before filming.
Have your brand/video goals in mind when selecting your outfit: it is nice to include some of your brand colors, but if you don't want to wear them for a certain reason, stick to neutrals so your outfit (and footage) doesn't contradict your brand's color palette.
Jewel tones are best (pictured below).
Wear solid colors if possible. Do NOT wear fine patterns.
AVOID wearing off-white or very light colored clothing.
AVOID wearing solid black tops-- instead try more neutral colors such as chocolate, navy, burgundy, maroon, forest green.
Jewelry is welcomed-- avoid jingly earrings or necklaces that may be picked up on the mic.
If you tend to sweat a lot: Sometimes the lighting setup can generate significant heat, so if you are prone to sweating, keep that in mind when choosing your outfit. Some tops are more forgiving of showing sweat than others.
Wear clothes that you feel comfortable and beautiful in: Your outfit should fit you well (not too tight or too baggy). If you're going to wear a suit, consider getting it tailored beforehand so it fits you perfectly. If you are self conscious of certain areas of your body (very common), don't wear clothes that cling to or expose those parts of your body.
Hair & Make-Up
No matter your gender identity, we recommend the following:
Consider hiring a professional hair and makeup artist: this is for your filming session. They will apply the right type of make-up and help you nail the style you're going for (hint: shiny make-up tends to make your face too shiny under the lights). If you regularly wear make-up, feel free to just wear it as you normally would, but maybe have your kit nearby in case you need to make any small tweaks around shininess.
Apply face moisturizer and lip balm: Bring your lip balm with you to reapply right before you go on camera.
Bring a Basic Powder: have a basic powder on hand that matches your skin tone (yes, even if you don't usually wear make-up). It just helps get rid of glares on chins, noses, and foreheads. Don’t be afraid to wipe a little powder on if needed.
Groom Facial Hair: trim/wax your eyebrows, nose hairs, mustaches, beards, etc. Not sure what to do? See your barber or hair stylist.
Nails: consider getting your nails done, since they will likely appear on camera at some point through gestures, etc.
Audio Considerations: Speaking & Sound
Speak in full sentences and/or repeat the question in your answer: So if we ask you "What is your favorite color?" You may say "My favorite color is green"-- do not just say "green." We'll be listening for this as well, so don't worry if you forget. We'll remind you!
Quiet is good: We always try to film somewhere quiet where we can’t hear passing cars, barking dogs, children playing, etc.
Limit background noises: If possible, turn off any background noise like cell phones, TVs, radios/music, alarms, air-conditioning, washer/dryers, etc.
Microphone: Try not to touch your microphone while you're talking.
Speaking Volume: No need to shout. Just speak in your normal voice. If anything, slow down (we tend to speak too fast when we are nervous).
Making Mistakes
You will mess up: It's completely normal and expected! Even the most experienced movie stars and politicians mess up. Don’t worry about it. It is our job to make you look flawless when we edit the video. When you mess up: 1) Feel free to naturally recover just as you would if you were giving a live presentation, or 2) Pause, go back a couple sentences and re-try it-- we’ll edit out the mistake to the best of our ability.
Be patient: You will get more comfortable as you go. Don’t let a rough start shake you.
Be yourself: Anything you can do to make yourself feel natural and comfortable is great (smile, laugh, wear an outfit you like, sit/stand however is most comfortable to you, etc.). You have been picked to do this project because you are you :-)
Arrival
Arrive 15 minutes early: This will help you feel relaxed before you're on camera.
Bring water: (but make sure to keep it out of the frame when you're on camera).
*OPTIONAL* Bring green apples or apple juice: If you know you tend to make mouth noises, bring a box of apple juice or some green apples. The acidity helps clean and hydrate the mouth. This is only a temporary fix though-- your best bet is to hydrate well the week of your session.
Cape Creative Examples We Love
All the tips above are just that-- guidelines. Don't overthink it. Below are some examples of clients that we've had perfectly follow the guidelines, and some "breaking them" but intentionally. We think all of them look LOVELY.
Enjoy the Process!
Most importantly, have fun! We hope this helps you feel prepared and confident. We are here to help you, so ask us any questions you have. Remember that public speaking and being on camera are skills that can be practiced and learned.
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