Before we get into tips, let’s name why you might be in front of a lens in the first place. It could be any of these—and they’re all valid:

• A short leadership update or all-hands message

• A recruitment or culture piece that shows real people, not stock smiles

• Onboarding or training content (safety, how-tos, “how we do things here”)

• A customer or community story (case study, impact, partnership)

• A product/service explainer in plain English

• Event highlights, a panel recap, or a webinar follow-up

• Change / transformation comms where clarity and empathy matter

• ESG/CSR or DE&I stories that need real voices and accessibility

In other words: this isn’t about turning you into a performer. It’s about helping people understand something important—clearly, quickly, and humanly.

We’re also the last people to see and hear ourselves the way everyone else does. Mirrors flip your face; cameras don’t. You’ve spent a lifetime seeing yourself reversed, so “camera you” can feel unfamiliar. Same with your voice: you usually hear it through your head (bone conduction), which makes it feel warmer and lower. A recording played through speakers sounds new to you—not to everyone else. They hear you like that all the time.

Good news: you’re not the problem. The setup and the process are.

Before the camera: what we can do to make people feel safe

The aim isn’t to create “performers”; it’s to create conditions where people can be human.

Share a short pre-brief (1 page):

• Purpose: why we’re filming and who it’s for

• Outcome: what we want people to think/feel/do after watching

• Format: interview, to-camera, or conversation

• Time & place: when, where, who will be in the room

• Psych safety: it’s okay to pause, restart, or skip a question

Pick the right format for the person:

• Interview-led for natural storytellers

• Prompt-led to-camera for concise leaders

• Two-person chat for those who relax in conversation

Nominate a buddy: A friendly face off-camera lowers nerves faster than any fancy lens.

On the day: fix the three big frictions (space, sound, eyeline)

1. Space: Quiet room, chairs at the same height, feet grounded, back supported. Clear visual clutter. Water within reach.

2. Sound: A well-placed lapel or boom mic instantly makes people “sound like TV”. Confidence in a cable.

3. Eyeline: Looking at a human (an interviewer) beats staring into a lens for most people. If lens-direct is needed, use a prompter for bullets, not a full script.

A 10-minute warm-up people actually use

• 01–02 min | Breath & pace: Inhale 4, exhale 6 (twice). Say a sentence at half-speed.

• 02–04 min | Face & voice: Big vowel shapes (A-E-I-O-U), then count 1–10, gradually louder, staying relaxed.

• 04–06 min | Message map: One idea → one example → one “so what?” line.

• 06–08 min | Soundbite sharpen: Say the one line you’d love quoted. Use everyday words.

• 08–10 min | First take is a throwaway: We bin it on purpose. Pressure drops; performance rises.

Scripts vs bullet points: choose connection over perfection

• Autocue (full script): Great for regulated lines, risky for warmth.

• Bullets on prompter: Best balance—structure with space to be human.

• Interviewer method: You answer the question; we harvest the soundbite.

Rule of one: one idea per answer, one example, one sentence that lands the meaning.

Rapid fixes for nerves (anyone in the room can cue these)

• The reset line: “Let me try that again.” (Always allowed.)

• The pause: Two beats before the key sentence. Clarity rises, not awkwardness.

• The smile-exhale: Silent smile + exhale before speaking. Loosens jaw and voice.

• The mug trick: Hold a mug between takes. Hands relax; shoulders drop.

• The “one person” prompt: Speak to a specific colleague who needs this message.

What not to sweat (and what to prioritise)

• Don’t chase a perfect first take. We’re building a great final cut.

• Don’t over-polish phrasing. Meaning and message beat fancy words.

• Do invest in sound (mic technique) and structure (message map). Those two make average speakers sound expert.

Playback that builds confidence (not panic)

Skip the “let’s watch everything” ambush. Instead:

1. Share one short clip where they were clear and natural.

2. Name exactly what worked: pace, warmth, example.

3. Offer one tweak for the next line (not five).

4. Record again while the win is fresh.

A simple camera-day checklist for your team

• Pre-brief sent and read

• Format matched to the person (interview / bullets / chat)

• Quiet room, comfy chair, water, tissues; remove ticking clocks from eyeline

• Mic check with quick playback (“Yes, you sound great”)

• Warm-up done (breath, voice, message map)

• Psychological safety set: restarts allowed; skip list agreed

• First take binned on purpose

• One-clip playback → one tweak → go again

• Capture a short gratitude line at the end (often the most human moment)

If you remember one thing…

Most people aren’t “bad on camera”; they’re new to a process. Give them safety, structure, and small, quick wins—and you’ll get confident, authentic spokespeople who sound like themselves (the version the rest of us already see and hear).

If you’d like our one-page on-camera brief and warm-up card you can hand to any manager, drop me a note.