How To Look Like A Star In Your Next Video

Did you know more than a billion YouTube videos are watched every day? And 500 new videos are uploaded every hour. Video is so important and looking good on screen is too. Here are some simple tips to help you look your best on camera.

Follow The Rule of 3

Filming yourself can be scary, especially if you are new at it. Try to relax so the real you comes through on screen. If you do feel a bit anxious, try this “rule of 3” breathing exercise:

·     Stand with your feet slightly apart, head high, facial muscles relaxed

·     Breathe in through your nose for 3 counts, hold for 3 counts, release for 3 counts

·     Repeat this exercise 3 times.

Now you should feel relaxed and confident and ready to shine on screen.

You Are What You Wear

It’s important that what you wear matches both your personality as well as your message. Stay true to your style and personality, but edit your choices based on the message you are delivering. A fun, upbeat video warrants fun, upbeat clothing. A more serious or somber message calls for something more basic or classic.

There are a few important things to consider when choosing your wardrobe: pattern, color, fit and accessories. And here are a few general rules of thumb to keep in mind:

Avoid patterns – things like herringbone, pin stripes, black and white patterns or big flowers can cause a wavy rainbow pattern on video … it’s called the moiré effect on television. It’s ugly.

Choose color – although the majority of our closets are black, try to avoid it as it often reads too somber. And white can wash you out. Try for color – especially jewel tones. Blues exude confidence, reds convey power and energy, and yellows, greens and purples convey a fun attitude (just avoid green if you’re filming in front of a green screen). But the best option? Pink! Variations of pink can make any skin tone and color glow.

Find a good tailor – the camera won’t add 10 pounds if you wear properly tailored clothing.

Accessorize carefully – adding jewelry can be the cherry on top of your sundae but be mindful of distractions. Bracelets can jingle, diamonds and sparkles can reflect light in peculiar ways and necklaces can interfere with lavalier microphones. 

Shine on Screen

Now that you’ve got the perfect outfit, make sure you maximize your appearance on screen. Proper lighting, good sound and the right camera are all very important.

Lighting

When possible, face a natural light source so the light shines on your face, not behind you creating a silhouette (I’m sure you’ve all been in that situation where your face is black and there is a halo of light around you – not good!) If you don’t have access to natural light while filming, invest in an inexpensive ring light or mini tripod lights that illuminate your face. The goal in all cases is to illuminate YOU, but with soft light.

Sound 

Now, that you’ve spent so much time perfecting your appearance and message, it would be a shame if your audience couldn’t properly hear you. Do NOT rely on your built-in iPhone microphone. They can produce scratchy sound, may not capture your voice from far away and will grab other external sounds that will be distracting. Instead, purchase a really good audio kit (they are not expensive) from any number of places including Amazon, Best Buy or Apple. Make sure you attach the lavalier microphone to your collar or top of your shirt so it can pick up your voice directly and attach a wind screen if you are outdoors. Clear audio is essential.

Camera

iPhones can work in certain situations, but if you choose to upgrade, go for the Sony A7 with auto focus lens. It’s foolproof and the quality is excellent. And make sure to buy a tripod or stand so you can adjust the height easily and the image remains steady.

And don’t assume you’ll get the best take on your first attempt. Remember, if you don’t love it, don’t share it!

Benefits of Video

I hope this series helped explain the importance of video in your marketing strategy and walked you through the simple steps needed to develop, prepare and film a successful video message.

Videos are now ubiquitous, consumed in massive ways and are the medium of choice, especially for younger generations, to receive content. And the best part of videos? They’re scalable! You put the effort in once and can reap the benefits over and over as the video gets replayed across platforms. Think of a doctor who wants to share some health news or tips. He can only see a certain number of patients each day but can share his video message with millions in the same time frame. In terms of marketing, video is one of the best bangs for your buck.

Good luck and make sure you smile.

This is the 4^th and final part of a series on how to effectively use video to grow your business. In case, you missed them, here are the links to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of the series.