The 5 steps to overcome the shyness of vlogging
Aaaagggggh! I know what you’re probably thinking. I’m not good in front of the camera, so why should I make videos? I will look ridiculous and people will not take me seriously. I’m going to fumble for words and look like a complete idiot in front of everyone looking at me and this definitely won’t help me become the internet marketer that I want to be. So let’s keep writing posts and making videos with camtesia, at least my voice sounds good enough to be heard.
Well, you know what? You’re absolutely right, I thought the same thing and still do sometimes when I’m about to plan my next vlog. Some people feel completely comfortable looking into the camera and come across as true professionals when you see how calm they are and how perfect their video monologues are. Bastards! How do they manage to do it with such confidence and ease? you believe I want to be able to do it like that.
My guess is that while they look like professionals in their vlogs, you have to remember that they have months, if not years, of experience working online producing this type of content while you, being a newbie, grapple with the idea of wanting to show off your cup to the world because you don’t have the experience that these professionals have to begin with.
But you have to remember one thing, everyone started out like you. In fact, I’m pretty sure they all had problems like yours when it came to looking directly into the camera lens and delivering their speech. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them still feel a little awkward when they have to do it today. Sure you do, but that’s just part of nature.
But one thing I can guarantee you is that with practice comes experience.
Yes! Practice practice practice.
So, I would like to talk about the 5-step exercise you need to follow to overcome your vlogging clumsiness and shyness and smash your hesitation to pieces.
First step: you need to get a video camera. Nowadays it shouldn’t be a problem to buy a new one or to buy a second-hand one. If you can’t afford to spend too much and you’re short on money, then another alternative is to borrow one from your friends, like I did 😉 Hey, that’s what friends are for, right? If you can afford to spend a little money, I’ve heard that the flip camera is the best buy right now on the market. If you can afford to spend around $140 then this is a steal for that price.
Step Two: I suggest you practice speaking in front of the mirror for a few minutes a day. I know it sounds ridiculously silly, but I’m not expecting you to deliver a Shakespearean monologue here, just talk in the mirror about whatever comes to mind. Get comfortable with yourself, remember, you are not here to win the Oscar for best actor, although it does not hurt to try, your goal is to feel comfortable with yourself, to see yourself speak.
Third step: Set your camera in a place where no one else will disturb you. Turn off your mobile and turn off the phone. Another thing I suggest is to get a tripod to position the camera and preferably you’ll want to do it where there is a decent amount of light, either next to a window or right under some artificial light source so you get a good look. enough camera exposure. Sound is also crucial, so try to film yourself, preferably in a confined area, a room where there is no sound reverberation. If you can buy or borrow some lights and a microphone from a friend, even better, and if you really want to take things to the next level when it comes to vlogging, check out some free Gideon Shalwick videos.
Step Four: You’ve set the camera to the angle you want, the sound is good and the lighting is great, and now all you want to do is hit the record button and just talk to the camera. Yeah, just talk about whatever you want to talk about. Don’t prepare anything in advance, just improvise and go with the flow. the goal of this exercise is to simply let it go. You’ll feel very uncomfortable at first, which is good, that means it’s working, but don’t give up, keep talking to the camera and relax. Get comfortable and begin to feel what it is like to talk to the camera as if you were talking to a good friend of yours. Well done! When you feel you have made some progress, stop the camera.
Step Five: If you haven’t already, you’ll need to purchase a firewire cable that connects from your camcorder directly to your PC or MAC. Then download the images you’ve shot of yourself into your editing software that comes standard with your PC or MAC. (either Windows Movie Maker for PC or Imovie for MAC).
Now the fun is gone. Watch yourself from start to finish and have fun. Try not to judge yourself too much
Even though I know you will. You’ll probably cringe at some moments and laugh at others and that’s good. You want to get all those embarrassing moments of yourself out in the open and out of your system. And appreciate and admire yourself for who you are on screen. That’s who you are, so live with that.
Remember that you are not perfect, and no one else is, so don’t be a harsh critic.
The other thing I want to say is that we all tend to look at ourselves differently than the way others perceive us.
The way you see yourself is not how others will see you, so if you think you look horrible, stop right there! Someone else might think you’re cool, instead.
When I made my first video, I kept going over in my mind how I wanted to do it on camera and to make sure I got all the words in the right order, I even typed them out, printed them out on an A4 sheet of paper and pasted them just below camera so you can read them out loud without having to think about what to say next. And after I posted it on my blog and on YouTube, I looked at it and thought, damn, I could have done better, or I could have said that instead. But that is not the point!
You don’t want it to be perfect because then you’ll be agonizing over every detail and redoing it over and over until you run out of tape, battery or feel completely deflated.
The goal of the 5-step exercise is to do your best and not expect to be perfect. Leave perfection to Hollywood actors and focus on value, not perfection.
Remember that your audience is not going to judge your acting skills or talent. You’re not there to impress Simon Cowell of the X factor (or American idol if you’re in the US), this is not a contest. This is you, the real you doing what you do best in front of the camera. So BE YOURSELF.
Do some testing if it makes you happy and more comfortable to feel comfortable with yourself on camera, but don’t overdo it.
You don’t want to get burned. It’s similar to actors, when they’re on set, and they take after take after take, with each take they lose momentum and energy and the delivery of their lines soon becomes stale. So don’t make the same mistake. You want your delivery to be fresh, like hot cross buns fresh from the oven. It’s okay to learn a few sentences before you do your act, but don’t panic about it.
Remember, you can make mistakes on camera. And I advise you to do them too. Most people who watch your video will forgive you, in fact, they may even find it more amusing if you mess up than saying it straight up, word for word like a pro. Show your vulnerability, your human side and that is what you want to convey to your audience: THE REAL YOU.
Nothing fake, nothing artificial, nothing fancy.
Your real baby!
So put aside your insecurity, your fear, your hesitation and jump into vlogging. Trust me you won’t regret it.
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