Getting happy to Film Yourself 

Let’s look at:

• Getting ready + organised
• Your on-screen energy 
• Be prepared 
• Limit distractions
• Forget about being perfect
• Practice makes perfect… 

You need:

• A camera/ phone or both
• A light source: window/ outside /in the car/ lights from 2 directions either side of the face or whatever you’ve got and edit after!
• Light is your friend- wander round till it looks good! Or set up lights in front and to the side of you. You can use bedside lamps/ floor lights or filming lights.
• Prop the phone/ hold the phone/ buy a stand or gimbal (a phone holder that moves with you)
• Microphone if speaking 

I have a separate kit list. Let me know if you need it.

Top Tips

• You can train your i- phone to take a photo/ video on when you command it!
• You can buy a gimble with a remote
• OR you can walk to the camera and away and use it as B roll!
• Either save your phone memory and ONLY record the clips you need BUT be sure it is on when you think it is (yes many a time!)
• OR record the whole session: use the not “on” parts as “B-roll” ie footage that is your every day life.

Get Organised

• Have a list of what you are filming
• Some rough script if its spoke
• Immediately list what you have filmed next to your prep list
• This might be: date/ time/ camera/ phone name (if you have more than one) or the file name from a camera
• Add the footage to albums

Want a fancy edit or a simple reel?

Nowadays there is SO much incredible footage out there. So decide how big a place in your work is the whole filming malarky? If you are setting up as a YouTuber - you got work to do WAY beyond anything will ever be able to tell you!

But if, like me, you want it to help spread the word about your work, you can keep it pretty humble and simple and simply show who you are. 

Filming asana/ fancier edits

A good option is to film from 2 sides- you can make more interesting edits and have something if one source fails! This is great for a more in depth video like YouTube but tbh for a reel or a simple talk to camera I do not bother. 

With asana it is helpful to have a side view usually, but if you are teaching a class recording from head on and side is great to edit together. 

Editing Apps

• Instagram - basic cut/move clips/undo
• Capcut - loads of those memes come from here and lots of templates and editing features/ lovely fonts etc.
• Inshot - less fancy than Capcut, but I find it easier to use. The paid for version means you don’t have the watermark. Otherwise it looks rubbish! Costs $39.99 for life. 
• There are a lot of others including some AI apps for weird effects! Like this crazy weird one I for some reason decided to share!!! I thought it could be a good- unsquash yourself kind of theme for yoga or massage! 

Getting Used to seeing yourself

Here is my 6 second spoof of self- filming (heheh). But yes, be warned those chin shots are cruel! But yes underneath all that is the story of how I went from chronically unhappy in front of a camera to thinking it's fun! 

When it comes to filming yourself and getting comfortable on camera, you need to approach it yogically with a deep vat of love or acceptance! Try to see yourself through the eyes of someone who really needs what you have to say. Imagine yourself 5 years ago, whatever you struggled with. And what it would have meant to hear what you have to say now.

We can fall into the trap of thinking being on camera is easy, only to want to give up once we realize its not!  But it just takes practice.

I HATED being on camera or photos since I was a kid and finding the confidence to show up and share stuff that sometimes feels cringey AND then keep it up there for all to see is so liberating. Who cares if it's sometimes  a bit corny? It’s for your followers not for your friends.

Top Tip

Unfollow/ block all friends and family from your professional account if it makes you feel awkward. If they want to see you they can come visit or you can open another a/c!

Here’s how.

The truth is that being comfortable filming yourself can take a long time to achieve. When you first hit record, more often than not, it’s a bit of a car crash. There are stutters, countless retakes, moments of self-doubt, hair adjustments and plenty of quitting. But it doesn’t have to be so bad. 

And remember people love the mistakes! Do not delete them!!!

Here are some golden rules, to turn this daunting challenge into something that’s actually enjoyable! With a little practice, you can own your camera with confidence and comfort. 

Set a date and stick to it!

No matter what, you woke up and felt exhausted. Imagine you are a star and you got to do it! Just a practice run, tell yourself. Otherwise you will put it off everytime. 

Get a friend who wants to play

Not only are collabs fantastic to grow your following. They are also the BUSINESS when it comes to having a laugh!

Which camera to use

The better i-phone camera is the back one- but the best is to actually end up on the screen. So I usually use the front one! Give it a little wipe to check its not too smudgy!

Get your energy going!

We each have our own signature style of presenting- more mellow and go with the flow or more dynamic or super energetic. But whatever your approach- you need to be fully present. 

Your “on-screen energy” is how you present yourself on camera. Are you fun to watch? Do you dominate the frame and demand the attention of your audience? If you think about all of your favorite YouTubers, you’ll realize that they all tick this important box. They all bring their A-game when they’re on camera. They’re fun to watch, right?

Before you hit record, make sure you’re warmed up and ready for action. The biggest difference is when we smile! This energy rubs off on the viewers and makes the video a more enjoyable experience to watch.

Some tips that can help facilitate this:

• Put on the camera and then “forget” its on; have a bit of a laugh and a jump about a bit. 
• Run past it a few times. Run up to it a few times and halt suddenly and shout “stop”, spin around and say “not so fast”. You have just prepared some GOLDEN content when you want to convey a stop message!
• Do some fuzzy lips warm ups, swing your arms, and you’re good to go.

Be prepared

There’s that age-old saying “failure to prepare is preparing to fail” and it rings so true when it comes to turning the camera on yourself. While some of you may genuinely be quite good at talking off the cuff, more often than not it’s better to have a bit of a plan before you start filming.

So many mistakes, stumbles and stutters come from not knowing what we’re saying next. If you prepare a script and know your main talking points, it can help to settle the nerves and guide you through the recording. In some ways, it’s a little like being a keynote speaker, right? You have to get up there on stage in front of all those people and talk. Make sure you’ve got some slides and pointers to keep you on track!

Talking Content

Talk to the camera lens. NOT yourself on the screen because you need to look at the viewer! Although you can correct this in some apps if you seem to be looking to the side. Try to speak relatively swiftly but clearly and with an interesting or super calming voice! Whatever suits the content.

Option 1. 

A rough script and then speak a few words or a sentence at a time. Or longer and edit when you get lost. People’s attention span is SHORT so tiny clips work really well. 

Option 2. 

For a longer talk or complex script use a teleprompter app. Where you read at the same time as you talk, just use key points or it sounds robotic and hard to get the timing right. 

Option 3. Teaching Class

Just teach snippets of class as you usually would. This might be the most familiar way to start. Remember to make it really snappy so someone can follow along in their own time. SO describe the action. Then move on. Start right away in the pose, no pre-amble.

Option 4. Voiceovers

Can’t do it? A great option if you feel like you are getting in a muddle is to have some footage e.g. a sequence and then do a voiceover. You can do this on an editing app or in insta. 

Visual Hooks

If you feel awkward just standing there for talking content the good news is that visual hooks aka distractions are in! These are anything you do to change position/ direction/ hold something in your hands. Yes that is why everyone on insta is putting on lipstick/ doing their makeup!

I reckon rolling up the mat could be a good one - while pausing to look at the camera.

Be yourself!

If you want to get comfortable filming yourself, it’s best to cut out the crap and not try to force anything. Just be your true, authentic self. People’s BS detectors are finely tuned and if you’re trying to be somebody or something you’re not—it will quickly show. You will also make your job twice as hard because you’re acting and putting on a show the whole time.

You’ll find that it’s much easier to record when you’re just being your natural self. You’ll feel more comfortable in your skin, and viewers will enjoy watching it too. Remember, at the end of day people are going to return to watch more of your YouTube videos because of who you are as a person. It’s all about personality and authenticity. 

Limit your distractions

Put your phone in flight-mode., nothing worse than nearly getting it done and then the phone goes off! 

Additionally, think about the location where you choose to film. When just getting used to filming yourself, hitting record in a busy public place such as a train station or shopping mall may not be the wisest move. Although later these can be fantastic places for content and to collaborate!  

Forget about being perfect

The irony is that our favorite YouTubers are never perfect either. This is precisely why we adore them so much. Making mistakes and messing up on camera is bound to happen. It shows that you’re raw, relatable, and real—you’re viewers are more likely to connect with you when they see themselves in you.

So stop worrying about being perfect. It’s not going to happen! And nobody cares. Just be your real, authentic word-stumbling self.

Practice makes better

It really does. The best piece of advice we can offer when it comes to delivering a great video content is practice. The more you do it, the more familiar the process will be. The only reason your favorite YouTuber is so good at talking to camera is because they’ve been doing it consistently for years already. 

It’s going to feel weird at first and you’re bound to make mistakes, but that’s okay. The sooner you pick up the camera and hit record, the sooner you can move past all that and really start to own the frame.