How to Not Be Camera Shy

If you’re a camera-shy person, chances are whenever you get your picture taken or record a video of yourself, you become super self-conscious and aware of the people staring at you. You suddenly forget how to pose, smile, or even talk properly. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. 5-Minute Crafts has some helpful tips that will have you facing the camera with confidence in no time.

For pictures:

1. Ignore everyone around you.

Camera-shy people tend to become very self-conscious when people around them stare their way as they take pictures. The best way to confront this is by ignoring the world around you. Try to stop looking at people and focus on the shoot, then the nervousness will suddenly disappear. This will also help your pictures look more natural and comfortable.

If you do feel that surrounding people are staring at you and judging you, consider flipping the perspective. Assume that maybe they’re genuinely impacted by what you’re up to. In other words, put a positive spin on your insecurities.

2. Move before taking a picture.

Before capturing a stunning picture, turn the music on and begin to move. Try dancing, swinging your arms, twirling, running, and more. Don’t simply pose by standing. Doing these movements before taking a photo may result in amazing poses.

3. Learn your angles.

Sometimes, it’s the left side of your face that doesn’t make you look photogenic, or maybe your hair doesn’t cooperate well when taking pictures. Whatever the issue is, if you aren’t comfortable with the way a particular angle of your face looks, the discomfort is easily visible in the pictures. With this in mind, try experimenting with your angles in front of a mirror to gauge which one makes you look your best.

For videos:

1. Identify why you’re camera-shy.

To begin overcoming camera shyness, you need to understand what causes the anxiety in the first place. There are 2 main reasons behind it:

• You hate the way you look.
• You hate how you sound.

Your body subconsciously responds to stress in a way that renders us uncomfortable in front of the camera. You may even freeze up, and when you’re not used to recording yourself, you may sense a lot of awkwardness. This results in a voice modulation change that sounds really unnatural. That’s why it’s necessary to identify the issue so that you can correct it with time.

2. Give yourself compliments.

If you get too self-conscious in front of the camera, elevate your confidence by complimenting yourself. Tell yourself how beautiful your smile is or how good your hair looks every day. It may feel weird and tough at first, but once you get used to the positivity, you’ll feel the difference. You can also try grooming yourself to lift your confidence. A new hairdo or a little makeup can make a significant difference sometimes.

3. Make your phone camera your best friend.

The most efficient way to overcome camera shyness is to get in front of one, and your phone camera is the handiest tool you can find. The phone is yours, the video is yours, and no one else needs to look at it. In other words, you can experiment with recording yourself in your own way and get comfortable with seeing yourself in the video as well.

Also, make sure to look at the camera and not the screen when you record your video. When you do the latter, it gives your eyes a weird angle. When you look at the camera correctly, it will make the audience feel that you’re talking to them and not yourself.

4. Set the stage.

Keep recording yourself everywhere, no matter if you’re on the couch, on your bed, or on a walk. The more you get comfortable with your videos, the more you’ll understand what light works best for you and what surroundings make you feel better about the way you sound.

Light and sound both play a significant role when it comes to recording a good video. When these elements are lacking or unbalanced, they may make you feel camera shy all over again. Keeping this in mind, you can try speaking to a camera with the light facing you. Natural light is the best. It will make you feel more confident.

5. Begin by making Instagram stories for close friends.

Once you get the hang of recording yourself daily, try leveling up by sharing your videos with people you trust by using the Close Friends feature on Instagram. And don’t be afraid to make mistakes when recording yourself.

• You can talk about anything that excites you. This will help in curbing any nervousness.

6. Level up by making Instagram videos for everyone.

Once you’re super comfortable sharing your videos with those close to you, challenge yourself to record videos daily for all your followers. You can begin by introducing the topic for that day. Make sure to keep the video under 30 seconds. If you wish to include subtitles, use the text feature. And don’t forget to put a call-to-action statement at the end.

7. Try to manage your pace.

You may also want to notice the pace at which you speak. When you speak too fast, it’s an indicator that you’re nervous. So try to speak a bit slow, by 10%-15%, so that the audience can grasp what you’re saying. Not everyone is accustomed to fast-paced talking.

8. Practice, practice, practice!

The more you talk in front of the camera, the more quickly you’ll overcome camera shyness, and the more you’ll glow, confidently. Keep practicing every day and watch other people’s videos to learn from them too.