How to Stop Feeling Awkward on Camera (and Instantly Look More Confident)
Talking directly to the camera can feel harder than it looks. Maybe the words don’t come out the way you rehearsed. Maybe you freeze as soon as the red light blinks on. Or maybe you record something, watch it back, and cringe at how awkward it feels.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. The reason it feels so difficult often comes down to two things: lack of practice and nervous system dysregulation. In plain terms: you haven’t practiced enough yet, and your body doesn’t feel safe being seen.
The good news? Both of these challenges can be overcome.
Why Talking to the Camera Feels So Hard
Of course you feel nervous. Publishing a video means putting yourself in front of an audience that could grow into thousands of people. You want it to be good. And paradoxically, you may also feel nervous that no one will watch, which adds to the pressure.
Your body responds to both fears the same way: tightening up, shutting down, making it harder to stay present. That’s why even when your mind says, “I want to grow my brand,” your body may quietly resist, whispering I don’t want to be seen.
5 Strategies to Build Confidence on Camera
1. Process Your Ideas Ahead of Time
Don’t wing it. Write a blog post, Substack entry, or even an Instagram caption about your topic first.
When you’ve already organized your thoughts in writing, it’s much easier to talk about them naturally on camera.
Bonus: you’re creating content in multiple formats, which is great for SEO.
2. Relieve the Pressure
Recording doesn’t mean publishing.
Give yourself permission to hit record, practice, and delete.
Knowing you don’t have to share what you film reduces perfectionism and frees you to experiment.
3. Tell Your Body It’s Safe
Before filming, take a deep breath and say out loud, I am safe.
It might sound simple, but naming safety to your nervous system makes a real difference.
4. Get the Wiggles Out
That first minute of recording? Consider it scrap material.
Use it to shake out your nerves — literally. Talk nonsense, stretch, or ramble until your body relaxes.
Then, once you’ve loosened up, begin your real take.
5. Record Long, Edit Later
Stop-start-stop-start recording can feel jarring and intensify self-criticism.
Instead, hit record and let it run for 10 minutes. Somewhere in there will be golden material.
It’s easier to edit down than to fight your nerves each time you restart.
The Bigger Picture: Safety Over Perfection
Confidence on camera isn’t about saying the perfect words. It’s about letting your body feel safe enough to express what you truly want to say. When you know your ideas, when you relieve the pressure, and when you treat each video as practice, you’ll naturally start to come across as more authentic and engaging.
Want More Support?
I’ve built an audience of over 250,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, and I know how challenging it is to get your work seen. It’s so much easier when you’re not doing it alone.
That’s why I created Personal Brand Accelerator (PBA)—a community with resources, coaching, and encouragement to help you grow your brand and post with confidence online. You can start with a free trial today.
