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Hi Reader,

A few weeks ago, I asked LinkedIn how people get more comfortable on camera.

Because lately, I’ve been trying to film more content. And even though I’m comfortable speaking in front of people, filming myself is different.

Suddenly, I’m thinking about the lighting. My posture. My face. My hands. Whether I look weird sitting down. Whether I look weirder standing up. Whether my voice always sounds like that.

A very fun spiral. Do not recommend. Zero stars.

The responses were genuinely helpful. But the biggest takeaway was also the most annoying one:

You get more comfortable on camera by being uncomfortable on camera.

Rude, but fair.

Here’s what people suggested:

• Get the reps in. Not necessarily posting every video or becoming a daily content machine. Just get used to seeing yourself, hearing yourself, and let the first few takes be rough.
• Stop trying to make every video perfect. Nobody is watching your video with the same forensic attention you are. The pause, the blink, the slightly weird angle? Probably not the end of your personal brand.
• Talk to one person, not the void. A few people suggested imagining you’re talking to a friend, a client, or someone you’d grab coffee with.
• Find an easy-to-replicate setup. Maybe that’s a teleprompter or a Google Meet window with yourself. Or maybe filming while doing something else, so your body has somewhere to put the nervous energy.
• Focus on being helpful. This was the big one for me. When I’m thinking, Do I look weird? Are my hands weird? Is this angle flattering? I want to disappear into the nearest blanket. But when I think, Could this help someone? Would this make someone feel less alone? The whole thing feels less dramatic.

So, unfortunately, the path forward seems to be: film the thing, let it be awkward, post the version that’s good enough, and do it again.

And the first step is acceptance. It'll probably feel weird for a while, but do it anyway.

What helps you get out of your head when you’re filming content? Reply and share your wisdom. I’m still collecting notes.

’Til next time!

Big (virtual) hugs,

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Jasmine Williams Media is a company founded and primarily operating within the ancestral, traditional and unceded territories of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, also known as Toronto, Canada. This land is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.