From Camera Shy to Broadcasting Boss: Mastering On-Camera Presentations | Zed Tarar | Skillshare

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From Camera Shy to Broadcasting Boss: Mastering On-Camera Presentations

teacher avatar Zed Tarar, American diplomat, MBA

Watch this class and thousands more

Get unlimited access to every class
Taught by industry leaders & working professionals
Topics include illustration, design, photography, and more

Watch this class and thousands more

Get unlimited access to every class
Taught by industry leaders & working professionals
Topics include illustration, design, photography, and more

Lessons in This Class

    • 1.

      Introduction

      1:08

    • 2.

      Your Project

      1:57

    • 3.

      Repackaging Information for Video

      7:03

    • 4.

      Looking Confident on Camera

      7:02

    • 5.

      Mastering the Soundbite

      3:59

    • 6.

      Understanding Lighting and Camera Angles

      3:09

    • 7.

      Difficult Messages

      3:30

    • 8.

      Teleprompters

      3:32

    • 9.

      Tips for Video Calls

      4:04

    • 10.

      Outfits and Makeup

      3:57

    • 11.

      Conclusion

      1:46

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About This Class

Rewritten Description:

Class Overview: Master the art of on-camera presentations, whether you're aiming for a CNBC interview, leading a Zoom meeting, or creating compelling social media content. Drawing from my extensive experience as a U.S. diplomat and trainer for senior executives, this course is designed to elevate your video communication skills, regardless of your current proficiency.

What You Will Learn:

  • Packaging information effectively for video presentations.
  • Techniques to exude confidence on camera.
  • The art of crafting impactful soundbites.
  • Insights into camera angles, lighting, and attire selection.
  • Strategies to navigate challenging on-camera situations.
  • Maximizing the benefits of video calls.
  • Dressing to impress and convey your message on camera.

Why You Should Take This Class: In today's digital age, with the rise of remote and hybrid work models, your on-camera presence is invaluable. Overcome apprehension and articulate your message with clarity and confidence. Drawing from my experiences representing the White House in various video formats, I'll share insights from countless live TV interviews and video recordings.

Who This Class is For: Ideal for professionals aiming to enhance their video communication skills, from corporate presentations to media interviews and engaging social media content. A basic understanding of video recording using smartphones is recommended.

Materials/Resources: Equip yourself with a smartphone, a tripod or selfie stick, and, optionally, a microphone for enhanced audio quality.

Meet Your Teacher

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Zed Tarar

American diplomat, MBA

Teacher
Level: Intermediate

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Transcripts

1. Introduction: If you're someone who needs to speak on camera for work or school, or even a personal project. This course is for you with video permeating seemingly every corner of our lives, from job interviews to branded content. Even high stakes meetings with diverse stakeholders. Most of us can benefit from looking our best on camera. I'm Z Arar, I'm an executive at a Text Start Up. And before that, I spent over a dozen years as an American diplomat. I've gone on live TV over 300 separate times in the last three years, facing some tough journalists on US foreign policy. I created this course because I could have used it myself when I was starting out and because so many of my friends and colleagues have asked me for advice over the years. In this course, you'll complete a class project in which you'll create your own straight to camera video. And you'll have a chance to get feedback. So whether you're a seasoned communicator looking for a few tips or a beginner building confidence, We'll take things step by step, so you'll be a pro on camera in no time. 2. Your Project: Your project for this course is to create a short tutorial or explainer video on a topic of your choice. I'd suggest picking a topic you're familiar with, maybe a hobby or an area you're especially knowledgeable in. Maybe you're a great golfer and have some tips to pass on. Or you're an expert at Tetris with some unique insights. Or maybe you've got a secret Brownie recipe to share why a tutorial, Speaking of the camera, is easier when you're familiar with the topic and when you're excited about the material. As a bonus, you might help some folks trying to improve skill that you might have and maybe they're envious of, or at least you end up sharing a great recipe with friends. Now you'll use fundamental techniques of on camera media work. Confidence, eye contact, clear communication, and understanding camera angles. I chose this project because it is approachable, yet will still help students put into practice the core elements of delivering messages on camera. All you'll need is a phone with a video camera. Obviously, if you can simple tripod and maybe a microphone as well. Remember there's a PDF with a cheat sheet and summary of the project task. Linked below, you'll also find a quick guide on uploading the final project, the final video to the project gallery. You can take the first step right now. Pick a topic for your video tutorial. Don't overthink this. The important thing is that it's a subject you find interesting. Start sketching out your short video using the cheat sheet linked to this lesson. 3. Repackaging Information for Video: This seems obvious, but communicating an idea through video has its own set of advantages and drawbacks. Just like a charcoal drawing isn't an oil painting and a picture isn't a photograph. Conveying an idea through video is inherently different from written communication or even even audio. And it can be a powerful tool. Heck, so much of our communication these days is done through video. Whether that's Tiktok, or video conference calls or Youtube. Every year it seems more content features people speaking directly into a camera and it makes sense. We're all human and we prefer face to face in person interaction over other forms. In most cases, anyway, when we can't be right next to each other, video offers an imperfect but powerful substitute. And yet, for a lot of folks, staring into a camera can be intimidating. Communicating effectively through video takes time and planning. Even if the final result might seem effortless and natural, think about it. We all have basic schooling that emphasizes math, language writing. But how many of us have had instruction on how to get an idea across through a camera? No wonder speaking straight into a camera feels so awkward for most of us. The good news is just like anything, a little bit of knowledge and some practice will get you quite far in basically no time. Now, the first thing we need to do is reformat our message for the medium that we're working with. Just like you wouldn't sound the same in a text message or an e mail, or a formal essay. The way we get our point across on camera is unique to the medium itself. So how do we make sure we're taking the right approach to video? First, you need to create a thesis statement for whatever video or project that you're doing. Or if you're even going live on air. This ends up being the main takeaway, the point of the video or interaction itself. This works equally well if you're pre recording something or if you're going live like on a panel. Now that might sound tough because it is, but think of it this way. Even ***gthy movies can be boiled down to a single sentence. Take a look at this IM DB description of the film, Citizen Kane. Yeah, it is possible. And of course, when you really think about it, pretty much every video and rather every film has a description like that. It's important to know what your central point is, your thesis statement. Now even better write it down on a no card. Simply keep that with you. If your project video is on say, your secret brownie recipe, maybe your thesis statement is never omi your batter. Or if you're giving a presentation to your investors, maybe your central point is, hey, we had a rocky third quarter, yet we still beat expectations. Once you have that part nailed, you'll of course, want to have a few bits of supporting evidence. Now in this case, less is more. You don't need a laundry list of points to get your idea across. In fact, when we include too much detail or too many supporting points, we end up hurting our entire argument through a phenomenon called the dilution effect. You can read more about that and the notes for this lesson. Once you've got your thesis in hand and have a few supporting points, the next step is to have your opening and closing lines learned by heart. I can't tell you how many times that simple bit of advice has saved me when on live TV facing down some tough questions from a reporter. When you have a strong opening sentence or two ready to deploy, it gives you a much needed confidence boost and lets you relax enough to do your best on camera. For example, let's say you've been invited to speak on a panel and you decided to patch in via a live video link. The moderator has a few opening lines and then turns to you. And even though you've prepared ahead of time, you realize you're at a loss of words and just throw out a word salad. Then you spend the rest of your time trying to recover your footing. But you never really get there now. Don't worry. Now that you know what to look out for, you can have a sentence or two in your pocket. It could even be simple. Something like, thanks for having me. I'm excited to update you on my company's progress. Let me start by and then you get into your main point. I mean, you get the idea, we've got your central thesis, you've got your opening few lines. Now, the same treatment goes to your last few words, your last few sentences that you're going to deliver on camera. Now, as the Nobel Laureate Daniel Oman writes about, in thinking fast and slow, we tend to have a lasting impression from the last few moments of an experience. I think about it, think about that four day vacation where the terrible last day of colored your entire experience working on camera is a little of the same. Now even if you've wowed your audience through 80% of your video, if you crash at the end, you might undo all of that hard work. That's why you need to have at least a clear final sentence ready to deploy. Now another point to keep in mind when crafting all of these sentences, whether it's your central thesis, your opening sentence, or your closing, is to avoid filler language and cliches. Now we're all inundated with more content than we can cope with. And the last thing you want to do is give your audience a reason to tune out. So make sure that what you're saying conveys an actual message and isn't just a bunch of jargon. Your homework for this lesson is to think thesis statement, your opening line, and your concluding line for your project video. Then break down some of those points you want to make. And once you have those ready, use your phones camera and record a short video of yourself using some of your new points. Don't worry about anything other than just getting those words out there. We'll get into presentation tips in the next lesson. 4. Looking Confident on Camera: In this video, we'll get into some time tested ways to boost your confidence on camera and get you to an advanced level in no time. We'll also look at a few of my favorite examples. And as always, you'll have a bit of homework at the end that will help you with your final project. We'll cover three techniques to help you get comfortable speaking into a camera. The 1.5 rule, eye contact and gestures. But first, a bit of a foundation. If you're anything like me, you've probably seen yourself played back on video. And maybe it was a zoom recording, maybe it was a short video you needed to do for work and you instantly wanted to delete all traces of it. You know, typical thoughts are, do I really sound like that? How can anyone stand me? Maybe I'm not get out for this? Do I say, um, and like that much being overly critical of yourself is natural. I mean, we all do it. And before we can make any real progress, we need to acknowledge that we can't let perfect be the enemy of good. What I mean is when you first start speaking on camera, you'll find things that you want to fix immediately. Maybe it's a gesture, maybe it's a phrase or a verbal pause, or just some kind of habit that you have that you're not a fan of. You can't let that stop you from getting started. I mean, even the most seasoned pros broadcast journalists, spokespeople who I've worked with that do regular press briefings, executives, and of course you tubers, all find areas where they can improve. You know, we all look back at our videos and think, man, that could have been a little bit better. But remember, just like every skill speaking on camera is a journey. Now that we've accepted that this is indeed something we can get better at, let's dive back into that first rule, the 1.5 x framework. Now this is hands down, the best advice I've ever heard for working on camera. It was from a friend and a veteran BBC journalist. And it's a simple cue and yet it works almost like magic. It goes like this. When you're working on camera, be 1.5 times yourself, Not two x, that's too much. Not one x, that's too little. But 1.5 x, see when we're compressing ourselves from in person, in three dimensions into a two dimensional box, there's bound to be a loss of fidelity just like any kind of compression. And that's exactly what happens on camera. What might seem like a totally natural and appropriate speaking style in person will appear flat and lack enthusiasm on screen. That's why we need to turn up the proverbial volume on ourselves. Now that doesn't mean you need to appear manic on camera, but it does mean going a bit beyond your usual energy level. Remember, we want a bit more of you, the real natural you delivered on camera. So how do you get to that point? It might mean pumping yourself up before you start recording a video or before you head into that important video call. One of my colleagues, a long time radio broadcaster, told me us to one laps around the studio space and bounce on his toes before he went on there. I myself usually run up and down the stairs a couple of times before I need to go on camera. Whatever your method, the point is to get excited and positive before the record light turns red. Now remember it's 1.5 x to your usual self. Not one X, not two x. Okay? So you're pumped, you're positive, you're ready to go on camera. The second bit of advice that really helped me look better on camera is equally simple yet effective. And that's to keep your eyes on the camera ***s and look past it. Imagine you're looking through a tunnel. I remember one of my earliest TV interviews where I forgot about this rule. I was distracted that day and I kept looking at something to the left of the camera. It wasn't my best work. Luckily, it was a pre taped interview and the journalist, let me re record it. The point is, when you're in a small box on a screen, even a relatively natural shift in your gaze seems full of meaning. Watch what happens. Or even if you do the side eye, that's even weirder. Your audience could end up thinking, hey, what are they looking at? That's why keeping a soft yet constant gaze on the ***s is so important. That doesn't mean you need to get into a staring competition with your webcam or your phone. Instead, try imagining you're looking past it. Now, with practice, looking through the ***s will become second nature. Okay? Third technique gestures. When I first started going on live TV, I had no idea what to do with my arms or hands. Do I wave them around? Try adding emphasis with movement. Of course, a lot of the exact advice will depend on the type of work that you're doing. An important video call will be different to a social media video, for example. Yeah. In general, you should try and stick with your natural inclination. If you're a Bernie Sanders type hand talker, stick with that and adapt it to the screen. That means knowing where your frame is. If you're at a TV studio, make sure you ask the producer to show you the feed so you can see where your hands cut off. You'll want to make sure your gestures are clearly fitted to the frame. Now on the other hand, if you're not the type to talk with your hands, that's totally fine. As a matter of fact, if you look at most professionals on camera, TV anchors, hosts, and even some huge tubers, they tend to keep their gestures to a minimum and that's because they can be distracting at times. Now that you're armed with these tips, time to bring out your phone or computer webcam and try it out for yourself. Try recording a short rough draft video where you explain these three tips to your future self and incorporate them into the actual video. Don't worry, no one else has to see these. This is just about you getting comfortable on camera. In the next lesson, we'll look at how we can get the most out of messaging. 5. Mastering the Soundbite: So in the last lesson, we looked at techniques for looking more natural and confident on camera. But it doesn't matter how you appear if your message isn't clear. How do you avoid putting your audience to sleep or appearing over rehearsed and wooden while still getting your idea across? Now, the key is the sound bite. And there's a reason it's been a staple of TV news and communication for decades. It works. What exactly is a sound bite? It's a catchy phrase that distills the core of your idea into as few words as possible. Keep in mind, this is more than just a slogan, but less than a full thesis statement. Some of the most memorable quotes from historical figures could be described as a soundbite. Think of JFK and his ask, not what your country can do for you. Line or Neil Armstrong's One Small Step. Obviously your own sound bites don't need to be one for the history books. But the more we can think in terms of distilling the core idea into an easy to remember phrase, the closer we'll get to the ideal. Here are three tips to keep in mind when crafting your own sound bite. First, avoid jargon or industry specific terminology. This sounds obvious, but when you dig deeper, you'll see jargon popping up everywhere. Now that's partly because when we're immersed in our own industry, it can be tough to remember not knowing certain terms. Instead, keep the language plain and timeless. Second, make it memorable. This is easier said than done, but by focusing on the storytelling aspect of your message, you're likely to get closer to this idea. Let's say you're talking to your investors and want to convey that your business is heading the right direction. You might say something like after a tough year with supply chain issues, we got tougher Ourselves, learned how to build resilience in our business, and now we're stronger than ever. That sentence builds on storytelling basics. We have a protagonist, a chal***ge, a change, and a resolution. Finally, avoid cliches. This is the toughest to execute since the first two tips almost force us into this corner. The problem with the cliches is that they're so over used that we tend to tune them out. Think of the word, unprecedented has been over used this last decade and it's almost lost all meaning. A good sound bite avoids over used terms. You've labored over a few phrases and you're ready to use them. The key to delivering a sound bite is to make it sound spontaneous. If it sounds robotic or rehearsed, it loses its power. The key to keeping it conversational is to use it sparingly in a single interaction. Whether that's once in a job interview or an investor presentation, or if you're on a TV news piece. The best part about having your message ready in a sound bite or two for that matter, is that if you're ever finding yourself lost, you can go back to it. Now your homework for this lesson is to apply these tips to your own project video. Think of the central message you're trying to convey and break that message down into a single memorable phrase. In the next video, we'll take a closer look at how to look your best on camera. 6. Understanding Lighting and Camera Angles: Okay, so far we've talked about how to approach video messaging. How to boost your on screen confidence, and how to craft a sound bike. Next we'll get into the finer details and see how we can look our best on camera. Now there are entire classes here on skill share and countless videos on Youtube that go in depth on cameras, angles, ***s focal ***gths, and lighting. I mean, really, we could spend a whole week talking just about those elements. So to keep things manageable, we'll look at broader principles and avoid going down a technical rabbit hole. The first thing to keep in mind is that most of us have an intuitive understanding of what good lighting looks like. If you've ever been on a video call with someone sitting with their back to a window, you know what I mean? They can look kind of like a bond villain hatching their next plot. Now, harsh overhead lighting can be unflattering as well. Keep in mind, lighting tells its own story. Backlit and silhouetted characters look great in film Noir and bright, even lighting strikes the right tone for sitcoms for our purposes, most of the time. Anyway, you want to keep things neutral. That means soft, diffused, even lighting, that doesn't cast harsh shadows on your face. You may want to play around with a bit of contrast to help with depth. But in general, indirect light from a window in front of you usually works great if you can't use a natural light source. The larger the light and the diffusion, the softer it is. This can be simple as bouncing a bright directional light off of a nearby wall. But a cautionary word, on ring lights, they can work well if they're large enough, but too often the inexpensive type end up looking too harsh and frankly distracting. The same goes for camera angles. Filmmakers tell stories with angles. The camera looks up at Batman, or looks down on Gotham. You know, when telling our own story, we generally want to be totally square to the camera. So the next time you watch a Ted Talk, you'll notice that the camera is almost always level with the speaker. It's not looking up, it's not looking down, just square because square means neutral. Other angles send messages when you're recording a straight to camera video or doing something live, as we discussed, in less than one, maintaining natural eye contact is key, and having that camera ***s level makes it that much easier. Your homework for this lesson is to play around with a few simple lighting and angles set ups. Pick a few simple sentences to say straight to your phone camera, trying different angles and lighting scenarios. When you review your recordings, make some mental notes of what you like and dislike. And if you're feeling comfortable, get some feedback from friends and ask them what they thought of your various set ups. 7. Difficult Messages: So far we've spoken mainly about scenarios where you've got a mostly positive or neutral message to get across, whether that's a message during a job interview or board presentation, or even your own social media content. Of course, life isn't always positive and there are times when we need to get a message across in tough circumstances or maybe we need to respond to a crisis. Even seasoned professionals can have a tough time communicating on camera in certain situations. I know I've had my fair share of tense TV news interviews. Fortunately, there are a few things we can do to prepare for these situations which make the whole experience less daunting. First, ask yourself, what is the outcome you're hoping for? Are you headed on live TV news to address an issue with your company? Or are you posting to social media on a sensitive topic? Maybe this is a tense meeting with your stakeholders. The point is ask yourself, what are you trying to get out of this video? What are you trying to get out of this communication? Your objective is simply to fill the space or to put out something, anything the you might need to get more specific. For example, if your business is facing rumors and you want to address them head on, then your objective is to dispel misinformation. Or if you're approaching a sensitive topic on your social media channel, maybe your goal is to be a constructive part of the conversation. Once you understand your main objective, it'll be easier to work backwards on your messaging and tone for messaging. Vague or obscure language won't cut it in tense situations. I mean, think about it. Have you ever seen an executive or official try and dodge a tough situation by being vague? I mean, has that ever fooled anyone? Instead, keep your language clear and direct contrary to popular belief. Dodging or avoiding tough issues only looks worse. Now that doesn't mean you can always be 100% transparent. Sometimes we're bound by constraints, but the key is to be as open as you can. Conveying the right tone can be tough. Most of us, especially in the West, tend to be upbeat and positive, especially on video. Having to turn that attitude on its head isn't easy. Your best ally is to maintain a neutral and professional demeanor. Obviously, having upbeat attitude when you're delivering bad news doesn't make a lot of sense. At the same time, being overly emotional could come across as either insincere or worse, could even undercut the whole point of your message. Your homework for this lesson is to think of instances when you've seen someone handle a tough message particularly well on camera. What did they do that worked? And what can you learn from them and from those examples? On the next lesson, we'll get into the nitty gritty, what are my favorite tools? The teleprompter. 8. Teleprompters: You've seen them in movies and maybe you've even used them before. Teleprompter, those mysterious devices that seem to display text like magic. Sadly, no magic involved here. Teleprompters are, of course, a simple clear screen at an angle reflecting a source of text. My favorite is a portable model that works with a tablet and can fit on a small tripod. And actually that's what right now, another option is an app that scrolls text on your phone, letting you use the front facing camera. Both are great and to help you stay on message, especially in instances where there's very little room for error. Of course, these don't usually work for live on air situations, since those tend to have a back and forth element, unless of course, you're giving a keynote speech or something along those lines. Teleprompters are devilish things. They seem simple, they seem like they would help you and could only help you. But in reality, they're much harder to get right than simply speaking from memory. Why is that? Well, if you've ever seen a government official robotically reading text or a corporate executive feigning excitement at a new product launch, You know what I'm talking about? There's a strange disconnect between what the speaker would like to convey that their speech is extemporaneous and reality, which is that they're reading. Now you'll notice this disconnect doesn't happen when someone's reading from a sheet of paper. We'll see when someone quotes from another source or reads a letter aloud. In that instance, the intent isn't to convince you that the speaker is doing anything other than than reading. The key to using a teleprompter is to do it so seamlessly that it doesn't look like you're reading from a teleprompter simple, right? Well, that's why it's so tough. I'm reading from a teleprompter right now and I'm hoping that it's working now. It helps that I'm the one who wrote the script, so it's already in my own voice. It also helps that I've almost memorized the text at this point. That means that I'm not really reading the teleprompter so much as I'm getting hints on what to say next. And lastly, and this is the absolute fundamental key to teleprompters, and it's that you need to convey the meaning behind the words through your tone. Now that takes practice, since when we read, normally you're reading to absorb information. Here we're almost doing the exact opposite. We're looking at text and trying to convey information. Now as the text moves across the screen in front of you, you need to internalize the message and convey it to your audience. Your homework for this lesson is to download one of the many teleprompter apps available for Android and IOS and practice recording a short video with a simple message of your choice. Preferably something that relates to your final project. Practice on a few different takes and show your favorite to a friend and get their honest feedback. In the next lesson, we'll look at a few tips to get the most out of video conferences. 9. Tips for Video Calls: We've covered a lot of ground so far and you should already be seeing improvements in the short videos you've been making. Now it's time to get into some every day practical tips. Of course, none of these are ground breaking or particularly unique. And still sometimes getting the basics right is half the battle. Let's dig into a few techniques to help you get the most specifically out of video calls and even remote interviews. Now, back in my spokesperson days, I used a remote studio setup and I'd beam live into TV channels. And even though most of us don't have a full studio rigs, we can still apply some Pro techniques without spending a fortune. So here are three ways to instantly elevate your video conferences. First, upgrade your camera. Now if you suspect you'll need to do high stakes video presentations, whether these are TV interviews or presentations to investors and the like. Get a mirror less camera, some kind of mount or tripod, and a cam link adapter to get that high quality image onto your computer. Now, there are tons of tutorials on how to set that up on your desk, if that seems a bit of overkill, A simple, good quality webcam that clips onto the top of your laptop will do wonders. The key to both of these, more than the camera quality, is the angle we need to make sure that the ***s is at the right height, as we saw in previous lessons. Second thing we need to do is fix our backgrounds. Now this sounds obvious, but nonetheless gets overlooked. You can choose a spot that has p***ty of depth to it. Think of the Bullpen style TV news desk, the kind where you can see the whole office behind the anchor that grounds you to a specific place while keeping the attention on the speaker. Avoid a blank white wall or a busy space. Now if you must turn on that terrible blur feature in your video conferencing app, but only as a last resort. As for green screens, avoid them if you can. They're really hard to get right, even in professional studios. Lastly, don't underestimate audio. No matter how crisp and clear your video is or how elaborate your background and lighting. If your audio is echo or has noise, you'll lose your audience. Think about it. You can watch a grainy video with great sound. But the reverse is unusable for critical video appearances. Invest in a pro mic and keep it just out of frame. And use a simple mono earpiece for the audio. Now that keeps things distraction free and lets you minimize feedback from your speakers. Wireless headphones will do in a pinch, but they still don't replace a dedicated high quality microphone. Your homework for this lesson is to record a short video message for yourself using your computer and refresh set up deploying the techniques that we've discussed. Once you've recorded your message, go back to it 24 hours later and put yourself in the shoes of someone on the other end. How's your eye contact, How's the camera angle, how's the audio quality, the lighting background? Take your time and repeat the exercise until you're happy with your video set up. 10. Outfits and Makeup: What to wear on camera is, of course, a matter of personal preference and of context. If you're a senior executive at a traditional bank presenting to shareholders, your attire will be quite different than if you're a chef with a Youtube channel. That said, there are a few fundamental realities of working with cameras that can help us pick the right out. Starting at the beginning, we need to remember that cameras lie. They take our three dimensional reality and they compress it into two dimensions. And along the way they distort all sorts of aspects, distances, colors, brightness, and so on. For example, if you take a look at behind the scenes footage of popular films, you'll frequently see scenes that are shot in broad daylight but manipulated to look like they were moonlight. Or if you've ever tried to take a photo of a small space with your camera's wide angle ***s, you've experienced how much larger the space can feel. That means that when we pick outfits for two dimensions, we need to pay close attention to volume, color, and comfort. First, volume, make sure your clothes fit the way you want them to. If you're aiming for a slim tailored look, then optimize for that. Or maybe you're keeping the vibe casual and you want your garments to flow. That works too. The point is to approach the issue with intention. Remember that volume shows up differently on screen than in person. You need to test your wardrobe on camera, specifically to make sure you get the result that you're looking for. Color is similarly critical to get right. If it were me, I'd avoid extremes since digital cameras can have trouble working with very bright colors, with very dark colors, and with pure white. If you've ever tried taking a photo that's partly in bright sunlight and partly shaded, you know how tough it can be exposing the scene correctly. It's the same with your attire on camera. Your color choice can throw off the camera. Or worse, start reflecting back on your face, making you look an odd shade. My pet peeve are Youtubers wearing black T shirts with either a totally white background or a totally dark background. Not a good look. Comfort or lack thereof, shows up in all sorts of ways on camera. If you're prepping for an all important video presentation or even a TV news interview, make sure that you've tested your clothing in a few settings. The last thing you want is a jacket that's too tight or shoes that are killing you when you're trying to focus on your message. A quick word on make up. If you wear it regularly, make sure you test your look ahead of time with the same lighting and camera set up that you'll use. And if you don't regularly wear make up, you'll want to invest in at least a foundation powder to keep shine to a minimum. Cameras have a tough time dealing with bright spots on faces, so keeping a matt look is usually the way to go. I myself use a simple powder foundation and leave it at that. Your homework for this lesson is a fun one. Try on a few of your favorite outfits and model them for yourself using your phones forward facing camera. Make sure you test these with good lighting and angles. You may want to enlist a friend to hold your phone at the right height or use a tripod or a bookshelf. Try a few looks and settle on your favorites. 11. Conclusion: Thank you sincerely for enrolling in this course and for making it to the end high fives all around. We've covered so much ground from how to approach. Video is a format to conveying key messages, to boosting your confidence on camera, and even how to handle tough situations. We've talked about the practicalities appearing on video, from lighting to angle to outfits, and even using teleprompters. If there's one thing I want to lead you with the core message this entire course, it's this. The best way to get better at your on camera skills is to experiment and practice and heat Learning more than anything, effectively, communicating through video means drying things out, reviewing your work and improving on it. I hope this course gave you some tools and techniques to help you on your journey. There's no better time than now to embrace the power of video, to share your message, to connect with others, and grow professionally in the spirit of improving. I'd love it if you left me some feedback on the course. So the next one is even more useful. What did you like? What would you be interested in learning more about in the future? Let me know in your review comments, don't forget to upload your final video projects. I look forward to seeing the. And one last request. If you think you learned something useful from this course, please send it to somebody who you think might benefit. Thanks again and good luck with the project video.