Talking to a Camera

CoolMoo5

CoolMoo5

I Love YTtalk
I just started a new YouTube channel and I tried to film a talking to the camera type video and it just seems weird. I've been making videos since 2008 and have taken classes on video so I know what I'm doing but I never really talked to a camera. People like the vlogbrothers, Connor Franta and Tyler Oakley make it look easy. So anyone out there have any tips for talking to a camera?
 
i say don't talk to cameras it looks weird and people are doing it because it looks cool just like selfie pictures. anyone can make a vlog but it takes effort to make look good that people want to stay.
 
I am having the same problem doing single commentary, although that's not exactly the same I have to talk to an empty room for an hour and honestly it just feels... embarrassing. The best advice I can give you is keep doing it and upload the videos even though you know you seem awkward in them because if you look at famous youtubers who do that kind of stuff and look at their first videos you will find they were just as awkward.
 
CoolMoo5 said:
I just started a new YouTube channel and I tried to film a talking to the camera type video and it just seems weird. I've been making videos since 2008 and have taken classes on video so I know what I'm doing but I never really talked to a camera. People like the vlogbrothers, Connor Franta and Tyler Oakley make it look easy. So anyone out there have any tips for talking to a camera?
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A good tip that I heard at some point is to imagine that you are actually talking to a person, not a camera and just picture they sitting there listening to you instead of you just talking to a camera while sitting in a room alone. In a way it is as if you are having a one way conversation with your audience anyway. I know what @TheGovernor means about it being a bit embarrassing sometimes, but once I get started and speak those first few words the rest come out easily.
 
I pretend that the camera is a human being that I'm teaching or showing how to make something, it helps a lot of times. I'm sort of used to being in front of people, I used to do plays and sing in front of crowds, it doesn't mean I don't get nervous. I'm get really nervous talking to people every day and yes I do work in public, I have for the past 5 years. I just try to calm my nerves and act like the camera is a person. In some cases I'm more nervous to talk to people, then the camera! I promise it will get better as you do more talking in front of the camera! Good Luck!
 
I don't do vlogs, but I do talk to the camera a lot. I just pretend I'm talking to a friend. The first few videos I made I actually had my friend video tape me and pretty much just talked to her. Then when I tried to do it the first time by myself, I had to edit out so many ummmms and uhhhhs because it was awkward. From then on I just started pretending my subscribers were my best friends that were holding the camera for me and having a conversation with me and since then I haven't had any troubles.
 
CoolMoo5 said:
I just started a new YouTube channel and I tried to film a talking to the camera type video and it just seems weird. I've been making videos since 2008 and have taken classes on video so I know what I'm doing but I never really talked to a camera. People like the vlogbrothers, Connor Franta and Tyler Oakley make it look easy. So anyone out there have any tips for talking to a camera?
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it's quite easy for me because I talk to myself a lot. One thing you can do is have someone in the room with you but just look at the camera while you're talking, or maybe put a picture of your friend or something on the wall behind it.
 
These are great ideas, I'm not going to lie in the middle of a some sentences when I film I still choke up, that's usually after I start and stop when I know I mess up, but I've learned now to let the camera keep rolling and I can edit those parts out.
 
Yeah I think getting comfortable talking to the camera just takes a lot of practice. Somewhere I read that after about 100 videos or so of doing it, it just starts coming natural. I have been filming myself since I was in High School (1999) and now I can't remember not being comfortable talking to a camera. My advice, if you want to continue to do the talking to the camera type videos is to just keep doing it all the time. Make videos of your self talking that you don't plan on sharing. You will get there super quick!
 
It is just weird that these video classes just taught me how to use a camera and never how to talk to it.
 
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