Talking to a Camera

[Sweet Tooth Outlaws]

It is just weird that these video classes just taught me how to use a camera and never how to talk to it.

You would think there would be a section taught in those classes on how to talk to a camera, may be they never thought to teach that part. I wish you the best of luck with talking to camera, it's still nerve wracking at times. I promise it will get easier. Have a great day!

 

[CoolMoo5]

It is getting easier. But now all those people who see people like Tyler Oakley, Connor Franta, Grace Helbig, etc. and think "Their job is so easy it only takes like 5 minutes to make a video." are wrong. YouTube might not be the hardest job in the world, but let me tell you talking to a camera is harder then it looks and it takes longer then 5 minutes to make a 5 minute video.

 

[kinghfb]

Advice I've heard was to stick a face/little doll near the webcam/lens/whatever-you-have, so you look at that as if you're talking to a person.

Weird, but slightly less weird than talking to yourself in a room

 

[The Geeky Dad]

For me it was a case of repetition taking away the nerves. The more videos i've made the less nervous i've felt every time. However some 'gameday' nerves are good imo. Keeps you focused with just the right amount of adrenaline.

 

[Technomania]

You would think there would be a section taught in those classes on how to talk to a camera, may be they never thought to teach that part. I wish you the best of luck with talking to camera, it's still nerve wracking at times. I promise it will get easier. Have a great day!

ya the classies talk about real video recording not solo recording. it takes a team to make a news report (the one found on tv) you can't make a vlog on a news report thats ruining the important story that everyone needs to know (and your pay job). it also takes a team to make a movie, tv show, and documentaries its impossible to vlog everything on them because vlog does not help on real life. this whole vlog thing is just another selfie trend onece people get over it they stop doing it.

 

[LaurenLaFox]

Hey there! I've said this to everyone who tells me they are nervous! Just film yourself doing things, even if you don't upload it anywhere! This just gets you used to being in front of a camera...practice is key! The more you do it, the easier it'll become and eventually you won't event think about it. Imagine the camera as just a friend that you'd talk to normally and keep in mind you are in control of what you show, so if you're ever unhappy with something you can choose not to use that section of the recording in the final video. So there should be nothing to worry about in that aspect! I watched your signature video and it's super good so I don't think you need to be so worried about it It'll come naturally once you get into the swing of it. And also people on here are generally very understanding and we can all relate to that nervousness, especially when you start off. Good luck

 

[Michael]

Pour the two of you a drink, get settled and let the conversation flow

I think the best thing you can do is just try and imagine the camera is a good friend of yours and behave in the same way as if its a friend, that way your personality tends to shine rather than it being bottled up. I was the exact same way and I think it ends up with the viewers feeling awkward because youre awkward and thats never good.

 

[mdietz]

I would suggest pretty much the same thing everyone else has; pretend you're talking to a friend! Or even better, see if you can get a sibling or friend to stand behind the camera, but have them not talk or make any noise. It does get better over time. When I started making videos a few months ago, I was so awkward and had no differentiation in tone or facial expression. After a few videos, I started to get more comfortable around the camera, and talking to a camera started to get easier.

 

[Harry Of All Trades]

It is getting easier. But now all those people who see people like Tyler Oakley, Connor Franta, Grace Helbig, etc. and think "Their job is so easy it only takes like 5 minutes to make a video." are wrong. YouTube might not be the hardest job in the world, but let me tell you talking to a camera is harder then it looks and it takes longer then 5 minutes to make a 5 minute video.

You're probably a lot better than what you think. A lot of these big YouTube edit their video down quite a bit. If you saw the unedited version, they would look like a mess. Hank Green posted an unedited version of one of his vlogbrothers video so people can see and learn the editing process. It that video he looked like a nervous wreak. But in all his other videos he make it look totally easy. I think he's one of the best vlogger out there. You can see his video titled "A Completely Unedited Video in the Style of Vlogbrothers" on YouTube on "Hankschannel." It was definitely an eye opener for me and I don't feel as bad anymore. I always felt weird talking to camera in an empty room.

 

[HaydenTankTV]

It really just comes down to practice. It always starts out weird cause we are never used to it, it's a foreign concept. Just keep at it and you'll start to feel more and more comfortable in front of a camera.