Create your first video course
Being knowledgeable about your subject doesn't automatically make you comfortable on camera. Even experienced professionals often struggle with the transition from in-person teaching to video recording.
The good news? On-camera confidence is a learnable skill, not an innate talent. With the right techniques and practice, you can develop a natural, engaging presence that connects with students and keeps them watching.
This guide covers proven techniques for overcoming camera anxiety, developing natural delivery, and creating the kind of engaging presence that makes students feel like they're learning from a trusted friend rather than watching a stiff presentation.
Why cameras feel different from live audiences: - No immediate feedback: Can't read body language or adjust based on reactions - Permanence pressure: Mistakes will be preserved forever (or so it feels) - Imagined audience: Your brain creates an intimidating audience that doesn't exist - Self-consciousness amplification: Knowing you're being recorded makes you hyperaware of everything - Performance pressure: Feeling like you need to be "perfect" rather than helpful
Physical responses: - Increased heart rate and nervousness - Stiff posture and unnatural movements - Rapid or shallow breathing - Dry mouth or voice changes - Excessive blinking or avoiding the camera
Mental responses: - Forgetting what you planned to say - Overthinking every word and gesture - Comparing yourself to polished TV personalities - Focusing on mistakes rather than message - Procrastinating on recording sessions
Shift 1: From Performance to Conversation Instead of "performing for an audience," think of "having a conversation with one student"
Shift 2: From Perfect to Helpful Instead of "being flawless," focus on "being useful"
Shift 3: From Broadcast to Teaching Instead of "creating content," think of "helping someone learn"
Shift 4: From Permanent to Improvable Instead of "getting it perfect," focus on "getting it good enough to help students, then improving"
Before recording, visualize teaching one specific person: - Picture someone you've actually helped with this topic - Imagine their questions, struggles, and learning style - Speak directly to them throughout your recording - Use their name mentally when you say "you"
Why this works: It transforms an abstract "audience" into a concrete person, making the interaction feel more natural and conversational.
Remind yourself of your purpose: - You're here to solve a specific problem for students - Your knowledge has already helped people in real life - Students chose your course because they want to learn from you - Imperfection is human and often more relatable than polish
5 minutes before recording: - Do vocal warm-ups (humming, tongue twisters, speaking exercises) - Practice power poses for 2 minutes to boost confidence - Review your lesson outline to feel prepared - Remind yourself of recent positive feedback or results - Set an intention to be helpful rather than perfect
Breathing exercises (2 minutes): - Deep belly breathing to calm nerves - Breath control exercises for steady voice - Speaking while exhaling completely
Voice exercises (3 minutes): - Lip trills and humming to relax vocal cords - Tongue twisters for articulation - Speaking at different volumes and pitches - Reading sample content aloud
Standing or sitting setup: - Find your comfortable, confident posture - Practice gestures that feel natural - Check your framing and adjust as needed - Do shoulder rolls and neck stretches to reduce tension
Looking your best helps you feel confident: - Wear clothes that fit well and feel comfortable - Choose colors that work well on camera (usually solids, avoid busy patterns) - Check your appearance in the camera view - Ensure room temperature is comfortable for recording
Consider how you naturally teach in person: - Are you encouraging and supportive or challenging and direct? - Do you use lots of examples and stories or focus on step-by-step instructions? - Are you high-energy and enthusiastic or calm and methodical? - Do you prefer formal, professional tone or casual, conversational approach?
Your on-camera persona should amplify your natural teaching style, not replace it with something foreign.
Camera energy vs. in-person energy: - Camera absorbs energy: You typically need 20-30% more energy on camera than in person - Match your content: High energy works for motivation; calmer energy for detailed instruction - Consistency matters: Maintain similar energy throughout your course - Authentic range: Stay within your natural personality range
Vocal characteristics that engage students: - Varied pace: Speed up for excitement, slow down for emphasis - Dynamic range: Use whispers and stronger voice for emphasis - Conversational tone: Speak like you're talking to a friend - Natural pauses: Don't rush; let ideas breathe
Week 1: Record 1-minute practice videos daily (don't publish) Week 2: Record 3-5 minute practice videos, share with trusted friends Week 3: Create short public content (social media videos) Week 4: Record full lesson content with confidence
Exercise 1: The Teaching Friend Record yourself explaining your topic to an imaginary friend. Focus on being helpful and conversational rather than professional and polished.
Exercise 2: The Problem Solver Record yourself walking through a specific problem you've solved for someone. Focus on the solution process rather than your delivery.
Exercise 3: The Q&A Session Have someone ask you questions about your topic while you're being recorded. This creates natural, unscripted responses that feel more authentic.
Exercise 4: The Passion Share Record yourself talking about why you love your subject. Enthusiasm is naturally engaging and helps overcome self-consciousness.
Treat the camera lens like a person's eyes: - Look directly into the lens, not at your image on screen - Maintain eye contact for 3-5 second stretches - It's okay to look away occasionally (natural conversation pattern) - When looking away, look to the side rather than down
Techniques for natural camera connection: - Direct address: Use "you" frequently and speak directly to viewers - Inclusive language: "We're going to..." "Let's work on..." "You'll notice..." - Acknowledgment: Occasionally reference that you're recording for them - Personal sharing: Include appropriate personal examples and experiences
Sitting at desk: - Sit forward slightly, don't lean back in chair - Keep shoulders square to camera - Rest arms comfortably on desk surface - Maintain open chest and confident posture
Standing presentation: - Plant feet hip-width apart for stability - Keep weight evenly distributed - Allow natural swaying but avoid excessive movement - Maintain strong but relaxed posture
Hand movements that enhance communication: - Descriptive gestures: Show size, direction, relationships between concepts - Emphasis gestures: Underline important points - Counting gestures: Enumerate lists and steps - Natural resting position: Hands at sides or loosely clasped when not gesturing
Avoid these unnatural patterns: - Repetitive or nervous gestures - Hands clasped tightly throughout - Pointing directly at camera - Gestures that happen outside the camera frame
Effective speaking patterns: - Vary your pace: Slow down for complex concepts, speed up for familiar material - Use strategic pauses: Allow time for mental processing - Chunk information: Break complex ideas into smaller pieces - Repeat key points: Reinforce important concepts
Vocal techniques for clarity: - Pitch variation: Higher for questions, lower for statements - Volume changes: Softer for intimate moments, stronger for emphasis - Stress patterns: Emphasize important words and concepts - Natural flow: Avoid robotic or monotone delivery
Minor mistakes you can ignore: - Slight stumbles over words (sounds natural) - Small "um" or "uh" sounds (normal speech patterns) - Minor gestures or movements - Brief pauses to think
Mistakes worth fixing: - Factual errors or incorrect information - Major stumbles that disrupt understanding - Technical issues with equipment - Completely losing your train of thought
When mistakes happen: - Stay calm: Most mistakes aren't as bad as they feel in the moment - Keep going: Often better to continue than to stop and restart - Natural recovery: "Let me say that differently..." "Actually, what I mean is..." - Edit later: Don't aim for perfection in single takes
When you stumble or misspeak: 1. Pause briefly (1-2 seconds) 2. Take a breath 3. Continue with "So..." or "Now..." or "What I mean is..." 4. Proceed with the correct information
Example: "The key to effective email marketing is... actually, let me put it this way. The key to effective email marketing is understanding your audience's needs."
For bigger mistakes or brain freezes: - "Let me back up and explain that more clearly" - "I want to make sure I'm being clear about this" - "That probably sounded confusing, so let me break it down"
Why this works: It shows you care about student understanding and makes you seem more human and relatable.
If the mistake is: - A minor verbal stumble - Slight factual error that's easy to correct in editing - Brief pause or "um" - Small gesture or movement issue
If the mistake involves: - Major factual error that affects the lesson's value - Complete loss of energy or flow - Technical problems with audio or video - You feel completely off-track and would rather start over
Why stories work on camera: - Create emotional connection with viewers - Make abstract concepts concrete - Keep attention and engagement high - Show vulnerability and relatability
Types of stories to include: - Origin stories: How you learned this skill or overcame this problem - Student success stories: Others who've applied your teaching - Failure stories: What didn't work and what you learned - Breakthrough moments: When concepts finally clicked for you
How to use examples naturally: - Transition smoothly: "For example..." "Let me show you what I mean..." - Make them relevant: Choose examples your specific audience will relate to - Vary the types: Use hypothetical, real-world, and personal examples - Connect back: Always tie examples back to the main point
Before recording: - Get adequate sleep and nutrition - Avoid heavy meals immediately before recording - Do light physical activity to boost energy - Plan breaks for sessions longer than 30 minutes
During recording: - Take water breaks between lessons - Stand and stretch periodically - Monitor your energy and adjust accordingly - Record when you naturally have higher energy
Techniques for consistency: - Same time of day: Record when you're typically most energetic - Same preparation routine: Develop pre-recording rituals that work - Monitor and adjust: Watch previous lessons to calibrate your energy - Note-taking: Record what works well and replicate it
Ways to engage students through the camera: - Direct questions: "Think about a time when..." "What would you do if..." - Pause for consideration: "Take a moment to consider..." (actual pause) - Assignments: "Before we continue, I want you to..." - Reflection prompts: "How does this apply to your situation?"
Appropriate use of humor: - Self-deprecating: Light jokes about your own learning process - Situational: Funny observations about common struggles - Gentle teasing: About common misconceptions or mistakes - Avoid: Jokes at students' expense or controversial humor
Without visual aids: - Use varied facial expressions and gestures - Change pace and vocal delivery regularly - Move slightly within frame - Use storytelling and examples frequently
With slides or visuals: - Look at camera regularly, not just at slides - Point to specific areas when referencing visuals - Explain what students are seeing - Maintain your personality even when presenting technical content
While demonstrating: - Explain what you're doing as you do it - Pause to look at camera and connect with students - Address common questions or concerns - Show mistakes and how to fix them
Camera positioning for demos: - Ensure students can see your hands and materials clearly - Use overhead camera angles when appropriate - Switch between wide shots and close-ups - Maintain audio quality even when not looking at camera
Techniques for screen recording: - Energy in voice: Even more important without visual presence - Personal asides: Include personal comments and experiences - Student consideration: Frequently consider student perspective - Pace management: Slow down for complex processes, speed up for familiar steps
Daily confidence building (5-10 minutes): - Record yourself explaining something you know well - Focus on different aspects each day (eye contact, gestures, energy) - Don't worry about perfection; focus on improvement - Review recordings to identify patterns and progress
Gathering useful feedback: - Ask trusted friends or colleagues for specific feedback - Join course creator communities for peer review - Pay attention to student comments and engagement - Record yourself having normal conversations to compare with course delivery
Study effective online instructors: - Notice their energy levels and delivery styles - Observe how they handle mistakes and transitions - Pay attention to their use of examples and stories - Adapt techniques that fit your personality and subject matter
Areas for ongoing improvement: - Acting or presentation classes: For advanced performance skills - Public speaking groups: Like Toastmasters for general presentation skills - Communication workshops: For better storytelling and explanation abilities - Video analysis: Regular review of your own content for improvement opportunities
Solutions: - Record standing up instead of sitting - Practice gesturing while speaking before recording - Warm up with casual conversation or storytelling - Focus on helping one specific person rather than performing
Solutions: - Practice breathing exercises before recording - Mark pause points in your script or outline - Record slower than feels natural (it usually sounds right) - Focus on clarity over speed
Solutions: - Use bullet points instead of full scripts - Practice key transitions and main points - Take breaks when needed; don't push through brain fog - Focus on the concepts rather than exact words
Solutions: - Improve your pre-recording preparation routine - Address physical comfort (lighting, temperature, seating) - Practice power poses and confidence building exercises - Focus on your message and student value rather than your appearance
Solutions: - Record at the same time of day - Develop consistent pre-recording routines - Monitor your energy and adjust accordingly - Consider your natural energy patterns when scheduling recording
Remember: Your goal isn't to become a TV personality — it's to be yourself in a way that effectively teaches your students. The best course instructors are those who feel like knowledgeable friends sharing valuable insights, not distant experts delivering perfect performances.
Next up: Record Your Screen, Yourself, and Audio at Once
This article is part of the Ultimate Guide to Creating and Selling Online Video Courses. Explore other parts of the guide:
- How to Get Ideas for Your Video Course
- How to Validate Your Course Idea
- How to Turn Ideas Into a Lesson Plan