How to Feel Confident and Look Your Best on Camera

Planning to be on camera for your next real estate video?

Being in the spotlight can be nerve-wracking, whether you’re doing an agent bio, hosting a community video, or just introducing a listing. If you want to feel more confident going into production, here’s how to prepare.

Dress for Success

It’s a familiar phrase, but it’s true. Research shows that dressing professionally improves alertness, confidence, and even performance. This doesn’t mean you have to wear a full suit, but wear clothing that makes you look – and feel – polished and put-together.

For men, this might mean slacks and a button-down shirt. If you’re catering to a younger demographic, dark jeans and a blazer will do the trick.

Women have a wider range of options. For a more conservative audience, stick with a tailored dress, or a blouse with slacks or a skirt. More relaxed choices might include dark jeans, a blouse, and heels; or a jersey dress and boots.

Keep It Simple

If you’ll be on camera in a studio, makeup (for men or women) is a good idea. That’s because the bright studio lights tend to create shine and wash you out.

If you’re shooting on location, especially outdoors, you have a little more flexibility. Makeup isn’t necessary, but it’s certainly a good option. Just wear your usual amount.

Make sure your grooming is up to snuff, too. Don’t get a haircut the day before – unless you have long hair to begin with, you’ll end up looking a bit like a freshly shorn sheep – but take the time to style your hair. Men, consider shaving just a couple of hours before your shoot, especially if you tend to grow a five o’clock shadow.

Cater to the Camera

Loud patterns, extreme colors, and lots of sparkle or shine drive the camera (and photo and video editors) crazy. They interfere with proper lighting, color balance, and tracking.

To stand out on camera without causing problems, ditch the pastels in favor of solid, saturated mid-tones such as royal purple, cherry red, emerald green, or cobalt blue. For neutrals, stay away from black and white – instead, put on navy, charcoal gray, or chocolate brown. Stick with widely spaced, simple patterns. And leave the shiny fabrics and statement jewelry at home.

Script It

Don’t tell yourself, “I’m a good impromptu speaker – I’ll just wing it!” Yes, I know real estate agents often have the gift of gab and make great ad libbers. It’s what helps you succeed in sales, after all.

But everything changes when a camera is staring you in the face, and many videographers charge by the hour. If you get flustered and start stammering, it’s literally going to cost you.

Especially if you’ll be using your video to help win buyers’ or sellers’ business, it’s essential that you exude confidence and speak articulately. So write up a script ahead of time or pay someone to do it for you.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Put your outfit together beforehand (you, too, men) to make sure it looks good, feels good, and doesn’t need any cleaning or mending. Practice a natural, winning smile. And remember that script? Practice your lines in front of a mirror or – even better – on a friend or family member.

Have you done a successful turn on camera? What are your tips for your fellow agents?