Preparing your team for a film shoot
If the thought of putting your team in front of a camera fills you with dread, you’re not alone. Rest assured, when our team are on set, you’re in good hands and we’ve seen it ALL before!
“We’re awkward on camera.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“I don’t like how I look or sound.”
Believe it or not these are all very normal nerves/ worries – the good news is that being confident on camera isn’t something you’re born with. It’s a skill that anyone can learn with the right preparation.
Here’s how you can help by preparing your staff to feel relaxed, authentic and ready to represent your business.
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Explain why they’re being filmed
People are far more comfortable when they understand the purpose behind the video.
Rather than saying, “We’re filming some social media content today,” explain:
- Who the audience is.
- What problem the video solves.
- How it helps potential customers.
- Why they’re the best person to speak about that topic.
It’s empowering for people to know they’re simply sharing their expertise rather than “performing” and with this mindset, the pressure immediately decreases.
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Preparing, not memorising
One of the quickest ways to make someone sound robotic is asking them to memorise paragraphs.
Instead, encourage them to prepare with:
- Three or four key talking points.
- A simple structure.
- Bullet points to keep them on track.
- Permission to use their own words.
Speaking conversationally almost always outperforms a perfectly rehearsed speech. People sound more authentic when they know what they want to say, rather than trying to remember exactly how to say it.
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Relax, smile and let personality come first
Your audience doesn’t expect television presenters.
They want to meet the real people behind your business.
Encourage your team to relax, smile and enjoy the conversation. If something goes wrong, we can all laugh it off and carry on. Authenticity builds trust far more effectively than perfection and genuine personality is often what people remember most.
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Look into the lens
One of the simplest ways to create a connection with your audience is by looking directly into the camera lens.
It can feel unusual at first, but imagine you’re talking to one person rather than a camera. Maintaining eye contact with the lens helps viewers feel like you’re speaking directly to them, creating a stronger sense of trust and engagement.
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Bring a little more energy than feels natural
Many people are surprised by how much the camera softens their delivery.
A good rule of thumb is to speak with around 25% more energy and animation than you would during a normal face-to-face conversation. You don’t need to be over the top – just slightly more expressive than feels natural. The result usually comes across as warm, engaging and confident on screen (trust us!).
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Remember that mistakes are completely normal
The biggest misconception about video production is that everything must be perfect in one take. And … it doesn’t!
Professional videos are made from multiple takes and edited together afterwards. If someone forgets what they were saying, simply pause, gather your thoughts and start that sentence again.
Those natural pauses are helpful and they give our editors clean places to make seamless cuts.
(No one watching will ever know!)
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Use natural hand gestures
Body language is just as important as the words you’re saying.
Rather than keeping your hands in your pockets or folded together, keep them free and use open-handed gestures around chest height. Natural movement helps reinforce your message, makes you appear more confident and keeps the video visually engaging.
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Start with easy questions
If you’re interviewing, instead of jumping straight into the main chat, begin with a simple conversation.
Ask about:
- How long they’ve worked at the company.
- Their favourite part of the job.
- What they enjoy helping customers with.
By the time you move onto the key questions, they’ve usually forgotten the camera is even there.
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Dress comfortably and confidently
There’s no need for expensive outfits.
Choose clothing that reflects your brand while making people feel comfortable.
A few simple tips:
- Avoid tiny stripes or busy patterns.
- Wear colours that suit your branding.
- Remove anything that makes distracting noises.
- Wear clothes that make you feel confident.
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Celebrate the first attempt
Very few people enjoy their first experience on camera. That’s completely normal.
The goal isn’t perfection – it’s progress.
The more often someone appears in videos, the more natural it becomes. Many of our most confident clients started by saying they never wanted to be filmed.
Now they’re regularly creating content for their business.
✨ Remember: your customers want real people
✨ Customers buy from businesses they trust.
Seeing genuine members of your team answering questions, sharing expertise and showing personality creates a level of trust that stock photos and polished marketing copy simply can’t match.
The best videos aren’t always the most cinematic—they’re the ones that feel honest, approachable and human.
If you’re thinking about introducing more video into your marketing, don’t let camera nerves hold your business back. With the right preparation, a relaxed filming environment and a few simple techniques, almost anyone can become confident on camera.
