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Speaking on Camera: 3 Expert Tips For On-Camera Confidence

ed darling public speaking coach

Ed Darling | 5 min read

Last updated: 25/11/2025

Speaking on Camera is a Valuable Skill

Whether you’re recording a LinkedIn video, guesting on a podcast, or being interviewed in the media — speaking on camera is a powerful way to become more visible in your industry.
 
Yet, while a few people leverage this “digital stage”, most people feel awkward & anxious speaking on camera  — sometimes even more than a live audience.
 
As a public speaking coach, I’ve seen firsthand how a camera, lighting, and microphone can rattle even seasoned speakers. The good news? You don’t need years of media training or Hollywood-style confidence.
 
With a few mindset shifts, and some practical video speaking tips, you can feel more comfortable — and capable.
 
So where to get started? Let’s talk about your audience.
man speaking on camera

1. Speak to a Familiar Face, Not the Camera

How do you *actually* speak to a camera? There’s no face to look at, no human to respond, just a big judgemental lens zooming in on your every flaw!
 
No wonder people freeze up and sound like a stiff corporate robot. But here’s the first tip: your audience isn’t the camera — it’s real people watching on the other side.
 
How to speak “through” the camera:
 
1. Know your end-viewer: are you creating a professional video for clients? Something entertaining for your followers? Or an educational piece for colleagues?
 
2. Choose a specific person who represents your audience, ideally someone who you already feel comfortable and confident around.
 
3. When speaking to the camera, imagine that person watching on the other side of the lens. Speak to them, and visualise them nodding and smiling as you talk.
 
Why it works: Focusing on a familiar face helps you forget the camera, making your public speaking on camera feel natural and engaging.

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2. Rehearse to Nail Your On-Camera Delivery

Winging it might work for impromptu speeches, but relying on “future you” to ace speaking on camera is risky. Your first take is rarely your best, and nerves can make you ramble or freeze.
 
Rehearsal is the key to delivering polished, confident content, whether it’s a podcast, panel, or marketing video.
 
How to rehearse for different formats:
 

Podcasts, panels, or interviews:

  • Plan your introduction — share who you are and why you’re there in a way that hooks the audience.
  • Anticipate questions you might face. Email the host or producer for a question list if possible. Practice your answers, keeping them concise but natural to maintain spontaneity.
  • Prepare a strong closing call-to-action for the “any final words” moment, like inviting viewers to visit your website or connect on LinkedIn.


Marketing videos, explainers, or how-tos:

  • Define your key message: what do you want viewers to learn or do?
  • Break your content into 1–2-minute chunks for easy editing and to suit short attention spans.
  • Practice delivering each chunk to the camera, focusing on clarity and energy. Partial memorisation helps you sound prepared without sounding scripted.
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Why it works: Rehearsal builds on-camera confidence, ensuring your public speaking on camera is cohesive and professional.

3. Match Your Style to the Camera Frame

Speaking on camera isn’t just about what you say — it’s about how you’re seen. The camera’s “frame” (what it captures) shapes your delivery.
 
Here’s how to adjust your style for common frames you’ll encounter:
 

  • Close-up (head and shoulders): Your face and voice do the heavy lifting. Keep your body still, use subtle facial expressions, and vary your tone to convey emotion. Avoid big gestures—they’re out of view.

  • Mid-shot (waist to head): Your upper body is visible, so use controlled hand gestures to emphasize points. Maintain strong posture to project confidence.

  • Wide shot (full body): Animate your body with purposeful gestures or slight movement to engage viewers. Think bigger, like you’re speaking to a live audience.

If you’re not operating the camera, ask the crew, “What’s the frame?” Then tailor your delivery to match. This small tweak makes your public speaking on camera look polished and professional.

Why it works: Aligning your gestures and energy with the frame ensures your video speaking tips land effectively, enhancing your on-camera presence.

Speak on Camera Like a Pro

Speaking on camera can feel daunting, but it can grow your audience, build your career, and expand your business. So don’t let a few insecurities stop you. The more you practice, the faster your on-camera confidence grows.
 

To recap, master speaking on camera by:

  • Connecting with your audience by visualizing a familiar face behind the lens.
  • Rehearsing your content to deliver with clarity and confidence.

  • Adjusting your delivery to match the camera’s frame for a polished performance.

Here’s to your speaking on camera success,
Ed

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Hey Ed,

Just wanted to share some feedback we had from the delegates after the October Away day 😊 You went down a storm!

– Presentation skills session very good
– The presentation skills session was AMAZING! Very informative and will definitely come in handy.
– Really enjoyed the presentation skills
– Speaker was very engaging and interesting and worked for all aspects of our work
– The presentation was amazing, getting to interact with each other and learning different presentation skills.- there wasn’t a moment which I found it boring or not helpful.

Jess Docksey, Workforce & Education Programme Manager

 

“Absolutely Brilliant training session to do, really enjoyed it. Ed was fab made everyone feel at ease, more confident and relaxed. I will take so much away from this session thanks Ed, you do a great job 👍👏”

Diane Axford — GMCA

 

“Attended an excellent full day session hosted by Ed at Project Charisma, it was a fantastic learning experience and would recommend to anyone who gets the chance.
Ed made everyone feel at ease even when facing our insecurities, individual conversations around the exercises left no question unanswered. A great experience that I can put into practice straight away.”

Siobhan Keane — GMCA

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100% recommendation rate! All attendees gave you a 10 on how likely they would be to recommend the workshop to peers!

Here’s a summary of the group’s feedback from the session:

  • “The workshop was well-timed, with an excellent balance of information, interactive activities, and group work that kept participants engaged.”

  • “Ed, the facilitator, was professional, knowledgeable, and exceptional at delivering clear, constructive feedback. His energy and positivity helped create a safe and supportive environment, which was particularly important given that many participants were outside their comfort zones with public speaking. Ed’s personal story of overcoming anxiety resonated with the group, fostering trust and making the experience more relatable.”

  • “The content was well-structured, breaking down key elements to make the learning process less daunting, and the pacing was comfortable for everyone. The variety of tasks, including the workbook to take away, added value, and the session ultimately empowered participants to deliver speeches with confidence.”

Ideas that resonated with the group the most:

Presentation Structure: Key techniques like planning, the “rule of three,” and the power of pausing.

Audience Engagement: Effective strategies such as the “audience hug” and balanced eye contact (“light housing”).

Public Speaking Elements: Focus on body language, voice modulation, and mindset.

Vocal Variety & Filler Words: Importance of vocal variety and minimising filler words.

Mindset Shift: Emphasis on being prolific over perfect; enthusiasm and charisma over confidence.

All the group have rated themselves as an 8, 9 or 10 in terms of confidence in demonstrating the skills they have learnt in your session.

Other comments:

“This workshop has given me a great toolkit to help build my presenting skills. I feel more empowered in my public speaking and have the confidence to participate in presentations within my role.”

“I thought it was well run, the overall content was excellent. Great feedback throughout the course to support not only the individual but also the group. I would recommend the course strongly to my peers.”

“Was nervous going into the class, worried that it would be a bit school-like or based more in acting (which it was not). Thoroughly enjoyed the experience – would love to do it again later on in the year/next year to look see how my skill has (hopefully) improved.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed this workshop and was highly impressed with Ed. Ed’s approach to the subject, his personal story, the layout of the workshop and his energy made for an engaging, memorable and impactful workshop. Ed was able to give helpful feedback to everyone whilst also filled us with encouragement and confidence. I feel he shared some life skills that I will take forward with me in my career and I would love the opportunity to work with him again!”