Talking to a camera can feel awkward. You hit record, and suddenly, your voice sounds weird, your hands don’t know what to do, and you forget what you were going to say. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Speaking naturally on camera takes practice, but with the right approach, you can sound just as engaging and authentic as you do in real life. I’ve been through this process myself, and trust me, you’re not as bad as you think you are.

1. Know What You Want to Say (But Don’t Over-Script It)

I used to write out every single word of my scripts, thinking it would make me sound more polished. But the truth? It made me sound robotic. If you over-script, you’ll end up reading instead of speaking naturally.

• Outline, Don’t Memorize – Having bullet points keeps you on track without making you sound like you’re reciting lines.

• Talk It Out First – I like to have a “test run” by saying my key points out loud before hitting record. It helps me refine my wording and catch any unnatural phrasing.

• Use Simple, Conversational Language – If you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it on camera. People connect with real, natural speech, not corporate-speak or stiff phrasing.

2. Pretend You’re Talking to a Friend

This was a game-changer for me. Instead of thinking about the audience as a vague mass of people, I started picturing one specific friend who I know enjoys my content.

• Imagine your best friend sitting across from you. How would you explain it to them?

• Avoid formal or “presentation” mode. Keep it light and natural. Think about how you’d say the same thing in a casual conversation.

• Smile slightly—it helps your voice sound warmer and more inviting. I’ve noticed that when I’m too serious, my voice gets monotone and my energy drops.

3. Pace Yourself: Slow Down, but Not Too Much

The first time I recorded myself, I spoke way too fast. I was nervous, and my words were tripping over each other. Here’s what I learned:

• Nervous energy makes people rush—pause between ideas.

• Avoid monotone delivery by varying your tone and emphasizing key words.

• If you tend to talk too fast, try recording at 75% of your normal speed. It feels weird at first, but when you play it back, it sounds just right.

4. Watch Your Body Language

When I started, I was so focused on my words that I didn’t realize how stiff I looked on camera. It made me seem nervous, even when I wasn’t.

• Keep your hands moving naturally—gesturing makes you look and feel more relaxed.

• Maintain good posture but don’t stiffen up. A rigid posture can make you seem uncomfortable.

• Make eye contact with the lens like it’s a person. This took me a while to get used to, but once I did, my videos instantly felt more personal.

5. Warm Up Your Voice

I never thought about warming up my voice until I realized my first few takes always sounded awkward and tense. Now, I do a quick warm-up every time:

• Hum for 30 seconds to loosen up my vocal cords.

• Say a few tongue twisters to get my mouth moving (try “Red leather, yellow leather” a few times).

• Take deep breaths to relax my nerves.

• Sip water to avoid dry mouth or throat tightness—this one is a lifesaver if you tend to record multiple takes.

6. Don’t Obsess Over Perfection

I used to re-record over tiny mistakes, thinking every take had to be flawless. But here’s what I realized: small stumbles make you more relatable.

• Small stumbles are normal—don’t stop and restart over tiny mistakes.

• Authenticity beats a flawless take every time. If you sound too polished, people might not connect with you as much.

• If needed, record in short sections instead of trying to nail it all at once. Some of my best videos came from stitching together different takes.

7. Edit Out the Awkwardness (But Keep It Real)

Editing is your best friend. I used to leave in long pauses or filler words until I realized a few simple cuts could make my delivery feel snappier.

• Use jump cuts to remove long pauses or filler words (like “um” and “uh”).

• Add captions if you tend to talk too fast—this helps keep viewers engaged.

• Keep your personality intact—don’t over-edit yourself into sounding unnatural. I used to cut too much, and it made my speech feel choppy.

8. Practice, Review, and Improve

One of the hardest things to do is watch yourself on camera, but trust me, it’s the fastest way to improve.

• Watch your recordings—see what works and what feels off.

• Practice regularly, even if you’re not posting everything. The more you do it, the easier it gets.

• Don’t be too critical—most people dislike how they sound at first, but you get used to it. I cringed at my first few videos, but now I barely notice.