How to Be Confident in Front of the Camera: A Guide for Entrepreneurs

You know you should be showing up in your Instagram Stories and reels. 

Like actual showing-your-face-and-talking-to-the-camera type of showing up. 

But every single time you open your phone to record, a tidal wave of camera shyness hits.

Or you film your video and rewatch it, but all you see is that weird thing you’re doing with your hands and “Ughhh WHY am I making that face?!?!”

So, you delete the whole thing or save it to your drafts saying you’ll post it later – except “later” never comes. 

The thing is, it goes deeper than you just not posting that story or reel. Every time you delete your content or tuck a reel away in your drafts, you’re keeping yourself stuck.  

Meanwhile, the people who need your help NEVER hear from you. 

Here’s the good news: having confidence on camera ISN’T something you’re born with. It’s a skill that can be learned.

Today, I’m talking all about how to look and feel confident in front of a camera without being awkward, looking overly rehearsed, or succumbing to camera shyness.

Without further ado, here are a few practical ways to manifest confidence so people will be naturally awestruck and pulled into your content even more. 

Why Showing Up on Camera Matters More Than Ever 

Not long ago, I was playing around on ChatGPT, trying to teach it to sound like me.

The results were terrible. It made me cheeky but in a very basic “blonde millennial social media teacher” kind of way. 

The thing is, though, these AI models get better every day. 

After a while, I tried again. This time, ChatGPT did a really good job. It even replicated some of my quirkier speech habits.

That’s when a FREAKY thought hit me: 

If somebody was good enough at ChatGPT, they could put all of my content into it and create a full-blown Jenna-bot. 😳🤖

We’re living in a time where AI can write captions, generate blog posts, and even mimic someone’s voice or writing style. 

But showing up on camera to make reels and videos? That’s waaaaay less copyable. 

The innately HUMAN element of video is exactly what makes video content so powerful (and not something AI can copy… yet).

How Confidence on Camera Impacts Your Business 

Showing up on video is one of the fastest ways for people to connect with you. 

When someone watches you explain something in your own voice and in your own words, they get a clearer sense of who you are and what it could feel like to work with you.

And the more confident you are in front of a camera, the more magnetic your content becomes. People get drawn in naturally and start paying attention to what you have to say. 

But the best part is confidence on camera carries into other parts of your business, too. 

It’s a transferable skill that strengthens your confidence in group settings, public speaking, podcast interviews, and more. 

In other words, learning how to be confident on camera is a skill that pays off in more ways than one.

If you want deeper support while honing these skills, come join me in Magic Marketing Machine. 

Every week, members can submit their content for feedback to help with messaging, marketing, and connecting with their audience. That way, they can be 100% sure they’re showing up with enough confidence to grow and sign more clients through Instagram faster. 

5 Simple Ways to Overcome Camera Shyness

Someone recently replied to me on Threads and said, “I think I speak for all of us when I say I just wish I could have the confidence you have on camera, Jenna. I could show up so effortlessly.”

If that statement resonates with you in any way, you’re definitely not alone. 

I said it earlier, but it’s worth saying again: Having confidence on camera ISN’T something you’re born with. It’s a skill you build over time with practice and a few simple mindset shifts. 

So, if the idea of filming reels or talking on Stories makes you want to run the other way, here are some pointers to help you overcome your fear of being on camera once and for all. 

1. Sit at the Edge of Your Seat to Instantly Look More Confident on Camera

First up, this simple positioning trick is one of the easiest ways to look confident on camera.

As a former choir kid, one of the rules of choir (and one that your conductor will absolutely call you out for) is to sit on the edge of your chair. 

Scooching all the way to the edge of your seat and planting your feet on the floor brings your energy forward.

The same rule applied when I got into acting and theater. If an actor is sunken all the way back in their chair, that’s an intentional choice. It relays exhaustion, boredom, or sadness. 

But if you’re watching two people having a conversation on stage, they’re sitting upright at the edge of their seats. 

This same trick works on camera. 

If you’re filming while sitting, scoot to the edge of your chair before hitting record. This helps project your energy outward toward the camera and keeps your breath supported. 

2. Anchor Yourself to Reduce Camera Shyness and Awkward Body Language

If you stand while recording yourself, do you ever become hyper-aware of your hands? 

Or maybe you find yourself wondering what you’re supposed to be doing with them because no matter what they’re sooooo awkward.  

Here’s another simple trick: anchor yourself. 

Rest your hands on the back of a chair or on a table in front of you (even if it’s not in the shot). 

Anchoring yourself helps reduce camera shyness and helps get rid of the feeling that your body is floating awkwardly in space. 

After all, there’s a reason why people deliver speeches from behind a podium. Yes, sometimes they have notes there, but the podium also helps make you feel less vulnerable. 

And when you feel safe and secure, it increases your confidence as well. 

3. Practice Seeing Yourself on Camera Until It Feels Normal

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I don’t wear makeup much and my hair is usually in a messy bun. So, on those rare occasions that I dress up and put on red lipstick, I feel like a goofy circus clown. 

Why? Simply because I’m not used to seeing myself wearing all of that, which makes it kinda… weird. 

Making video content is the same; You have to get used to seeing yourself on video or you’re always gonna think it looks weird. 

I don’t have an astronomical level of self-confidence, but I’m used to seeing myself with no makeup and a top knot on camera. 

When you replay your video, your brain automatically zooms in on every tiny detail – everything from the way your face moves to how your voice sounds. 

It only feels strange because it’s unfamiliar. 

Confidence on camera often comes down to exposure. Getting used to your face and voice on video is a key step in learning how to be more confident on camera. 

So, count this as your permission to stare at yourself in the mirror or on video without feeling conceited. Over time, you’ll get used to how you look, how you sound, and how you show up on screen, and all that camera shyness will melt away. 

4. Focus on Helping People, Not Your Fear of Being on Camera

Recently, I’ve had a handful of people tell me something that made my heart sink: 

“Jenna, I signed up to work with someone else. They were way more expensive, and I’m not getting anything out of it.” 

My content didn’t find them in time. By the time I showed up in their feed, they had already made the decision to sign on with someone else. 

Every time I hear this, it just reinforces the mindset that it’s my duty to sell.

Because if my content had reached them sooner, they could have found a program that actually helped them. 

The thing is, your content isn’t just about you. It’s also about the person on the other side of the screen who needs what you know. 

When people see you on video explaining something, they start to feel like they know you. That familiarity builds trust, and that trust makes them far more comfortable reaching out about working with you. 

So, instead of fixating on your fear of being on camera and looking perfect, shift your mindset and ask yourself a different question:

“Will this reel help someone?”

If the answer is yes, that’s your cue to hit record. 

5. Identify Why You’re Afraid of Being on Camera

When camera shyness creeps in, pause and ask yourself, “What am I really afraid of here?”

Are you afraid the post won’t do well, and you’ll get judged? 

For a lot of people, the real fear isn’t being on camera. It’s the thought that what you post won’t perform, and someone will notice. 

But listen, I’m gonna hold your hand here as I say this: 

If a post doesn’t do well, nobody saw it anyway. 

No one is coming to your Instagram page to “hate watch” your reels. And even if they do stumble across your page, no one can see your view count but you (if your hide-views setting is on).

All they see is your beautiful face.

Once you identify the real fear keeping you from showing your face on camera and the real reason why you lack confidence on camera, it becomes much easier to challenge it. 

After all, if you wait and wait until it’s “perfect,” you’re not serving yourself or your business. 

Sooooo, feeling a little braver already? 

Let’s add a few camera tricks into the mix to make sure you look confident every time you get in front of the camera. 

How to LOOK Confident on Camera (Even If You Don’t Feel It Yet)

When it comes to creating content, social media moves so fast that sometimes it feels like it’s hard to keep up. 

But the fundamentals of good video presence always remain the same. 

My next two tips are foundational tricks that will instantly help you look more confident, even if you’re still working through your fear of being on camera behind the scenes. 

1. Make Eye Contact with the Lens – Not your reflection.

Hands up if you’ve ever recorded a video, then realized you’ve been staring at your face the entire time. 🙋‍♀️

Most people do this without even realizing it. But it’s an easy fix and one that will make you look confident on camera every time.

Instead of watching yourself or making eye contact with yourself while you record, look at the camera lens instead. When you do this, the person watching feels like you’re making eye contact with them. 

That simple shift instantly makes your content feel more natural and engaging. 

If it helps, put a sticky note over your phone so you block out your face and focus only on the lens.

OR place a photo over the screen. It could be your partner, your dog, or even your ideal client. Talk like you’re having a conversation directly with them. 

That connection will carry over to the viewer to help cement a stronger relationship with your audience. 

2. Position Your Camera at Hip Height for More Confident Full Body Shots

Now, if you’re filming a full body shot, you don’t want to keep the camera at eye level. This creates a strange and unnatural angled shot of your body. 

Instead, position your camera at hip height before backing away.

This creates a much more balanced angle and helps your body look more natural on camera. 

Use this tip if you’re showing off an outfit, doing something with your hands, or just need a wider shot to be able to show more. 

It’s a simple adjustment, but little details like this can do wonders for making you look charismatic and confident on camera.

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Remember: being confident on camera is something you can learn. NOT something you’re automatically born with. 

Every time you hit record to film a reel or record a Story, your camera shyness loosens its grip a little bit more. 

It might feel awkward in the beginning. You might have to consciously give your hands something to do, but the more you practice, the more normal it becomes. 

Until eventually, recording yourself on camera feels like second nature. 

And if you’re ready to start showing up on camera, your Instagram Stories are a great place to start.

Instagram Stories are meant to be casual and off the cuff. AND since they disappear in 24 hours, there’s less pressure to get them 100% perfect. It’s the perfect place to start working through your fear of being on camera. 

My Strategic Stories 5-Day Challenge is a mini course designed to get more people engaging with your Stories and fired up to work with you. 

Through bite-sized mini trainings, I’ll tell you exactly what to share and how to get people engaged enough to actually watch your Stories instead of skipping ahead. 

No more guessing about what to say once you turn on the camera. 🙌🏻

Ready to start confidently showing your beautiful face all over your Stories?

Click here to enroll in the Strategic Stories 5-Day Challenge today!