Getting on camera & performance
Camera confidence, scriptless delivery, and the production craft — framing, wardrobe, lighting, mobile, and format.
22 articles
- How to get camera-shy subject matter experts to start creatingCoaching for program managers working with subject matter experts who don't want to be on camera. They're already taking videos on their phones. Lower the barrier, make the first ask…
- How to get camera-shy employees on video using social proofTwo techniques for warming up camera-shy team members. Show them social proof (a no-frills clip from someone like them) and remind them they already record on vacation. Then frame the…
- Fix your eyeline: simple ways to hold eye contact on cameraHow to build the habit of looking into the lens when recording. The sticky-note trick, using the MarketScale teleprompter view, and opening and closing on a held gaze so you…
- Fumble on camera? Pause, reset, and keep rollingThe pause-and-reset technique for fumbles mid-recording. Don't stop and restart; pause, breathe, pick up from your last complete sentence, and let the editor find the best take. Leave timestamped notes…
- The pre-record warm-up drill that fixes your first takeWhy your first take always sounds rushed and how to fix it. Treat take one as a throwaway practice run designed to burn off nervous energy. Speak slowly, pause to…
- How to record a leadership video without a scriptOn-camera coaching for executives and senior leaders recording their first video. Get past perfectionism, drop the script, start from a question you answer every day, embrace the raw take, and…
- Use a question instead of a script and watch the recording changeWhy open-ended questions outperform scripts for UGC video. Scripts create performance anxiety and stilted delivery; questions tap into natural expertise. Send the question 60 seconds before recording so the contributor…
- How to replace a scripted voiceover video with a real person saying the same thing betterHow to swap scripted voiceover-over-stock-footage for a real person on camera. Pull bullet points from a blog or whitepaper, send the prompts the night before, ask conversationally, and let the…
- How to perform on camera in a B2B video without sounding like you're performingB2B on-camera performance without sounding rehearsed. Use the three-point method (hook, point, CTA), the stop-and-look-up technique for eye contact, coach yourself after one take, and use the bullet-point teleprompter to…
- How to run a multi-person recording that doesn't turn into crosstalkHow to run a multi-person recording without crosstalk. Assign one moderator, send questions in advance, do a two-minute off-camera warm-up, cue speakers by name to prevent overlap, and capture twenty…
- A few tips to level up your podcast episode productionA three-point setup to level up podcast recording: record in MarketScale instead of Zoom or Teams, fix lighting first (one ring light), audio second (a real mic over the built-in),…
- Horizontal vs. vertical: film for the format that fits your channelFilming orientation rule of thumb: default to horizontal unless it's only for Reels or TikTok. You can crop horizontal to vertical but not the reverse. Shoot long-form horizontal, then request…
- How to set up your computer for a clean MarketScale recordingPre-recording prep for clean MarketScale recordings: use a hardwired Ethernet connection or 5 GHz WiFi, close background apps and browser tabs, and don't run Teams or Zoom in parallel. The…
- Screensharing a slide deck? Upload the slides file tooWhy uploading your actual slide deck file alongside the screen recording produces a far more watchable training video. Editors can zoom, highlight, and animate the real slides instead of working…
- Why you should ditch virtual backgrounds in your video contentWhy virtual backgrounds tank trust. They read as polished and cheesy, gesture-artifacts give them away, and audiences spot them as inauthentic. Use your real desk, office, or a clean wall.…
- Why your video score is low and what a face does to fix itWhy some videos score 80/100 and others score in the 20s. The five MarketScale video score factors: expert-led education, authentic voices, intentionality, dynamic visuals, and editing technique. Stock footage with…
- How to Shoot High-Quality Videos on Your Mobile PhoneWhether you're creating content for social media, documenting an event, or making professional-looking interviews, your mobile phone can be a powerful tool.
- What are the Visual Elements of a Talking Head Video?Wondering what makes talking head videos so powerful? Keep reading to find out!. Talking head videos are a popular way for users to create short-form and engaging content aligned with…
- Wardrobe and Set GuideKeep reading to learn how you can master your virtual presence, from attire to lighting. Professional Appearance: Dress in professional attire that is well-fitted, clean, and appropriate for business settings.…
- Throw Out the Virtual Background. Try Your Hand at Simple Set Design Instead.Ditch the digital blur. Use your real space to create a sharp, authentic video background that actually says something about you.
- On-Location Video Style GuideOn-site video style guide: pick a format, press record, post fast. Simple, cheap, scalable, pro footage without the fluff.
- Video Length Best PracticesRecommended video lengths for talking heads, podcasts, and onsite shoots, based on engagement data, so your content holds attention all the way through.