Do you ever watch back a video of yourself and think, “Why do I sound so low-energy?” You felt on while recording…so what gives?
It isn’t you. It’s your camera.
See, cameras don’t capture you the way people experience you in real life.
They flatten tone, mute expressions, and dull your natural energy.
What feels like 100% to you comes across as 80% (or less!) on screen.
We’re all literally made of energy, but why is it so difficult to have enough for the camera?
I’ve found one of the simplest fixes to be start recording at 120% of your normal energy level.
Yeah, it might feel exaggerated. But on video, that extra push is what keeps people watching.
It’s how you cut through the screen and make your content feel alive.
How to Have More On-Camera Energy
So, here’s you can keep your energy going:
- Skip the script. This is a hill I’ll happily die on: NEVER. SCRIPT. I know it can be nerve-wracking to film on the fly, but reading word-for-word zaps your delivery of all personality (a.k.a. it makes your content suck).
- Use a bulleted outline instead. This is what I use for all of my history content. This gives you enough of a structure without making you sound robotic. That way, you can hit on all the points you want to capture without having to memorize EVERY. SINGLE. WORD.
- Pause between sentences. You’ll sound more intentional and it’ll give you a second to check your outline without fumbling mid-sentence. Plus, it’s way easier to edit in full sentences.
- Jump around before recording. It sounds silly, but I find that jumping up and down for about 10-15 seconds before hitting record makes me feel so much more alive. It boosts blood flow and it makes you feel happier. (If you can’t physically jump, swing your arms and legs around. You’ll get the same effect.)
Try to think of it this way: You’re aren’t talking to a camera.
You’re talking through it to real people on the other side of the screen.
And you need to hold their attention.
Bring the energy. They’ll feel it. And they’ll stick around.