In short: A camera-ready presenter has rehearsed out loud, knows the opening, can breathe and warm up before going on, and has a set-up that puts the light on the face and the lens at eye level. Take the twelve-question self-assessment, count the questions you answered not yet or no, and start with the first area on the list where you fell short.
Presenters who freeze on camera are rarely short of material. They have not practised the talk out loud, they are not warmed up, or the set-up hides their face. This self-assessment shows which of those applies to you before you come in.
Before you start
Answer each question yes, not yet or no. Then work through the sections in order and begin with the first area where you answered not yet or no.
The tool scores each answer 2 for yes, 1 for not yet and 0 for no, so the total is out of 24. A total of 20 to 24 means ready to book, 12 to 19 means nearly there, and 0 to 11 means start with the basics. It lists every question you answered not yet or no, in the order of the sections below. Nothing you enter leaves the page.
Breathing before you go on
Before you walk on, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and one hand on your belly. Breathe in for three, hold for four and breathe out for five. Do it twice. The 3-4-5 breath in three minutes shows the same technique on film.
Warm-up
Warm your voice and body for ten to twenty minutes before you present. A few lip trills and some tongue twisters will do. If you are short of time, do the warm-up in the corridor. The ten-minute voice and body warm-up has a full routine.
Preparation and structure
Know the structure, the timing and the flow of the talk. Start with a hook, state the message, support it with a story, then back the story with data if you have it. End with a clear call to action. Plan the first thirty seconds word for word, since the opening is the part you will most want to get right.
Rehearsal out loud
Practise out loud, in real time, with your slides and any movement you plan. Reading the talk silently at a desk does not count. Time the run, and record it on your phone so you can hear where you rush.
Notes
Keep your notes to keywords and bullets, not a script. Speak to the people in front of you, and on camera look straight down the lens as if it were a person.
Set-up
The light should be in front of you, above or to the side, and never behind you. The camera should sit at eye level. Dress as you would in person, and avoid small checks and narrow stripes, which can shimmer on screen.
Body language
Sit or stand upright, plant your feet, lean slightly towards the camera and smile at the start. Expressions need to be a little bigger on camera than they feel in a room. Record a short piece and watch it back without sound, then with it.
Voice
Warm up, drink room-temperature water, slow down and pause before the important points. Cut the filler words. Project a little more than your conversational voice, and aim the sound at the back of the room or the lens.
Listening
If you are presenting over a video call, hide your self-view so you are not watching yourself. Listen to the person asking the questions, take a note of what they ask and let the answer come from what they said.
A worked example
A presenter works through the questions and answers no to rehearsing out loud, and no to the set-up, because her camera sits on a shelf above her head. The two fixes are cheap. She practises her opening two minutes out loud at the desk with her phone recording, then moves the camera to eye level and checks the light on her face before the shoot. The rest of her answers are yes, so she leaves them alone.
Common mistakes
- Answering for what you intend to do rather than what you do now.
- Treating "I have notes" as the same thing as "I am prepared".
- Rehearsing in your head and calling it practice.
- Watching your own picture while you talk.
- Skipping the warm-up because you feel fine.
If your no answers cluster around rehearsal and voice, a media training day lets you practise on camera with someone watching who can tell you what they saw. Before that, read what to expect on a first studio day so the day holds no surprises.
Related guides
The picture at the top of this page is an illustration, not a photograph of a client or a real job.
Questions we get asked
How do I know if I am ready to present on camera?
Answer the twelve questions honestly. If most of your answers are yes, you are ready to book. If not, work on the areas where you answered no before you come in.
How long does the self-assessment take?
About five minutes if you answer on instinct. Answer for what you do now, not for what you plan to do.
Should I take it before a media training day?
Yes. Your answers show where to focus, so the day goes on the things that will help most.
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