Camera Ready with Val Brown

Using gestures is an effective way to emphasize a point, add energy to your delivery, increase your confidence and connect with your audience. Used poorly, gestures can have the exact opposite effect and create a disconnect with your audience.

Learn:

• Why you often hate the way you look on camera
• How to think about using gestures
• What gestures can help you support your message and your brand.
• The secret to keeping a great attitude on camera

Here's a PDF you can download. Use this to make notes of the gestures that work and those that are distracting. Record yourself and work to eliminate distracting gestures.

With podcasts and video being such an important part of your brand platform today, it pays to pay attention to your voice.

It's an important part of your brand.

Veteran radio personality and voice actor Jeff Gelder shares some of his vast experience with us about developing your vocal brand and how you can work to make sure you sound your best on camera and on your podcast.

Jeff is a big believer in the power and influence of the human voice.

He's worked with Sony, ESPN, Dell, Jenny Craig, and Toyota and interviewed celebrities from Olivia Newton John to Woody Harreslon.

This is a big topic, so we are really are going to just scratch the surface and give you some tools to get started.

On this episode you'll learn:

• The elements of a vocal brand
• Why you don't like the sound of your own voice
• Voice exercises to make sure you sound your best

Here are links referenced in the show where you can find some more resources on this topic.

Voice Over Achiever, What Is A Great Podcasting Voice?

We've all experienced procrastination's grip when we are trying to do something new.There's the unknown, learning curves and sometimes it's just plain hard.

This is especially true when it comes to being in front of the camera. If you don't know what you want to say, or why, where to look, what to wear or how to deliver your message, it can feel like trying to drive a car with a manual transmission. How do you move forward when there are so many moving parts to master?

On this episode I share Mel Robbins Five Second Rule - learn about:

• The two types of procrastination
• Why we procrastinate
• How you can stop procrastinating Today and reach for your dreams

Here's the link to the Five Second Rule and a link to Mel's Ted Talk so you can take a listen for yourself.

Interview with graphic designer Jason Clement on how to select your fonts, filters, photo, colors and logo for your visual brand identity.

Jason is an art enthusiast, color savant, and unreasonably obsessed with great design. He works with with well known on-line influencers including Ray Edwards and Mike Kim.

Jason helps us pull together all of the work we did on How To Find The Key Elements of Your Visual Brand Part 1 (episode 19) so you can start identifying the specific elements of your visual brand.

Resources: jasonclement.com

Visual Identity Brand Planner

Your visual brand identity (combined with your verbal identity and the value you deliver) evokes a certain feeling, memories and emotions when people experience your brand.

It's the visual story you tell to communicate your overall message, values, and brand promise through the images, colors, fonts, filters, and videos you consistently use.

Being aware of how your visuals affect your brand is the starting point.

What do you want your visuals to say about you?

Learn how these 3 questions will give you the foundation to figure our your visual brand elements:

• Who is your target audience?
• What sets you apart from your competitors?
• How would a friend describe how you make them feel?

Learn more about how these questions will help you narrow in on your visual brand elements from fonts to photos and video to the filters, logos and colors you choose.

Reference:

Mike Kim's blog: http://mikekim.com/build-brand-identity

https://www.instagram.com/amyporterfield/

https://www.instagram.com/jasminestar/

Resource:

Visual Brand Planner pdf download

Work with Val

Some Of My Recent Favorite Reads

Whether you're looking for a fresh source of inspiration or education, consider checking these out.

• Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy
• The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
• The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks

In the vast sea of wonderful books to choose from, these have been really meaningful to my personal and professional development.

Reference: Mike Kim

Resources:

TED Talk Amy Cuddy: Your body language may shape who you are

Amy's response to critique of "Power Posing" research

If you think you want to use a teleprompter for video, there're some things you need to know before you do.

On this episode of Camera Ready with Val Brown you'll learn about

The importance of:

• knowing why you are using a teleprompter
• pacing, volume, pauses and body movement
• positioning your teleprompter

You'll also need to be sure you write conversationally and spend time practicing your script before you hit the record button. Easy tips you can put to use right away.

Have you ever had a conversation with someone who was wearing sunglasses and you weren't? How did it make you feel not to be able to see their eyes?

When you look into a person's eyes you get an idea of who they are. And their eyes tell you things about them that their words might not - it's part of their body language.

William Shakespeare said your eyes are the window to your soul. So when is it ok to wear sunglasses on camera?

Learn about:

• How context and purpose affects whether you wear sunglasses
• Things you can do to minimize glare when you are on camera
• Lighting tips to help look your best without squinting

References:

Travel Brinkley

Casey Neistat

Resources:

Photo and Video Planner

Learn to pay attention to the details that will help you attract the types of audiences you'd like to speak to in the future and what you need to do ahead of time to make sure you look, feel and sound your best on stage including:

• Who is in the audience
• Where you are in the room
• What you will wear

With a little planning and some homework, you can make sure your audience focuses on you and not what you are wearing.

References:

Nick Morgan

Study - Psychology of Objectification

Rando Martins

Resources:

CR 5 - What to Never, Ever Wear on Camera... pdf

CR 6 - Are You Ready For Your Close Up? pdf

Learn how to write a script quickly and consistently and create more content!

Using a script template makes to a lot easier to be consistent in getting your content out on time. Having a format to write your videos is a great way to make sure you are including essential information.

It also gives you the freedom to write in your own voice and connect with your viewers.

Learn how to

• create an effective opening
• identify your key points
• write a close that gets your audience to take action

And using video also increases your traffic from search engines and ups your click through rates.

pdf script template