How To Look Good On Camera Video?

Some people have a natural ability to look good on video. It's not necessarily about being physically attractive either. Yes, those fortunate to have been born with good genetics do have some advantages, but physical beauty does not necessarily translate to looking good on video. Some people just "pop" onscreen. They seem to genuinely enjoy being in front of the video camera and know how to put their "best self" forward. This talent comes naturally to some, but for most of us, it is a learned skill.

Finding Your Most Flattering Angle

No one has a perfectly symmetrical face, but we all have a "best side." Film directors and cinematographers know this and they study their leading actors to figure out the most flattering angles to film them on. Most celebrities don't have perfect symmetry, but industry professionals know how to "work around it" and film them on an angle where the less flattering side is minimized and asymmetry is a little more balanced.

The following exercise is about building your on-camera confidence and figuring out what works best for you:

1. Hold your filming device at arm's length and take a large number of still photos of your face from different angles; front on, right profile, left profile and all the angles in-between.
2. Film yourself turning your face slowly from side to side as you keep eye contact with the lens. Combine this with slowly lifting your chin up and down, and tilting your head on various angles.
3. Notice how your nostrils dominate the shot if you tilt your head back too far, or how you get a double chin if you tilt your head towards your chest.
4. Play around with extremes so that you have a reference point of "what not to do."
5. Screenshot the frames that you are drawn to. Include the ones you don't like also. This will be an (intuitive) indicator of your best and not so flattering angle/s.
6. Narrow your choices down, and select which angle is most flattering for you as a reference point and what to avoid doing on-screen.
7. Once you have chosen your best angles, when being interviewed or speaking direct-to-camera, you can (subtly) position your head, face, and body position to present your most flattering side onscreen.

Camera Position and Distance

Avoid full profile (side on) body positions

Instead, ensure that both eyes can see the video camera lens.

Avoid the "selfie" distance

E.g. 12 inches between you and your filming device to prevent nasal and facial distortion. Opt for a distance of 3 to 5 feet (portrait distance) instead.

Lens distortion

Some filming devices and their lens capabilities, as well as various apps and filters, can distort and make your facial features disproportionate. Do not, in any case, use a wide angle lens. If you're shooting on a camera with a fixed lens (iPhones), move out. If possible, use a slightly longer focal length. 135mm is said to be ideal for portraits but for vlogs/home videos, 50/85mm works great.

Double chin

Keep your chin level and extend the back of the neck upwards. Gently push your chin slightly forward. This will reduce the appearance of a double chin. Position yourself so that the camera is at eye level or slightly above. As a bonus, this also helps reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.

Lighting and Makeup

Good lighting will make you look better on screen, no matter your age. Good lighting fills in facial shadows, brings light to your eyes, and can make hair look lush and shiny.

• Always wear make-up onscreen — not to simply feel more put together, but to meet the technical demands of the lens. This rule also applies to men.
• You can also layer on the filters, but not so much that it impacts your mental health. A red flag here would be that you're using filters to alter your facial bone structure and body shape every time you are on-camera.
• Chin down (but not exaggerated), never have your hips and shoulders straight on to the camera but instead stagger them and create diagonal lines with your body.
• Turn your face to the light source. In general, try to get the most variety of angles, and you will be more likely to find one you like.

Stop Facing the Camera Head-On

Facing the camera directly can make even the most outgoing people freeze up, forget their words, or go completely monotone — definitely not the ingredients for an engaging video. Instead, record at an angle, so you are recording the side of your face instead of straight on. This way, the camera won't be front and centre, and you won't be directly looking at it.

Look at a spot on the wall, or pretend to talk to someone just off-camera. This instantly makes you feel like you're in a conversation, not giving a TED talk to a ring light, and will look much more natural. Even people who are great on camera use this. It makes your video feel more intimate and way less staged, like you're having a conversation instead of making a school presentation.

Deliver a More Natural On-Camera Performance

• Don't talk to yourself: Most of us don't sit around monologuing to inanimate objects. Sitting in a room, talking to no one is unnatural and it often comes across that way on film. Have someone present with you — it helps you look and feel much more relaxed.
• Let someone push back on you: Gently having someone object to something you're saying brings passion to the surface. You stop "explaining" and start really believing. Your face lights up, and you start to pull to the surface points that you probably hadn't intended to include, and it brings an energy that makes you magnetic.
• Lose the script: Unless you're a trained actor, scripted videos usually come out stiff and lifeless. Instead of scripting every single word, use prompts — simple bullet points of what you want to say that will help keep you on track. Talk it through like you're chatting to a friend. It's so much better to sound human than robotic.
• Don't apologise: It is totally normal to mess up, even if you are a seasoned pro. Just stop and restart the sentence. Don't beat yourself up. Don't apologise. It will take you out of the flow, and you'll become really self-conscious about messing up again. Editors are magic — they'll cut the slip-up, and no one will ever know.

Why You May Look Better on Video Than in Photos

Some people's beauty is dynamic — it can't be captured in a still image. Factors like microexpressions, mannerisms, and movement contribute to how a person comes across visually, and these can't be conveyed in a single still frame. Freezing for photos can make us look unnatural. The longer the freeze, the worse it is. Try slightly moving your head or a little shake, stopping half a second before the shutter.

Newer iPhones overprocess photos using AI. This type of overprocessing — adding fake details, sharpening, messing with the lighting — is especially unflattering on humans. Using Apple ProRAW format instead produces something more true to life, though it takes up more storage space. Whenever a photo is taken, subtly shifting your face and body angles, and taking a handful of shots rather than one, gives you a variety of poses rather than multiple shots where you look the same and unflattering.