Camera Ready with Val Brown

The first step in creating a video strategy is creating a video content mission statement. It will answer three questions: what you do, how you do it and why.  Once you know these three things you can then create your video mission statement what type of information will you deliver and why. A video content mission statement will help you stay on target when you are developing content for your videos. Do you want to educate, entertain, inspire? What does your audience need? What are their pain points? Getting really clear on this does two things. It lets you plan and deliver a cohesive body of content and develop a content calendar that supports your business strategy. When you have a road map it defines what you should be doing as much as what you should not be doing. What is the outcome your audience will receive as a result of consuming your content? In this episode, learn how to write your video content mission statement. Once you do, it will guide your content decisions whether you’re doing a quick video on Instagram or a longer format education video. You will know who you are talking to, why they need what you are delivering, and what outcome will they achieve from consuming your content.  Most importantly, you will know how your content supports your company’s mission.  reference: Episode 42 - Why you need a video strategy

Thinking about using video in your business can feel OVERWHELMING. There are so many moving parts, it’s not always easy to figure out where to get started or where to focus your efforts to get the biggest return on your time and budget. You want to be sure you are creating the right content for the right audience and delivering it in the right places.​ When you have a video strategy, you will ensure you are creating content that's in alignment with your business goals and where you’ll see the biggest return. It's no different than having a business strategy. It's a map to reach your goals.  When you have a strategy aligning your actions with your business goals, it makes it easy to know the next step to take.  In this episode, I share my top three reasons for creating a video strategy.

The future belongs to the storyteller, if you can tell stories, the world is your oyster." That's a quote from my friend, mentor and master marketer Mike Kim in part two of my interview with him. In part one of our interview, Mike shared his thought provoking personal brand questions known as the PB3, which are designed to help you get to your core, identify your audience and clarify your business idea. It’s a must listen for personal brands, you can listen here. This week Mike talks about the importance of using story for personal brands, his story strategy for Instagram and how he keeps creating videos simple.  So grab your notebook and something to write with as Mike spills more pearls of wisdom on this episode of Camera Ready With Val Brown.

My guest is friend, mentor, and master marketer, Mike Kim.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Mike, get ready to have your mindset about marketing completely reset.  ​Mike Kim is a real world marketing pro and he hosts the top rated Brand You podcast.  After working as the CMO of a multimillion dollar company in New York, Mike stepped into the consulting world and he's been hired by people and companies like John Maxwell, Donald Miller, Suzanne Evans and Catalyst.  So if you're ready to learn how to market your personal brand and do stuff that wouldn't embarrass your mother, then you really need to subscribe to his podcast.  What I love about Mike is he makes it so simple to understand what you need to do to become a successful marketer. Remember though, simple doesn’t mean easy ;0) One question I often hear from listeners is about sometimes feeling confused about connecting with your audience, and you’re not sure where to get started.  Fear not. Mike is going to share his PB3 of personal brand marketing - thought provoking questions designed to help get to the core of who you are, the people you are meant to serve and your business proposition.  You'll also get his unvarnished perspective on the number one thing personal brands get wrong about marketing.  If you're ready to change the way you think about marketing your personal brand, please join me on this episode of Camera Ready with Val Brown.  reference: Mikekim.com/brandyoupodcast/

Marketers who use video are growing company revenue 49% faster year-over-year than those who don’t, according to research from Aberdeen Group.​ We all need data in our businesses to accurately forecast where we are headed. Tracking the results from our marketing efforts goes straight to the bottom line. If you know taking certain actions will yield higher results, why wouldn’t you invest your time and money there? I recently came across this compelling report from Vidyard about using video as part of your marketing strategy and it is so good, I had to share it.

You need to use video for your business and the thought of going live on Facebook sends shivers up your spine? Or even worse, you feel sick or lose sleep even thinking about it? You can’t really put your finger on it. You speak in front of groups of people all the time. Why is Facebook Live different? Learn 7 little known hacks to help you overcome your fear of Facebook Live. From content to tech, you'll build your confidence so you can go live like a pro! Download your checklist here Episode 5  - What to never wear on a marketing video contact: val@valbrown.tv

Live video is something we all need to do for our businesses and it can be intimidating when you haven’t done it before. I hear from so many of you that you feel paralyzed because you don’t know where to get started, you don’t feel like you have anything to say or that you can remember what you want to share. Learn a simple outline to use for your live videos to keep you on track, get you message out and show up with confidence and presence. Remember, when you’re going live it’s not about you, it’s about your audience and the value you are delivering through your message. Once you get over worrying about what other people think and focus on the message you want to share, you’ll see a big shift in your energy. That goes to purpose. Get to the point, don’t waste your viewer's time with irrelevant information. They tuned in to learn, so teach and deliver your message. Listen to learn a  quick outline, (you can think of it as a mini plan) to use to help you shape your video.   

"Good habits make time your ally, bad habits makes time your enemy." James Clear James says to forget about setting goals to get better results, focus on your systems instead. To reach your goals, you need to have the systems in place to reach them.  Learn about how habits: lead us to be the person we want to be work for or against us help us create the systems we need to succeed You can learn to apply the lessons from Atomic Habits so you can consistently create content.

This episode is devoted to your questions about: shooting video in the field by yourself lighting for home offices recording music and video  making time to create video on a regular basis.  There are some key themes that showed up in your questions so I thought I'd do a quick summary of a few things to keep in mind to help you successfully create videos for your communication or marketing plan. No matter where or when you are shooting videos: create a system to ensure your videos are consistent and you can control the quality shoot in batches whenever possible.You may not need to use a video right away, but you have it recorded and can edit it and upload it when you need it. And, most importantly, have fun! Creating videos is a wonderful personal growth opportunity for you to get to know yourself in a whole new light and develop your communication skills. When you're having fun, it comes through on camera and you will connect with your audience and be more effective in sharing your message. I hope this episode is helpful to you, especially if creating video in the new year is a part of your communication and marketing plan. If you are still struggling to get started, and want me to help you get unstuck, just fill out this quick questionnaire and we’ll set up a call to talk about your goals and how I can help you reach them. Thanks you all for your questions and thank you for listening in. This is the final episode of season two, of Camera Ready With Val Brown. Please stay tuned for season three which will be full of lot of new content to to help you learn how to look, feel, and sound confident and comfortable on camera. Until then, remember when you know your purpose, you can create a plan that supports your on camera presence, every time. Podcasts I referenced: CR 7 - Three Things You Must Know Before Your Pick A Location For Your Next Video or Photo Shoot CR 12 - Are Your Self Limiting Beliefs Keeping You Off Camera? CR 14 - Five Easy Steps to Writing Your Next Video CR 21 - How To Stop Procrastinating And Get Your Headshots Done CR 29 - Five Simple Steps To Creating Videos On The Fly CR 30 - 3 Essential Things You Must Know About Choosing Video Backgrounds    

Have you ever tried time and time again to reach a goal or a dream, been disappointed, and felt like just giving up? Wanting to give in to that inner voice that says “this just isn’t for you.” I have. This is a personal story about turning failures into a pathway to achieve your dreams. The takeaways? As we are preparing for the new year, it’s a time for reflection and to take stock of things we’ve done well and things we’d like to do better. The importance of realizing when something’s not working the need to seek the knowledge and mentorship to help you reach your goals. Winning isn’t so much about the victory itself but about the pathway you take to get there. www.visualbridgecommunication. If you are seeking a guide to help you take your communication and on camera skills up to the next level, let's find a time to talk. 2019 will be here before you know it. >>>Just fill out the application here, and we can schedule a call to talk about your video and communication goals for the coming year. Until then, remember, with a little reflection, research and willingness to reach out to a mentor, you can turn your dreams into reality, every time.  

Has this happened to you? When you look at your holiday photos you think everyone in the shot looks great except you because: Your eyes are shut You hate what you are wearing The camera angle is unflattering You have dark circles under your eyes because of bad lighting  I know I’ve experienced every one of these.  Worry not, there are some really easy things you can do to make sure you look your best in your priceless holiday photos. On this episode of Camera Ready With Val Brown we'll cover: What to wear, or not Lighting, angles and tips to look slimmer on camera  Makeup and hair These are some really quick tips you can use before you step out the door for your next holiday event so you look awesome in your holiday photos, every time. ​ visualbridgecommunication.com/podcast val@visualbridgecomm.com

We’re all busy, whether we’re running our own business, leading our team or building our career.  Taking time to figure out how to put on makeup for video seems like a huge time suck. What about makeup when I'm on camera? is the question I hear most often behind what should I wear? And it’s a good one, because most of us don’t spend a lot of time under hot lights or in front of a lens that can change our skin tone or highlight our less than flattering attributes. If you could just learn a few basic makeup tips, to take the mystery out of how to you show up looking your best on camera whether you’re indoors or outdoors or taking photos for your headshots.  It would be so much easier to get your videos done. Look great on video without spending a ton of time and effort on things that don’t work. Wouldn't It Feel Great To Know It's Not A Lot Of Work To Get Ready To Be On Video?  I want you to know that you can show up as you and that you KNOW how to look your best. And that’s what we are aiming for on camera, a look that’s natural, easy to achieve and one where you feel amazing about how you look. Think of your face as a painting where the elements are in balance with your best feature being the star of the show. Whether that’s your eyes, cheekbones or lips. On this episode of Camera Ready With Val Brown you'll learn: how your lifestyle will affect how you look on camera (yes ladies I know I covered this last week, AND it’s that important) things to know about makeup and the camera some tips on keeping your look fresh throughout out your shoot. If you missed last week's podcast covering on camera makeup tips for men,  you can listen to part one here. >>>You can listen to this week's episode, On Camera Makeup Tips Part 2 - For Women here or here. Or if you prefer, you can read the blog here.  

Do you ever wonder if you should wear makeup or not on video?  You're just not sure how much to wear or what to use? It’s  a question I get asked a lot. Did you know that how you show up on camera is more than what you are wearing and your makeup? For the next two weeks, I am going to share my Emmy award winning secrets about makeup for video - things I've learned over three decades producing television.   Today's podcast is part one of two where I share makeup tips for men and next week I'll cover makeup for women. Before You Ladies Decide To Tune Out... There's plenty of good advice that you can use in this episode too! Lots of what I share in this episode applies to everyone and you'll learn best practices for men so you can help that special person in your life when they are doing video. Here's what you'll learn on today's episode: the importance of lifestyle on how you show up on camera things to consider about your hair and hair color  makeup tips for indoors and outdoors I also included some affiliate links at the end of these show notes to a few products I mention if you want to check them out as a starting place so you can research for your preferences and needs. Hope you'll tune in and feel free to share this with someone you think could benefit from this information. Makeup Guide affiliate links: sunblock dark circle reducer blotting paper

We've all watched lots of videos where the background seems out of synch with the person speaking or there is so much going on you are focused on that and not the speaker.  And that’s completely avoidable.  In today's episode I’m going to cover a simple checklist to make sure your background is appropriate for the video you are shooting, no matter how much time you have to prepare. I’m pretty sensitive to backgrounds and a lot of that is probably due to a some of the mistakes I’ve made in my career.   I’ll never forget I landed an interview with a well respected elected official and got the okay to shoot in his office.  I was thrilled, because it was a really BIG deal. We shot the interview and when I went back to the edit bay to review the tape, I was horrified. In my hurry, I had missed the fact that there was an object hanging on the wall that appeared to protrude from his head. There were no words. He looked like My Favorite Martian. Back then, painting out an object was not as easy as it today. And reshooting the interview was not an option. From then on, I always took the time to make sure the shot I saw in my head was achievable in the time and space I had available and that there were no distractions in the background. Learn the three essential things you need to pay attention to when you are choosing a background for your next video: Does it support your brand and topic? Do you have enough light? Are there any distractions? In this episode I cover a simple checklist you can go over to make sure your background is appropriate for the video you are shooting, no matter how much time you have to prepare. Reference: Episodes: 7, 19, 20 Ring light Light Kit

Creating videos on the fly is something I get asked about a lot, whether its for your product or a business message or idea you need to deliver quickly and effectively. And, as I was going through my morning ritual the other day I thought wow, wouldn’t it be awesome to create a video ritual that would let you get clear about your message and make sure you look and sound great before you hit the record button. It would be something that was especially good for situations when you don’t have a lot of time to think. Having a quick framework to reference allows you to collect your thoughts and energy and show up with intention and confidence. So I got to thinking about my morning ritual, one I got from Mel Robbins, the author of the Five Second Rule.   I created my own version of her morning ritual, Take Five, so you can gather your thoughts quickly and turn out great looking videos, every time. For a refresher on how you can use Mel's five second rule to stop procrastinating and get your headshots done, listen to episode 21.  Here's my take on Mel's Take Five ritual, this one is for video.    

  On Camera Confidence is a result of  working with your strengths and developing in areas where you are not as strong. What Can I Do If I Don't Like The Way I Look On Camera? I Know It's Silly, But I Can't Help It... During my career there have been times where I’m really sensitive about my appearance too. When that happens I have had to work to get that voice out of my ahead that always judges how I look.  Like anything, some days I do a better job than others. What I can share with you are some concrete actions you can take to start getting to the root of your on camera shyness. And, you are not alone! Today I’m going to share a  Really Cool Tool To Help You Build Your On Camera Confidence In episode one of this podcast, I shared with you a bit about what led me to do my graduate work in organization development or OD.  For those of you not familiar with this area of study, I think this definition supports our topic today.   OD is the practice of planned, systemic change in the beliefs, attitudes and values of employees for individual and company growth. The purpose of OD  is to enable an organization to better respond and adapt to industry/market changes and technological advances. And what we are talking about today is looking at the planned and systemic change in the beliefs attitudes that are keeping you from being confident on camera. One of the first tools I use when we go into an organization to get a clearer picture of the current environment is a SWOT analysis, which is simply doing an inventory of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Many of you no doubt have used this in your business at one point or another to plan for the future or identify what’s going on in the current environment. Strengths and weaknesses are internal to an organization and opportunities and threats are external. The same goes for an individual SWOT analysis.  Your strengths and weaknesses come form the dialogue going on inside you that guide your behaviors. Opportunities and threats are what’s going in the external environment that affect your business or industry. What Does That Have To Do With Me Doing Video? Everything! If you are constantly putting yourself down and focusing on your weaknesses and that’s keeping you from doing video, guess what? that actually becomes a threat to your business.  Not doing video keeps you from thriving at the level you would if you did and you are missing out on a lot of opportunities.  Kind of interesting how that works huh.  On today's episode learn how to: perform your own personal SWOT analysis  leverage your strengths  overcome your weaknesses    So if you’re ready, let’s dive in. Resource: Camera Confident Worksheet Learn more about the SWOT

  Video is the fastest way for you to create a connection with your audience - the sound of your voice and body language allows your audience to connect with you instantly. Using video lets your audience get a better sense of who you are. When they can see you, it helps you to build trust with them, and when done intentionally, you reinforce your brand.  When you use video, your personality and voice are center stage, and that’s critical to building your know, like and trust relationship with your audience. It’s also a great way to showcase your expertise and share what you know that can help people live better lives and build better businesses. On today's episode learn: ​How to quickly organize your thoughts to keep viewers watching A really cool tip on audio The best way to position your camera It actually goes back to the basics - the 3 p’s Purpose, Plan and Presence. If you want a review, check out episodes 2,3 and 4. Being intentional will save you from the shoot and pray and shoot and spray mindset and make sure you shoot and score with the audience you want to reach.  And at the end of this episode I have a very special challenge and opportunity for a select few of you who are chomping at the bit to start doing video as part of your marketing program so that in just  6 weeks, you can be on camera without looking awkward or like an amateur to your audience and peers. Check it out here: How To Prepare For Your Next Photo or Video Shoot Contact:  Email: Val@visualbridgecomm.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisualBridgeCommunication... Twitter: twitter.com/valbrown08 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valbrownvisualbridgeco...  

When you create a video to tell a story, do you sometimes feel like you are shooting in the dark? Or, because you're not sure what to shoot, you record everything and it makes it hard to edit? Wouldn't it be great to know the secrets behind creating stories that connect with your audience? Here's the good news, it doesn't have to be that way for you! On this week's podcast I interview Emmy award winning documentary producer and director Kenneth Kebow about his secrets to Creating Stories That Connect. Learn Ken's secrets including: the importance of using sound to make a connection with your audience how to help people you interview look and feel comfortable what you need to consider before you hit the record button Ken is a friend, colleague and mentor who has been in the television business for more than 30 years. He's worked with Google, American Airlines, Ford, CBS and the United States Marines. He's also been honored with numerous awards for his corporate and documentary work including The Whimsical Imagineer, which is about one of of the original Disney Imagineers, Rolly Crump. He also produced and directed a documentary about Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address with Academy award winner Richard Dreyfuss. They are both amazing pieces of work. In part one of my interview with Ken he shared tips on how to create great looking videos on a budget. If you missed it you can listen here.  

Interview with Emmy award winning documentary producer, and director Kenneth Kebow about how to create great looking videos on a budget.  Ken is a friend, colleague and mentor and has been in the television business for more than 30 years. Some of his clients include Google, American Airlines, Ford, CBS and the United States Marines. He has been honored with a number of awards for his corporate work as well as his documentary work which includes one on of the original Disney Imagineers, Rolly Crump, and another with Academy Award Winner Richard Dreyfuss in a documentary about Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. Both are amazing pieces of work. At the end of today’s podcast there will be a link where you can find out how to watch them both. Learn his production secrets including: the importance of pre-production before you shoot how to help people you interview look and feel comfortable an inexpensive way to create high quality, branded backgrounds References:Kenneth Kebow    

We all  use filler words. It’s normal to pause in between thoughts and use uhms, ers, and other filler words.  It’s when you use too many of them it interferes with your effectiveness in delivering your message. It also makes your listeners work harder to get to the heart of what you have to say.  When filler words fill your delivery, they undermine your credibility and authority, make you sound less confident and distract from your message.  Used to the extreme, filler words become verbal white noise the brain has to filter out to get to the meat of your message.  When you are delivering a message about an important project at work, or your service that will change lives, that's a distraction you can do without. Learn:  Why we use filler words How they affect your credibility What you can do to stop saying uhm It's a quick listen so you can put these tips to work right away. Research: University of Missouri 

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 

Key messages are the top 3-5 key ideas you want your audience to know about your product, topic or issue.  Your visual and verbal messages need to align with your brand.  Learn a simple process to identify and create your key messages to make sure you are communicating the right message to your audience. 
 When you use key messages, they Help you stay on track in implementing your communication or marketing plan Create consistency
 Help your audience gain a greater understanding of your product or topic P.S. In this episode, I give you some cool tools to help you write effective key messages.

The number one reason I see keeping people from being on camera is the stories they tell themselves about themselves!  They usually go something like
 I: hate the way I look on camera
 don’t know what to say
 always forget what I’m going to say
 mess up and then people will think I’m stupid  
 I’ll share some of the things I’ve learned about self limiting beliefs and how they hold us back from doing the very things we need to do to move us toward our goals and dreams. Especially, being on camera. 
 Learn about how you:  choose your thoughts and shape your reality
 determine whether those thoughts are holding you back from your goals and dreams
 can reframe and re-write your story to increase your self awareness and confidence Reference: Kary Oberbrunner Resource: How to Rewrite Your Self-Limiting Beliefs

Photos and video are how people connect with you. And when there is a connection, it builds trust.Photos and video are how people connect with you. And when there is a connection, it builds trust.Finding a good photographer you are comfortable working with who "gets you" and your brand isn't always easy.Investing in a good set of headshots or personality shots can make a huge difference in your business.Last week's podcast was all about how to look your best.  This week's interview is with photographer Stephanie Marie. Learn: Steps you need to take before calling a photographer What you should ask a prospective photographer Determining the process for your photo shoot Stephanie also shares what she does to help her clients relax and look their best in front of the camera. Her interview is packed with useful information you can put to use right away. Here's some of Stephanie's work - enjoy!    

You need a good headshot whether it’s for your LinkedIn profile, Facebook or Twitter, marketing materials, a website banner or personality shots for your website. And your headshot needs to support your brand visually and verbally.  When people look at your photo, they are looking for an emotional connection. Your headshot invites them to learn more, it says I’m approachable. That emotional connection builds trust and that’s why it’s so important to have good headshot and the right photographer take them. Learn about: defining the purpose for your photo shoot brainstorming and planning locations matching your camera presence supports your brand Be sure to join us next week when I interview photographer Stephanie Marie about how to choose a photographer that's right for you and how to work with them to maximize your investment. Reference: John Lee Dumas Ann Vertel Resource: Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 8

Finding the threads in your story can be challenging, yet it is one of the most freeing things you can do. And, it’s critical you get clear about this as you begin building your personal brand.  Everything you do will pivot off of your story. Learn about: Why your story is important to your brand How to find your story using a simple 3 step story structure Why your story matters to your business going forward To make it easier to get started I’m posting a story guide worksheet in the show notes to help you find the threads of your story.   Reference: STORY SMART: Using the Science of Story to Persuade, Influence, Inspire, and Teach  STORY PROOF: The Science Behind the Startling Power of Story  Mike Kim Resource: Find Your Story Guide Worksheet

Wouldn’t it be amazing to know how to use your nervous energy to fuel you, not hinder you when you are on camera? Imagine how would it feel to be able to get in the right emotional place, where you can’t wait to share your message - every time you are on camera? Get clear about your on camera jitters and how to calm them. Learn about: why we get nervous what you can do to get over it exercises to help you crank up your energy. It’s a quick listen and you can pick up some tips to use right away in your next video or photo shoot. When you know your purpose and have a plan - you can go from being shy and scared to feeling fearless and confident on camera every time! References:Barbara Niven Resource:Camera Ready Planner

Depending on the purpose and message for your video and photos, location makes a big difference. Learn what you need know when you choose a location for your video or photo shoot including what: the location you choose says about your brand time of day is best to shoot a video or photos to do ahead of time before you select a location  Here are links to the videos I referenced in this podcast. Mike Kim video Jeff Walker  

Looking good on camera consistently, whether it’s for photos or video is all about paying attention to the details. There are definite things you can do to enhance your appearance and things you want to avoid. You'll learn industry best practices for men and women from my 30 years working in television. Get practical information you can use right away about: hair make-up accessories The tips in this podcast are for men and women. You can download your pdf below.  References:  Amy Porterfield Application Resources - pdf download: How To Put Your Best Face Forward On Camera  

Learn about how people judge you by what you are wearing, the importance of taking the time to plan your wardrobe and what to NEVER, ever wear on camera when you are shooting a marketing video and why.   These are tried and true guidelines that will help you when you are deciding what to wear in front of the camera.  And once you know the rules, it’s up to you to decide if you want to break them. Your purpose, message and brand need to be in alignment and by taking some time to plan and following these guidelines, you can look and feel great in front of the camera. References: Chris Brogan Gary Vaynerchuk Michael Hyatt Jasmine Star Resources: How to Prepare For Your Next Photo or Video Shoot  

Learn about the elements that that create your on camera Presence and how you can ensure that you are in alignment with your brand. Learn about the visual, verbal and value aspects of presence Exercises you can do to define your brand presence How to ensure your authentic self shines through when you are in front of the camera. If you aren’t sure what your brand presence is, listen to today’s podcast and go through the exercise to define your on camera presence in the .pdf download. References: Michael Hyatt Jasmine Star Resources:  Color Psychology  Contact Val 

Take the mystery out of being in front of the camera and ensure you look, feel and sound your best, no matter what.   In this episode we’ll take a look at how to create a plan so you are prepared to look your best. This works for Facebook Live videos too! Learn what you need to plan for: environment (location, audio, lighting) messages visuals Download the Video/Photo planner .pdf your next video appearance.  Here's the link to Mike Kim's podcast on getting ready to present. If you liked this episode, please leave a review. Please leave your questions for future episodes in the comments section below and I'll be sure to give you a shout out on a future show. I'd love to connect on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisualBridgeCommunication... Twitter: twitter.com/val.brown08 LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/valbrownvisualbridgeco... Email: Val@visualbridgecomm.com

Learn the questions you need to ask before you say yes to your next on camera appearance whether it’s for video or photos. Why are you doing this? Where will it be used?   Who are you speaking to? Will this align with my goals and strategies? Knowing the answers to these three questions will help you to create a plan to fulfill your purpose. Download your .pdf here to help you work through these questions and get clear on your purpose.  

Look, feel and sound your best in front of the camera. Whether it’s for business, social media, headshots or television, learn what you need to know to support your brand and deliver your message effectively with credibility and authenticity to your target audience.   Special thanks to Scott Holmes - "Follow Your Dreams" music track