Use this quick check list to make sure you look your best when being video taped.

Eleven Tips to Looking Good on Camera

1. Get a haircut a few days before video taping - It is amazing what a good haircut can do for you.
   
   
2. If needed, use 'teeth whitener' to have pearly white teeth - it does make a difference. Plan ahead and start this at least a month before the video taping event. Get a teeth whitening kits at your local pharmacy.
   
   
3. Choose appropriate clothing for the video - The clothes you choose should be comfortable and suited to the topic of the video and intended audience. Casual works well in most cases.
   
   
4. Choose the right colors for clothes - Some colors don't work on video, while others can make almost anyone look great. Before you start taping, experiment with different 'outfits' by setting up a video camera connected to a TV, to see which clothes make you look best. Avoid stripes, green, red, and sparkles.
   
   
5. Get your clothes professionally laundered - A wrinkled or dirty shirt can make you look awful. You may not notice the wrinkles or spots, but the camera will.
   
   
6. If you wear glasses, get them coated to prevent reflections - Most eye glass stores can coat your glasses to reduce the reflections of video lights.
   
   
7. If you are a man, shave immediately before video taping - Nothing makes you look like a crook more than a five o'clock shadow. If necessary, 'powder up' using face powder.
   
   
8. Check the set before you go live - Set up a camera and view yourself on the set before you tape. Doing so can help you resolve problems with the backdrop, the height of your chair, how you are framed on video, the placement of lights, and other details that can be fixed before taping (but not after). Be sure to view the set on a TV monitor - this is the only way to get a good idea of what you will look like on video.
   
   
9. Check yourself in a mirror - Immediately before taping, check yourself in a mirror. The last thing you want to do is record an hour of video with your pants unzipped, your lipstick smudged (women), or a shaving nick spurting blood.
   
   
10. Have a video monitor at the camera - When video taping a presentation, you'll find it easier to speak if you can view yourself as you do it. Having a monitor showing what the camera sees, allows you to view the monitor and speak to yourself in a relaxed casual manner, making eye contact. To do this right, position a video monitor at eye level right under the camera. When you look into the monitor it should appear as if you are looking into the camera.
    
    
11. Smile - If you are relaxed and happy, your audience will be relaxed and happy. (But don't appear to be too relaxed - or they will think you are on drugs!)

Getting Comfortable on Video

One of the first steps to being a good video presenter is learning to feel comfortable and confident when you appear on video. Knowing that you look good, will help you appear more confident on tape, and being confident helps your presentations, and make the production process go more smoothly.