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How to help your team look natural on camera
By Mike Johnson · Photographer & videographer in Logan, Utah
The short answer
Most people feel awkward on camera, and that's normal. Good direction, a relaxed set and a little preparation make the biggest difference. My job is to make the camera disappear so your team can just be themselves.
Before the shoot
- Pick the right people. Choose team members who know the topic, not just the most outgoing person in the office.
- Share topics, not scripts. Give people the questions ahead of time, but don't make them memorize answers. Natural answers sound better than recited ones.
- Plan wardrobe. Solid colors work best. Avoid small stripes, tiny patterns and big logos.
On shoot day
- Keep the room small. Fewer people watching means less pressure.
- Talk to me, not the lens. For interviews, people look at me while we talk, which feels like a normal conversation.
- Warm up first. I start with easy questions so people settle in before the important ones.
- Do it again. There's no rush. We can try an answer a few times and use the best one.
For photos
I direct every pose, expression and small adjustment, so people don't have to guess. Candid moments of people working together are often the most natural shots of the day.
