Have you ever made a video only to look back on it later and wonder what you were thinking or doing?

As a rule, it’s easier to spot an authentic appearance on camera than it is to give one.

But why? Shouldn’t being authentic be the easiest thing in the world? Just be yourself. Ah, well, if that advice actually worked for everyone who hears it, there wouldn’t be nearly as many ineffective videos.

But projecting authenticity is too important for us to ignore.

Here’s how to not only be authentic, but how to make authenticity embraceable.

And it happens to be Part 3 in our series on how to cultivate the qualities of a Visible Authority.

We’re entering the deep water now. 🙂

 

 

    25 replies to "How to Create Authenticity on Camera"

    • Carol Chapman

      Thanks for giving Stevie some video time. I love laughing and smiling–he brings it out in me. By using Stevie, you very gently illustrate inaccurate perceptions I’m carrying. Delightful. I’m also happy that for Stevie, you didn’t use a Green Screen. Since I’m not Green Screen adept yet, maybe someday I can make an amusing video with my own alternate persona.

      • Mark Nicholson

        I suspect that Stevie is in front of a green screen all the time. Can’t imagine Steve having a messy garage.

    • Lucien

      Great video as always Steve. Have a short question. Would you recommend sending new leads a video response prior to reaching out by telephone?

      BTW, Stevie is a riot.

      • Steven

        Yes. A video prior to a phone call is a great idea!

        • Lucien

          Thanks Steve. I thought so as well.

    • Penny Hansen

      Hi Steve –

      Love the “Now, buy my stuff.”

      Big LOL!

      This was a good way to start the day today.
      Thanks.
      Penny

    • Nancy

      Dear Stevie,

      Keep up the good work and authenticity modeling.
      You’ll get Steve moving in the right direction
      sooner or later!

      Nancy

    • Steve

      Stevie rocked this! That was some funny stuff!

    • Daryl Ochs

      Wow! You may have tapped into a totally new track for your future as Stevie!
      But this series has reminded me that above all you are delightful master of walking your talk as you continue to insist that your Big Self leads the way. For years you have been teaching me more than I ever hope to learn and so I keep coming back for more. And once in a while I even spend some money with you!

      Daryl

    • Bryan

      Stevie who knew, your best video yet! It was nice that you let your straight man Steve deliver the goods with that “Big Self” stuff. He needs a shot at the limelight every once and awhile. But ah……….. I’d watch out for Steve, he might start to take over the show if you’re not careful. Well keep up the great work Stevie!

      Now if I could just figure out how you got in my garage to shoot your video…………

    • Richard Mowrey

      Excellent action-oriented combination of “a thought” with “a smile”!

    • Leslie

      Thanks again for your insight. I always enjoy your videos and the humor you bring.

    • Jeff

      Steven, one of the elements I so enjoy about your videos? How you change the mood with music. Going from no music to music makes us lean in because its like “here’s the secret”. While I almost 100% of the time use background music, this “aha” will lead me to adjust the magic power of this same element. Thanks Steven

    • Dennis

      Question: Do you have any thoughts on one of the latest (talking head) techniques, whereby a single presentation is really a series of clips put together in succession. In other words, the talent excitedly says the first line or so, then there is an abrupt cut to the next line or so, and so on. I’m sure there’s a method or two to this madness: partly because the pace is quick, enthusiasm can be kept up from clip to clip, and I sense there might be something psychological in the seeming unevenness or abruptness to it all.

      Love your videos and advice, Steve!

      • Steven Washer

        Sure. This is called a jumpcut and it’s been used online since around 2009. The idea is to eliminate all the information that isn’t pure didactic data. Small mistakes and indicators that this is a person are to be skipped over.

        The net result is that instead of trying to bring you into the moment where learning occurs, you’re taken into an imagined future where something AMAZING is certainly going to happen. It’s an over-caffeinated feeling of anxiety and excitement (Stevie’s favorite technique).

        While I’m certain this isn’t necessarily the intent, it is surely the result. I leave it to you to ask yourself if this is what you want for your viewers.

    • Mel

      Steve, you are being very generous (tolerating) today’s editing style(s). Long gone is the philosophy of ‘any effect (edit) that draws attention to itself…is distracting from telling the story.’ I heard this style we see so often now… ‘injecting totally irreverent scenes..in one-frame length…and even several back-to-back’ ….is now called “glitter style” editing. Like so much in society today….. there are no standards anymore; everything seems to have gone to hell.

      • Steven Washer

        That’s interesting, but it’s also an opportunity to stand out. And it starts with a question: You can draw attention for it’s own sake, but then where does it go next?

        Then you can build and hold interest. Maybe there are no accepted standards for editing, but does that not allow us to create our own? We can create a unique world where insight is communicated through the rigorous application of logic and creativity? That is quite an opportunity.

        No rules? Then let’s make our own. I call that freedom!

    • Suffolk Sifter

      Hi Steve,

      Many thanks for your latest video, I have been following you for some time. I have a Youtube and Dtube channel – Suffolk Sifter – Detectorist. Would you videos, tips and tricks work in this area? I am still a reasonable new channel (just over a year) and am struggling to increase my subscribers. At the start I decided to create these videos because I love metal detecting, creating video and even editing and not for what I can get back in the form of revenue. So my question is, do I improve the way I project myself on camera, upgrade my filming equipment and/or the way I edit?

      Many, many thanks,
      Steve

      • Steven Washer

        Your main competition (Disabled Detectorist) seems to be using Stevie as his videographer. But his fans love him and rave about his editing. I don’t know if they’re being ironic or not.

        I don’t think improving your production value will help.

        Seems to me you’re doing everything right. You try your best to make the videos look good, you have live Q&A’s, you acknowledge your subscribers by name and you have a lot of videos on the channel.

        If you want to increase your subscriber numbers, study your videos that got the most views and make more like those. In other words, get interested in what your subscribers are interested in and find an angle that your competitors are missing. And for all your study and practice, it will still be the one you least expect that blows up. It will get thousands of views, where most get a hundred. Then you’ll know what to do.

        And be patient. One year is not that long a time and one video could put you over the top. Most stories of overnight success miss the 10 years that went before it!

    • Brendan Kerins

      Hi Stephen,

      Many thanks for your excellent Videos. Your attention to detail is to be admired. Do you Shoot 4K and then in Post Production Crop in to a Shot to emphasise a point you are making.
      by the way thanks for the Green Screen Guide……Very useful.

      Best wishes,
      Brendan

      • Steven Washer

        Yes, thats right, Brendan. It’s a nice benefit of shooting in 4K, that you don’t have to experience any loss of quality in cropping the shot.

    • Cameron Todd

      I”m getting ready to start my video filming. Would it work to paint a large area with chroma green paint and some props that move around? I’m primarily wanting to film my cover band and be able to insert different backgrounds and stages behind us.

      • Steven Washer

        Not sure what you mean by props that move around, but the green wall sounds like a great idea.

    • Ian Faulkner

      Steve. You mention going back to look at Pillars 1 and 2 which somehow I missed. Could you provide a link so I can play them? Thanks in anticipation. IanF, the HealthWise Guy

    • Paul Mawutor

      Hello Steve,
      thanks for the massage, you are indeed sensational speaker and you always motivate me a lot.
      I am learning so much from you.
      thanks and may God bless you.

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