How to Feel Confident on Camera and Show Up Naturally

Do you ever feel completely exposed when the camera turns on, like everyone will see right through you? You're not alone! In today's episode, we're tackling confidence on camera—a common challenge for women stepping into the spotlight. As a photographer, I've seen firsthand how vulnerable it feels to be fully visible, whether it's on video, photos, or even in person. Today, I'm sharing practical ways you can overcome camera anxiety and show up naturally.

Episode Timestamps:

• 00:00 – The vulnerability of being fully seen
• 01:25 – Why being on camera feels uncomfortable
• 02:37 – My personal struggle with camera anxiety
• 04:00 – Three reasons we fear being on camera
• 05:24 – Practical tips to confidently show up naturally
• 06:06 – Why practicing privately boosts confidence
• 06:48 – How positive self-talk transforms camera presence
• 07:18 – Shifting focus from yourself to your audience
• 08:12 – Creating the right headspace before filming
• 09:03 – Embracing vulnerability as your greatest strength

Key Takeaways:

• Being on camera feels uncomfortable because it makes us emotionally vulnerable.
• Most camera anxiety comes from fear of judgment, perfectionism, and worries about being authentically visible.
• Your imperfections and authenticity are what make you relatable and magnetic.
• Practical strategies like positive self-talk, practicing privately, and shifting your focus outward help build genuine confidence.
• Embracing vulnerability as a strength, not a weakness, allows you to show up powerfully.

Ready to Step Into Your Confidence?

Today, I challenge you to:

• Record and share a quick, authentic video or photo.
• Speak up confidently in your next meeting or networking event.

Whatever action you take, tag me on social media—I’d love to celebrate your bravery!

If this episode resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another high-achieving woman who needs encouragement to show up confidently.

For more resources and to connect with me, visit jamapantel.com. Subscribe to never miss an update!

Remember, your voice matters—now’s the time to confidently own your presence and live the whole picture.

https://www.jamapantel.com

Chapters

• 0:00 Overcoming Camera Anxiety
• 1:25 Why Being Seen Feels So Vulnerable
• 3:23 My Personal Journey with Camera Fear
• 4:07 Understanding Our Camera Confidence Struggles
• 5:15 Practical Strategies for Authentic Presence
• 9:03 Vulnerability as Your Superpower
• 10:13 Your Challenge and Next Steps

Transcript

Jama Pantel: 0:00

Have you ever turned on your camera and felt completely exposed, like everyone is about to see right through you? The fear of showing up authentically can feel paralyzing, almost like you're standing bare under a bright spotlight. But here's a secret I've learned Embracing that vulnerability is exactly what makes you magnetic. Today, I'm sharing how to show up naturally on camera and confidently reveal the real you. Hey y'all, welcome back to Living the Whole Picture, the podcast for ambitious women ready to elevate their visibility, build authentic confidence and become the face of their brand. I'm your host, Jama Pantel, a luxury portrait photographer, author, educator, influencer and dream chaser. Here to help you master your brand presence and show up authentically with confidence. Each week we'll dive into topics to help you shine in business and in life, so you can stop hesitating and start showing up like the leader you were meant to be. If you've ever struggled with confidence on camera or hesitated to put yourself out there, this podcast is for you. Let's get started on living the whole picture together. Today's episode is something so close to my heart confidence on camera and how to show up naturally. If the thought of getting on video, having your photo taken or stepping in front of an audience makes you feel uncomfortable or overly vulnerable, you're exactly where you need to be. Let's dive right in.

Jama Pantel: 1:25

So why does being on camera feel so uncomfortable? First, let's be real being on camera can feel incredibly intimidating For many of us, myself included. Seeing ourselves clearly in photos, videos or online can trigger insecurity, fear and deep self-criticism. Trust me, I've been there. I've spent so many years behind the camera capturing beautiful, strong, confident women who, despite their achievements, felt completely exposed and uncertain when stepping in front of my lens. In fact, more often than not, my clients' first words when we'd chat about photos is I'm terrible in front of the camera. But here's what I've learned after photographing so many women. It's rarely about the camera itself. It's about the vulnerability of being fully seen. When you're on camera, there's nowhere to hide. It feels raw, almost like standing emotionally bare in front of an audience. And this feeling isn't just limited to video or photography. It extends into everyday life too, whether you're giving presentations, networking or showing up online Story time y'all.

Jama Pantel: 2:37

A few years back, when I first started creating content online, I felt completely uncomfortable being in front of the lens. Content online I felt completely uncomfortable being in front of the lens. For years, I hid behind my camera and often joked. Being hidden behind the camera was my superpower and that made me invincible. Then, suddenly, I was in front of it and the roles reversed. I felt completely exposed. Initially, every single imperfection felt magnified. I obsessed over how I sounded, how I moved, if I made sense and what others might think of me. Every video or photo felt painfully vulnerable, like expressing pieces of myself that I wasn't quite ready to share. Yet I vividly remember my first YouTube video Terrified doesn't even come close. As I hit post, that stomach knotted pit was within me and I was so full of anxiety. What if no one watches? What if everybody judges me? What if I don't make any sense? But here's the truth. Nothing awful happened. People actually resonated with my authenticity and how I presented my knowledge. The way I showed up and shared made me more relatable and over time, that became my strength. This shift didn't happen overnight, however. It took practice, mindset shifts and practical strategies exactly what I'll share with you today.

Jama Pantel: 4:00

So why do we struggle with camera confidence, understanding why we feel vulnerable on camera helps us move past it. So let's explore three big reasons. Number one fear of judgment. We worry excessively about what everybody else thinks of us. Will they see our flaws? Will they judge us in our appearance and criticize our abilities? That constant self-evaluation can feel paralyzing. Number two hypocritical self-image. Most of us fixate on things that no one else sees or notices. A minor imperfection feels monumental. When reviewing our photos or videos, we magnify perceived flaws because we're our own worst critics. And number three fear of authentic visibility. Being authentically visible feels so risky. It's so much safer to hide behind filters, carefully curated images or personas. Stepping out as the real you, unfiltered, makes you feel vulnerable, sometimes even scary. Recognize any of this. You're definitely not alone. So now let's talk about some practical tips to show up confidently and naturally on camera. It's time to shift from fear to confidence. Here are my proven strategies to help you start showing up naturally and authentically.

Jama Pantel: 5:24

Number one get comfortable with imperfection. Perfection doesn't exist and it's so not relatable Authenticity is when you're overly polished, you lose some relatability. Remind yourself regularly that audiences crave genuine connections, not flawless presentations. So the most engagement I've ever had on social media wasn't from any of my professionally produced photos. It was from raw, honest moments I shared spontaneously. Those real moments resonated deeply because they felt human and approachable. Lean into that imperfection. It creates genuine connections.

Jama Pantel: 6:06

Number two practice, practice. Practice. Even if it's in private, confidence is built through repetition. If being on camera is scary, start privately, take pictures or record yourself speaking or posing without intention to share immediately. Practice helps normalize your appearance and voice on camera. Before I recorded my first online tutorial, I was terrified, but I did it anyway. Each repetition since then has made me more comfortable. Eventually, turning on the camera started to feel natural and easy instead of intimidating all the time. But I have to be in the right headspace and I'll share more on that in a bit.

Jama Pantel: 6:48

So, number three use positive self-talk. Your inner dialogue shapes your external presence. Before going on camera, shift your thoughts from critical to encouraging. Remind yourself my voice matters and I'm allowed to be seen exactly as I am. When negative thoughts arise, replace them with kinder words. This simple habit dramatically changes your energy and how you show up. Number four shift your focus from you to your audience.

Jama Pantel: 7:18

A powerful way to reduce anxiety about being seen is to focus on those you're trying to help instead, instead of worrying about how you're being perceived, think how can I best serve the people watching or listening? This approach instantly moves the focus away from self-criticism toward value giving and authentic connection. And now number five the right headspace. As I mentioned a bit ago, being in the right headspace really helps. I always ask my clients what kind of music they like and we play that in the studio when we're working together. Inside it's a bit harder to do outside, so listening to music and dancing it out before we get going really helps you relax. And another tip you can do this inside or outside. Shake it off or shake it out. It might sound or feel silly, but it really helps, loosen you up and makes you laugh and smile along the way too.

Jama Pantel: 8:12

Now I want you to remember embracing vulnerability as your superpower is huge. Here's an important truth Vulnerability is strength, not weakness. Being fully seen feels scary because we're conditioned to believe vulnerability exposes us negatively, but vulnerability really connects us. It makes you human, relatable and approachable. Think about your favorite speakers or influencers or mentors. Often it's their willingness to be openly vulnerable and imperfect that draws you toward them. When you're brave enough to let others see the real, you toward them. When you're brave enough to let others see the real you flaws, nerves and all you give others permission to do the same, your vulnerability becomes your greatest strength Now.

Jama Pantel: 9:03

A powerful presence starts with authenticity. Today, I invite you to step into your authenticity intentionally. Choose to show up exactly as you are unfiltered and natural. You'll be surprised at the power this holds. I want you to try this simple challenge today. Record a quick video sharing something authentic, or take that photo and share something authentic. Post an unfiltered photo you genuinely like and then speak up in a meeting or a networking event without fear. Whatever step you choose, let it reflect your genuine self, and tag me when you do. I'd love to celebrate your bravery. So now closing thoughts. You're ready to shine.

Jama Pantel: 9:41

Confidence on camera doesn't mean eliminating nerves entirely. It means choosing to show up authentically despite them. It's normal to feel vulnerable, but each time you step forward authentically, your confidence grows stronger. Your voice, your story and your presence are incredibly powerful. The world needs what only you can share Embrace vulnerability, lean into authenticity and trust that your natural self is exactly what makes you so magnetic. Thank you so much for tuning in to Living the Whole Picture. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love for you to subscribe, leave me a review and share it with another high-achieving woman who needs to hear this message. Or, better yet, share it and tag me on social media. Visit my website, jamapantel. com, for more resources, updates and ways we can work together. Be sure to subscribe while you're on the website so you never miss anything. You've worked hard to get where you are. Now it's time to show up confidently and own your presence. Until next time, keep showing up and living the whole picture.