Your First On-Camera Filming Experience: What to Expect & How to Feel Confident

Stepping in front of a camera—especially for the first time—can feel a little intimidating. Totally normal. At Waves Media, most of the people we film have never done a professional shoot before, and by the end they usually say something like:

“That was actually way easier than I expected.”

Our goal is simple: make the experience smooth, comfortable, and even enjoyable.
Here’s a simple walkthrough of what a typical filming day looks like and how to prepare.

1. What to Wear (and Why It Matters)

Choosing the right clothing isn’t about perfection—it’s about making sure you are the focus.

Simple tips that work every time:

• Solid colors work best
• Avoid small stripes or busy patterns
• Earth tones, greens, blues look great on camera
• Skip bright white if possible (it reflects light)
• Keep jewelry quiet and minimal
• Bonus: Have one backup outfit ready

Above all: wear something you feel confident in. Comfort always translates well on camera.

2. Prepping Your Space (Lightly!)

If we’re filming in your home or office, don’t overthink it. We’ll guide everything on-site.

Here’s what helps:

• Choose a tidy, distraction-free area (ideally as spacious as you have for depth)
• Natural light is great but not required
• We’ll bring lighting and audio gear
• We may turn off fans/AC briefly for clean sound
• Pets and noise happen — we can absolutely work around them

If you want, we can do a quick virtual walk-through together before the shoot to pick the perfect spot.

3. Who Shows Up & What Setup Looks Like

For most interviews, testimonials, or teleprompter recordings, you’ll see a small crew of 1–2 Waves team members.

What you can expect:

• Professional but friendly crew
• Very minimal footprint
• 60 minutes for setup – sometimes need a bit more though
• We handle everything—gear, lighting, sound, and teleprompter

Your only job is to relax and breathe 😅

4. Teleprompter 101 (Super Simple!)

If you’re using a script, you’ll read from a teleprompter positioned right in front of the camera lens. It scrolls at the pace that feels natural to you (we monitor and pace it with you)

Before recording:

• We’ll rehearse
• Adjust pacing
• Help you with tone and delivery
• Make sure everything feels comfortable

If slides are part of your talk, we’ll cue them for you or display them on the teleprompter so you don’t have to juggle anything.

No memorization needed.
And remember – we edit everything! So the pressure is off!

5. The Actual Filming Experience

Every filming session is designed to feel relaxed, guided, and low-pressure.

Here’s what the flow typically looks like:

1. We set up lighting, audio, and framing so everything looks great.
2. We do a short warm-up so you can get comfortable on camera.
3. You’ll either read from the teleprompter or answer questions interview-style.
4. We take breaks whenever you want — water, resetting, or regrouping is always welcome.
5. Multiple takes are completely normal and encouraged.

Our direction throughout is gentle, collaborative, and designed to help you feel supported.
You never have to rush, and you’re never expected to get it right on the first try.

6. Preparing Mentally (The Secret Sauce)

The best on-camera moments come from authenticity, not perfection.

A few reminders our clients love:

• You don’t need to perform; just be yourself
• It’s okay to pause, restart, laugh, or ask questions
• We guide tone, pacing, posture, and comfort levels
• You are not expected to get it right on the first try

And truly, most people find they enjoy the process more than they thought they would.

7. Final Thoughts

If you have questions about clothing, your space, timing, or anything else, send them our way. We’re always happy to hop on a call beforehand.

Your story matters.
We’re here to help you tell it clearly, confidently, and beautifully.