Leave your concerns to the pro behind the camera
Worried about looking good in your photos while delivering your keynote?
Leave your concerns to the pro behind the camera.
The other day, I was cruising through the interwebs, looking for some information on keynote presentations, and came across an interesting collection of articles.
And by interesting, I really mean ridiculous.
These articles offered step-by-step information for speakers to look good for their photographers while speaking on stage.
One after another, they shared tips about better facial expressions, controlled body language and movement, and suggested that should be mindful of all this while on stage.
As I skimmed each, my annoyance grew to a fever pitch, to the point that I felt compelled to write about it.
Why?
Because your focus needs to be entirely on delivering your material in a way that connects with your audience and is consistent with the way you present…
and not on creating better photo ops for your photographer in the audience.
Period.
When it comes to creating flattering and compelling stage photos, that’s the photographer’s concern, not yours. It’s their responsibility to put in the work to capture your energy on stage and vibe of the room.
They need to identify your best angles, include the audience in the photos, and be diligent enough to capture an array of body language and facial expressions as you deliver your talk.
Now, does that mean you should go on stage looking like a dumpster fire and hope for the best?
Of course not!
That’s where looking in a mirror at yourself, head to toe - add in a slow spin, while you’re at it - prior to hitting the stage comes into play.
Check to make sure the outfit looks right and your mic cables are tucked and concealed.
And, if you notice some type of issue that simply can’t be fixed, speak with your photographer about it backstage so that they can shoot around it.
But, the moment that your walk-out music begins, that’s the last time you need to think about how you look and how you speak from the stage in front of the camera.
It’s not your job to worry about how much your eyes blink when a spotlight hits your face.
It’s not your job to be mindful of your constant pacing and the difficulty that poses for a photographer trying to keep up and in focus.
It’s not your job to tone down your demonstrative, facial expressions.
It’s not your job to be concerned that the moment you jump into the audience, you’re out of the light and that could affect the quality of the shots.
It’s not your job to take the photographer’s challenges into consideration.
It’s your job to deliver an amazing, transformative program, inspire the audience to think differently, and blow away the meeting planner so they refer you to more work so you can do it over and over again.
After all, the more present and focused you are on stage, the better your delivery will be, and ultimately, that will improve the quality of your photos.
During your next keynote, once you give yourself a solid once-over, leave all the concern you have about how you’ll look in your photos backstage.
Leave the rest to the professional behind the camera.
And if you need help finding a professional photographer who specializes in shooting speakers from the stage, I can help you with that.