"I hate how I look on camera." "I'll forget what to say." "I sound weird." If any of that sounds familiar, you're in good company — it's what we hear from most agents before their first shoot.
Here's the truth: nobody looks natural on camera by accident. The agents who seem effortless have simply prepared well and filmed enough to relax. This guide covers both.
Before the shoot
Know your message, not your script. You don't need to memorize anything word-for-word. Know the three points you want to make in each video and the order they go in. Natural speech beats perfect sentences.
Rehearse out loud. Say each idea out loud two or three times the day before — in the car, on a walk. Your brain needs to hear the words, not just read them.
Sleep and hydrate. It sounds basic, but tired eyes show on camera more than in person.
What to wear
- Solid, mid-tone colours — navy, deep green, burgundy, soft grey. They flatter most skin tones and look good under lights.
- Avoid fine stripes, small checks and busy patterns — they create a flickering effect on camera.
- Avoid pure white and pure black in large areas — they lose detail.
- Wear what fits your brand. If clients meet you in a blazer, wear a blazer. If you're the relaxed West Coast agent, dress like it.
- Bring two or three options. Changing outfits between videos makes a month of content look like it was filmed on different days.
- Skip noisy jewelry — it clicks against microphones.
You don’t have to memorize a script
You never have to learn a full script by heart. Instead, we split every video into three parts:
- The hook — on camera. This is the one line you learn: a short opening sentence of a few seconds. Rehearse it until it feels easy. Choose words you actually use when you talk to clients, not phrases that sound “scripted.” If you’d never say “nestled” or “boasting” in real life, don’t say it on camera.
- The middle — voice-over. Most of the script plays over B-roll of you, the home or the neighbourhood. We record it as a voice-over, so you can read it calmly and naturally. Nobody sees you reading.
- The outro — on camera. A short closing line and call to action, such as “Message me if you’re thinking of selling in Oak Bay.”
If you appear on camera more than twice in one video, keep every on-camera line short. We rarely show you talking for more than about 10 seconds at a time. The rest of the video is cutaways or voice-over.
If you trip over a word, just pause and start the sentence again. That’s what editing is for.
On the day
- Bring energy up about 20%. Camera flattens energy — what feels slightly "too much" usually looks just right.
- Slow down. Nervous speakers rush. Pause between points.
- Use your hands naturally, at chest height.
- Warm up first. The first two or three takes are always stiff. We film warm-up takes so you can settle in.
On location vs in the studio
A studio gives you controlled light and sound — perfect for talking videos and podcasts. On location — your office, a listing or a neighbourhood — adds context and works well for B-roll and local expert content. Many agents combine both.
Which videos to start with
- Agent Bio (from $950) — your story and what makes you different. The foundation of your brand.
- Intro & outro for listing videos — a short on-camera opener you reuse on every listing. See the 4-video social plan for every listing.
- Monthly content — once you're comfortable, a monthly video content plan builds consistency.
It gets easier — fast
Almost every agent is noticeably more relaxed by their second or third session. The camera stops feeling like a test and starts feeling like a conversation. That's when your personality shows — and personality is what makes people choose you. Read more in our guide to personal branding video for realtors.
Ready for your first shoot? Book a free discovery call on our brand media page.