Camera Ready with Val Brown artwork

Camera Ready with Val Brown

43 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 5 years ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratings

Learn from Emmy Award winner Val Brown about how to be confident in front of the camera. Look, feel and sound your best whether it’s for business, social media, headshots or television. Learn what you need to know to support your brand and deliver your message effectively with credibility and authenticity to your target audience.

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Episodes

CR 43 - How to create your video content mission statement

June 10, 2019 05:00 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MB

The first step in creating a video strategy is creating a video content mission statement. It will answer three questions: what you do, how you do it and why.  Once you know these three things you can then create your video mission statement what type of information will you deliver and why. A video content mission statement will help you stay on target when you are developing content for your videos. Do you want to educate, entertain, inspire? What does your audience need? What are ...

CR 42 - 3 reasons you need to create a video strategy

June 03, 2019 05:00 - 9 minutes - 8.07 MB

Thinking about using video in your business can feel OVERWHELMING. There are so many moving parts, it’s not always easy to figure out where to get started or where to focus your efforts to get the biggest return on your time and budget. You want to be sure you are creating the right content for the right audience and delivering it in the right places.​ When you have a video strategy, you will ensure you are creating content that's in alignment with your business goals and where you’ll see...

CR 41 - creating a strategy for Instagram

May 27, 2019 16:03 - 24 minutes - 20 MB

The future belongs to the storyteller, if you can tell stories, the world is your oyster." That's a quote from my friend, mentor and master marketer Mike Kim in part two of my interview with him. In part one of our interview, Mike shared his thought provoking personal brand questions known as the PB3, which are designed to help you get to your core, identify your audience and clarify your business idea. It’s a must listen for personal brands, you can listen here. This week Mike talks...

CR 40 - 3 essential questions personal brands MUST answer

May 20, 2019 05:00 - 23 minutes - 19.2 MB

My guest is friend, mentor, and master marketer, Mike Kim.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Mike, get ready to have your mindset about marketing completely reset.  ​Mike Kim is a real world marketing pro and he hosts the top rated Brand You podcast.  After working as the CMO of a multimillion dollar company in New York, Mike stepped into the consulting world and he's been hired by people and companies like John Maxwell, Donald Miller, Suzanne Evans and Catalyst.  So if you'...

CR 39 - 7 compelling reasons to use video to grow your business

May 13, 2019 05:00 - 9 minutes - 8.55 MB

Marketers who use video are growing company revenue 49% faster year-over-year than those who don’t, according to research from Aberdeen Group.​ We all need data in our businesses to accurately forecast where we are headed. Tracking the results from our marketing efforts goes straight to the bottom line. If you know taking certain actions will yield higher results, why wouldn’t you invest your time and money there? I recently came across this compelling report from Vidyard about using vid...

CR 38 - 7 little known hacks to help you overcome your fear of Facebook Live

May 07, 2019 03:00 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MB

You need to use video for your business and the thought of going live on Facebook sends shivers up your spine? Or even worse, you feel sick or lose sleep even thinking about it? You can’t really put your finger on it. You speak in front of groups of people all the time. Why is Facebook Live different? Learn 7 little known hacks to help you overcome your fear of Facebook Live. From content to tech, you'll build your confidence so you can go live like a pro! Download your checklist her...

CR 37 - How to create an outline for your next live video

April 29, 2019 05:00 - 10 minutes - 9.3 MB

Live video is something we all need to do for our businesses and it can be intimidating when you haven’t done it before. I hear from so many of you that you feel paralyzed because you don’t know where to get started, you don’t feel like you have anything to say or that you can remember what you want to share. Learn a simple outline to use for your live videos to keep you on track, get you message out and show up with confidence and presence. Remember, when you’re going live it’s not ab...

CR 36 - 3 ways atomic habits can help you create more content

April 22, 2019 05:00 - 16 minutes - 13.9 MB

"Good habits make time your ally, bad habits makes time your enemy." James Clear James says to forget about setting goals to get better results, focus on your systems instead. To reach your goals, you need to have the systems in place to reach them.  Learn about how habits: lead us to be the person we want to be work for or against us help us create the systems we need to succeed You can learn to apply the lessons from Atomic Habits so you can consistently create content.

CR 35 - Your Questions About Video Answered

December 10, 2018 06:00 - 13 minutes - 11.3 MB

This episode is devoted to your questions about: shooting video in the field by yourself lighting for home offices recording music and video  making time to create video on a regular basis.  There are some key themes that showed up in your questions so I thought I'd do a quick summary of a few things to keep in mind to help you successfully create videos for your communication or marketing plan. No matter where or when you are shooting videos: create a system to ensure your videos...

CR 34 - How losing can make you a winner

November 26, 2018 06:00 - 7 minutes - 6.48 MB

Have you ever tried time and time again to reach a goal or a dream, been disappointed, and felt like just giving up? Wanting to give in to that inner voice that says “this just isn’t for you.” I have. This is a personal story about turning failures into a pathway to achieve your dreams. The takeaways? As we are preparing for the new year, it’s a time for reflection and to take stock of things we’ve done well and things we’d like to do better. The importance of realizing when somet...

CR 33 - How To Look Amazing In Your Holiday Photos

November 19, 2018 06:00 - 10 minutes - 8.95 MB

Has this happened to you? When you look at your holiday photos you think everyone in the shot looks great except you because: Your eyes are shut You hate what you are wearing The camera angle is unflattering You have dark circles under your eyes because of bad lighting  I know I’ve experienced every one of these.  Worry not, there are some really easy things you can do to make sure you look your best in your priceless holiday photos. On this episode of Camera Ready With Val Bro...

CR 32 - On Camera Makeup Tips - For Women

November 14, 2018 00:40 - 16 minutes - 14 MB

We’re all busy, whether we’re running our own business, leading our team or building our career.  Taking time to figure out how to put on makeup for video seems like a huge time suck. What about makeup when I'm on camera? is the question I hear most often behind what should I wear? And it’s a good one, because most of us don’t spend a lot of time under hot lights or in front of a lens that can change our skin tone or highlight our less than flattering attributes. If you could just le...

CR 31 - On Camera Make Up Tips For Men

November 05, 2018 06:00 - 16 minutes - 14.1 MB

Do you ever wonder if you should wear makeup or not on video?  You're just not sure how much to wear or what to use? It’s  a question I get asked a lot. Did you know that how you show up on camera is more than what you are wearing and your makeup? For the next two weeks, I am going to share my Emmy award winning secrets about makeup for video - things I've learned over three decades producing television.   Today's podcast is part one of two where I share makeup tips for men and n...

CR 30 🤓3 Essential Things You Must Know About Choosing Video Backgrounds

October 29, 2018 05:00 - 12 minutes - 10.7 MB

We've all watched lots of videos where the background seems out of synch with the person speaking or there is so much going on you are focused on that and not the speaker.  And that’s completely avoidable.  In today's episode I’m going to cover a simple checklist to make sure your background is appropriate for the video you are shooting, no matter how much time you have to prepare. I’m pretty sensitive to backgrounds and a lot of that is probably due to a some of the mistakes I’ve made i...

CR 29 - 5 Simple Steps To Creating Videos On The Fly

October 22, 2018 05:00 - 6 minutes - 6 MB

Creating videos on the fly is something I get asked about a lot, whether its for your product or a business message or idea you need to deliver quickly and effectively. And, as I was going through my morning ritual the other day I thought wow, wouldn’t it be awesome to create a video ritual that would let you get clear about your message and make sure you look and sound great before you hit the record button. It would be something that was especially good for situations when you don’t have...

CR 28 - How To Develop Your Camera Confidence

October 15, 2018 05:00 - 12 minutes - 10.7 MB

  On Camera Confidence is a result of  working with your strengths and developing in areas where you are not as strong. What Can I Do If I Don't Like The Way I Look On Camera? I Know It's Silly, But I Can't Help It... During my career there have been times where I’m really sensitive about my appearance too. When that happens I have had to work to get that voice out of my ahead that always judges how I look.  Like anything, some days I do a better job than others. What I can share wit...

CR 27 - 3 Reasons You Need To Be Using Video In Your Business

October 08, 2018 05:00 - 13 minutes - 11.3 MB

  Video is the fastest way for you to create a connection with your audience - the sound of your voice and body language allows your audience to connect with you instantly. Using video lets your audience get a better sense of who you are. When they can see you, it helps you to build trust with them, and when done intentionally, you reinforce your brand.  When you use video, your personality and voice are center stage, and that’s critical to building your know, like and trust relationshi...

CR 26 - Secrets To Creating Stories That Connect - Interview With Ken Kebow Part 2

October 01, 2018 05:00 - 25 minutes - 21.1 MB

When you create a video to tell a story, do you sometimes feel like you are shooting in the dark? Or, because you're not sure what to shoot, you record everything and it makes it hard to edit? Wouldn't it be great to know the secrets behind creating stories that connect with your audience? Here's the good news, it doesn't have to be that way for you! On this week's podcast I interview Emmy award winning documentary producer and director Kenneth Kebow about his secrets to Creating Stor...

CR 25 - How To Create Great Looking Videos On A Budget - Interview With Emmy Award Winning Producer and Director, Kenneth Kebow

September 24, 2018 05:00 - 25 minutes - 21.3 MB

Interview with Emmy award winning documentary producer, and director Kenneth Kebow about how to create great looking videos on a budget.  Ken is a friend, colleague and mentor and has been in the television business for more than 30 years. Some of his clients include Google, American Airlines, Ford, CBS and the United States Marines. He has been honored with a number of awards for his corporate work as well as his documentary work which includes one on of the original Disney Imagineers, Ro...

CR 24 - How To Stop Saying Uhm And Clarify Your Message

September 17, 2018 05:00 - 9 minutes - 7.69 MB

We all  use filler words. It’s normal to pause in between thoughts and use uhms, ers, and other filler words.  It’s when you use too many of them it interferes with your effectiveness in delivering your message. It also makes your listeners work harder to get to the heart of what you have to say.  When filler words fill your delivery, they undermine your credibility and authority, make you sound less confident and distract from your message.  Used to the extreme, filler words become ...

CR 23 - How To Use Gestures Effectively On Camera To Support Your Message

September 10, 2018 05:00 - 11 minutes - 13.3 MB

Using gestures is an effective way to emphasize a point, add energy to your delivery, increase your confidence and connect with your audience. Used poorly, gestures can have the exact opposite effect and create a disconnect with your audience. Learn: Why you often hate the way you look on camera How to think about using gestures What gestures can help you support your message and your brand. The secret to keeping a great attitude on camera Here's a PDF you can download. Use this to...

CR 22 - How To Identify Your Vocal Brand And Sound Great On Camera

September 03, 2018 05:00 - 24 minutes - 19.7 MB

With podcasts and video being such an important part of your brand platform today, it pays to pay attention to your voice. It’s an important part of your brand. Veteran radio personality and voice actor Jeff Gelder shares some of his vast experience with us about developing your vocal brand and how you can work to make sure you sound your best on camera and on your podcast. Jeff is a big believer in the power and influence of the human voice. He’s worked with Sony, ESPN, Dell, Jenny ...

CR 21 - How To Stop Procrastinating and Get Your Headshots Done Today

August 27, 2018 04:00 - 13 minutes - 10.7 MB

We’ve all experienced procrastination’s grip when we are trying to do something new.There’s the unknown, learning curves and sometimes it’s just plain hard. This is especially true when it comes to being in front of the camera. If you don’t know what you want to say, or why, where to look, what to wear or how to deliver your message, it can feel like trying to drive a car with a manual transmission. How do you move forward when there are so many moving parts to master? On this episode I ...

CR 20 - Pt. 2 How To Identify The Key Elements of Your Visual Brand

June 14, 2018 05:00 - 23 minutes - 19.1 MB

Interview with graphic designer Jason Clement on how to select your fonts, filters, photo, colors and logo for your visual brand identity. Jason is an art enthusiast, color savant, and unreasonably obsessed with great design. He works with with well known on-line influencers including Ray Edwards and Mike Kim. Jason helps us pull together all of the work we did on How To Find The Key Elements of Your Visual Brand Part 1 (episode 19) so you can start identifying the specific elements of y...

CR 19 - Pt. 1 How to Find The Key Elements of Your Visual Brand

June 04, 2018 05:00 - 12 minutes - 9.78 MB

Your visual brand identity (combined with your verbal identity and the value you deliver) evokes a certain feeling, memories and emotions when people experience your brand. It’s the visual story you tell to communicate your overall message, values, and brand promise through the images, colors, fonts, filters, and videos you consistently use. Being aware of how your visuals affect your brand is the starting point.  What do you want your visuals to say about you? Learn how these 3 ques...

CR 18 - Use Your Power Stance, Change Bad Habits and Find Your Zone of Genius

May 11, 2018 16:00 - 18 minutes - 14.4 MB

Some Of My Recent Favorite Reads  Whether you’re looking for a fresh source of inspiration or education, consider checking these out. Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks In the vast sea of wonderful books to choose from, these have been really meaningful to my personal and profe...

CR 17 - How To Look Natural Using A Teleprompter

April 30, 2018 05:00 - 8 minutes - 6.58 MB

If you think you want to use a teleprompter for video, there're some things you need to know before you do. On this episode of Camera Ready with Val Brown you’ll learn about The importance of: knowing why you are using a teleprompter pacing, volume, pauses and body movement positioning your teleprompter You'll also need to be sure you write conversationally and spend time practicing your script before you hit the record button.  Easy tips you can put to use right away.

CR 16 - For Your Eyes Only - What You Need To Know About Wearing Sunglasses On Camera

April 23, 2018 05:00 - 8 minutes - 6.64 MB

Have you ever had a conversation with someone who was wearing sunglasses and you weren’t? How did it make you feel not to be able to see their eyes? When you look into a person’s eyes you get an idea of who they are. And their eyes tell you things about them that their words might not - it's part of their body language. William Shakespeare said your eyes are the window to your soul.  So when is it ok to wear sunglasses on camera? Learn about: How context and purpose affects whether yo...

CR 15 - Look Great On Stage When You Are Speaking: 3 Simple but Effective Tips

April 16, 2018 05:00 - 10 minutes - 11.1 MB

Learn to pay attention to the details that will help you attract the types of audiences you'd like to speak to in the future and what you need to do ahead of time to make sure you look, feel and sound your best on stage including: Who is in the audience Where you are in the room  What you will wear With a little planning and some homework, you can make sure your audience focuses on you and not what you are wearing. References: Nick Morgan Study - Psychology of Objectification Ran...

CR 14 - 5 Easy Steps To Writing Your Next Video Script And Creating More Content

April 09, 2018 05:00 - 7 minutes - 6.39 MB

Learn how to write a script quickly and consistently and create more content!  Using a script template makes to a lot easier to be consistent in getting your content out on time. Having a format to write your videos is a great way to make sure you are including essential information.  It also gives you the freedom to write in your own voice and connect with your viewers.  Learn how to  create an effective opening identify your key points write a close that gets your audience to ta...

CR 13 - What Messages Are You Sending To Your Audience?

April 02, 2018 04:00 - 8 minutes - 6.42 MB

Key messages are the top 3-5 key ideas you want your audience to know about your product, topic or issue.  Your visual and verbal messages need to align with your brand.  Learn a simple process to identify and create your key messages to make sure you are communicating the right message to your audience. 
 When you use key messages, they Help you stay on track in implementing your communication or marketing plan Create consistency
 Help your audience gain a greater understanding o...

CR 12 - Are Your Self Limiting Beliefs Keeping You Off Camera?

March 26, 2018 13:18 - 8 minutes - 7.19 MB

The number one reason I see keeping people from being on camera is the stories they tell themselves about themselves!  They usually go something like
 I: hate the way I look on camera
 don’t know what to say
 always forget what I’m going to say
 mess up and then people will think I’m stupid  
 I’ll share some of the things I’ve learned about self limiting beliefs and how they hold us back from doing the very things we need to do to move us toward our goals and dreams. Especially, bei...

CR 11 - How To Choose A Photographer To Support Your Brand

March 18, 2018 16:00 - 25 minutes - 20.7 MB

Photos and video are how people connect with you. And when there is a connection, it builds trust.Photos and video are how people connect with you. And when there is a connection, it builds trust.Finding a good photographer you are comfortable working with who "gets you" and your brand isn't always easy.Investing in a good set of headshots or personality shots can make a huge difference in your business.Last week's podcast was all about how to look your best.  This week's interview is with...

CR 10 - How to Take A Headshot You Love

March 07, 2018 05:00 - 14 minutes - 16.9 MB

You need a good headshot whether it’s for your LinkedIn profile, Facebook or Twitter, marketing materials, a website banner or personality shots for your website. And your headshot needs to support your brand visually and verbally.  When people look at your photo, they are looking for an emotional connection. Your headshot invites them to learn more, it says I’m approachable. That emotional connection builds trust and that’s why it’s so important to have good headshot and the right photo...

CR 9 - How to Find the Threads of Your Story In 3 Simple Steps

February 28, 2018 05:00 - 12 minutes - 9.99 MB

Finding the threads in your story can be challenging, yet it is one of the most freeing things you can do. And, it’s critical you get clear about this as you begin building your personal brand.  Everything you do will pivot off of your story. Learn about: Why your story is important to your brand How to find your story using a simple 3 step story structure Why your story matters to your business going forward To make it easier to get started I’m posting a story guide worksheet in t...

CR 8 - How to Calm Your On Camera Jitters Like A Pro

February 21, 2018 05:00 - 9 minutes - 7.43 MB

Wouldn’t it be amazing to know how to use your nervous energy to fuel you, not hinder you when you are on camera? Imagine how would it feel to be able to get in the right emotional place, where you can’t wait to share your message - every time you are on camera? Get clear about your on camera jitters and how to calm them. Learn about: why we get nervous what you can do to get over it exercises to help you crank up your energy. It’s a quick listen and you can pick up some tips t...

CR 7 - Three Things You Must Know Before You Pick a Location For Your Next Video or Photo Shoot

February 14, 2018 05:00 - 9 minutes - 7.79 MB

Depending on the purpose and message for your video and photos, location makes a big difference. Learn what you need know when you choose a location for your video or photo shoot including what: the location you choose says about your brand time of day is best to shoot a video or photos to do ahead of time before you select a location  Here are links to the videos I referenced in this podcast. Mike Kim video Jeff Walker  

CR 6 - Are You Ready For Your Close Up?

January 31, 2018 05:00 - 10 minutes - 12.2 MB

Looking good on camera consistently, whether it’s for photos or video is all about paying attention to the details. There are definite things you can do to enhance your appearance and things you want to avoid. You'll learn industry best practices for men and women from my 30 years working in television. Get practical information you can use right away about: hair make-up accessories The tips in this podcast are for men and women. You can download your pdf below.  References:  Amy P...

CR 5 - What to Never, Ever Wear on Camera When Shooting A Marketing Video

January 24, 2018 05:00 - 10 minutes - 8.23 MB

Learn about how people judge you by what you are wearing, the importance of taking the time to plan your wardrobe and what to NEVER, ever wear on camera when you are shooting a marketing video and why.   These are tried and true guidelines that will help you when you are deciding what to wear in front of the camera.  And once you know the rules, it’s up to you to decide if you want to break them. Your purpose, message and brand need to be in alignment and by taking some time to plan and ...

CR 4 - What is YOUR on Camera Presence?

January 17, 2018 06:39 - 8 minutes - 6.95 MB

Learn about the elements that that create your on camera Presence and how you can ensure that you are in alignment with your brand. Learn about the visual, verbal and value aspects of presence Exercises you can do to define your brand presence How to ensure your authentic self shines through when you are in front of the camera. If you aren’t sure what your brand presence is, listen to today’s podcast and go through the exercise to define your on camera presence in the .pdf download. ...

CR 3 - If You Don't Know Where You Are Going, Any Road Will Do

January 10, 2018 05:46 - 10 minutes - 9.21 MB

Take the mystery out of being in front of the camera and ensure you look, feel and sound your best, no matter what.   In this episode we’ll take a look at how to create a plan so you are prepared to look your best. This works for Facebook Live videos too! Learn what you need to plan for: environment (location, audio, lighting) messages visuals Download the Video/Photo planner .pdf your next video appearance.  Here's the link to Mike Kim's podcast on getting ready to present. I...

CR 2 - What You Need To Know Before You Hit The Record Button For Your Next Video

January 03, 2018 00:35 - 8 minutes - 6.44 MB

Learn the questions you need to ask before you say yes to your next on camera appearance whether it’s for video or photos. Why are you doing this? Where will it be used?   Who are you speaking to? Will this align with my goals and strategies? Knowing the answers to these three questions will help you to create a plan to fulfill your purpose. Download your .pdf here to help you work through these questions and get clear on your purpose.  

CR 1 - Introduction to Camera Ready with Val Brown

December 21, 2017 19:16 - 6 minutes - 9.25 MB

Look, feel and sound your best in front of the camera. Whether it’s for business, social media, headshots or television, learn what you need to know to support your brand and deliver your message effectively with credibility and authenticity to your target audience.   Special thanks to Scott Holmes - "Follow Your Dreams" music track

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