In today’s visual-first world, video content is a cornerstone of corporate marketing strategies. Yet, one of the most common challenges we hear from clients is this: “Most of our employees or clients aren’t used to being on camera.” For decision makers responsible for overseeing brand visuals, this can be a legitimate concern. Nervous, untrained on-screen talent can result in stiff deliveries, missed messaging, and unusable footage.
At St Louis Video Production Studio, we’ve spent decades working with everyday professionals—CEOs, sales reps, factory floor employees, and customers—who are not actors, yet need to look authentic and compelling on screen. In this blog, we’ll share expert strategies to help your next shoot feel natural, relaxed, and productive, even when your talent isn’t camera-savvy.
1. Preparation Is Power: Pre-Interview and Gentle Scripting
Rather than launching straight into filming, we schedule informal pre-interviews. This allows us to build rapport and understand the person’s communication style. We use this time to shape the messaging into digestible, conversational talking points—not memorized scripts.
Tip: Avoid having your talent memorize exact wording. Instead, give them 2–3 key ideas to cover in their own voice. Authenticity resonates more than perfection.
2. The Comfort-First Setup
Lighting, cameras, boom mics—these can be intimidating. That’s why we use subtle positioning and soft, diffused lighting to create an inviting studio or on-location environment. Our private studio in St. Louis is especially designed to reduce distractions and create a quiet, calming atmosphere.
We also recommend seated setups for interview-style filming. Sitting promotes ease and a more natural posture, and we keep crew presence to a minimum—usually just the essential sound and camera operator.
3. Use Conversation, Not Command
One of our most effective tools is simply starting with casual conversation while the camera rolls. We treat it like a dialogue, not a performance. Our producer often conducts interviews by asking open-ended questions that prompt natural storytelling.
Instead of:
“Please state your name and job title.”
We ask:
“What’s a typical day like for you here at the company?”
This conversational approach breaks the “performance” mindset and invites candid, relatable responses.
4. Shoot B-Roll for Confidence and Coverage
B-roll—footage that shows the person working, interacting with others, or engaged in their environment—does more than just support your message visually. It gives nervous participants a break from talking directly to the camera while still adding valuable visual context. Plus, it’s perfect for smoothing over interview edits during post-production.
5. Positive Reinforcement and Multiple Takes
No one is perfect on the first take, and we never expect them to be. We normalize multiple takes and use real-time feedback and encouragement to guide better performances. With subtle coaching (“Try saying that again but a little slower, that was great!”), we keep energy up and anxiety down.
6. Consider a Voice-Over Alternative
If your subject is too shy to be on-camera, we can still capture their input using a voice-over recorded in a quiet environment. Then, we match their words with relevant b-roll. This still delivers their insight while taking pressure off their performance.
7. Post-Production Polish: Our Invisible Secret Weapon
The magic of editing can’t be overstated. With jump-cut smoothing, color correction, audio enhancement, and filler b-roll, our editors can turn fragmented footage into seamless narratives. What may feel like a rough shoot to the talent often results in polished, professional content after post.
Why Partner with St Louis Video Production Studio?
At St Louis Video Production Studio, we know how to make real people look and sound their best. Since 1982, our full-service commercial photography and video production team has helped businesses, agencies, and marketing professionals in the St. Louis area tell their stories through engaging, high-quality visuals. Whether you’re filming customer testimonials, internal training, or executive interviews, we understand how to guide non-actors into delivering authentic, effective performances.
We provide everything—from concept to capture to final cut. Our services include studio and location video and photography, editing, post-production, and licensed drone work. We use the latest in AI-enhanced editing to ensure every project gets a modern, compelling finish. Our private studio offers custom lighting and a quiet environment ideal for interviews or narrative scenes, and we even fly drones indoors when needed to elevate your production value.
If you’re looking to create professional video content with people who aren’t used to the spotlight, St Louis Video Production Studio is the team that makes it happen—with comfort, creativity, and confidence.
Let’s tell your story the right way.
Contact us today to schedule your next successful shoot.
Rob Haller 314-604-6544
st louis video production studio 