The Pep Talk
We all have our hang ups in front of the camera...
...that’s where a good ol’ fashioned pep talk comes into play.
When I conducted interviews with Maury guests, the experience was always a mixed bag and hard to predict which way it would go.
Some guests ate up the direction, ran with it and delivered their side of their story in a compelling and entertaining way.
Others were less than forthcoming - skirting around the questions and less willing to be honest.
While others were straight-up frightened and wanted no part of this process.
Over time, I learned how to read where their head was at and pep talk to them in a way that would inspire them to be more forthcoming in front of the camera:
Some folks needed a shoulder to cry on before we started rolling
Others needed me to validate their sense of feeling wronged in order to open up and talk
A handful were clearly making shit up and needed to be called out on it before we moved on
But most simply needed a swift, motivational kick in the ass to get past the fact that they were appearing on a nationally-televised talk show
While we would ultimately get what we needed to put together their interview in a way that reflected their genuine side of the story, the experience of interviewing thousands of people taught me one important lesson:
The moment someone sets foot in front of lights, cameras, and has a microphone pinned to their shirt, they need their hand held in one way, shape or form.
And, that hand holding takes form in a variety of ways, so it’s up to me to be able to know what to say in order to get them out of their heads and into the moment with their guards dropped down and open to direction.
These experiences producing interviews have translated to the work I do with speaker, author, consultant, and trainer experts:
Doesn’t matter how many times they’ve been in front of the camera before.
Doesn’t matter how many times they’ve been in front of hundreds, if not thousands, of people on a stage.
Doesn’t matter how many accreditations, awards and other honors they’ve received for their hard work.
They’re human beings that have sore spots and insecurities that come to life the moment they have their photos taken.
And, if you post photos where you look uncomfortable, unhappy and generally disinterested, these photos will negatively affect the perception that your potential clients will form about you.
They won’t be able to trust you enough to spend money for you to help solve their problems.
That’s why it’s absolutely essential that you work with a photographer who understands how to pep talk you in a way that acknowledges the friction you have being on camera, but also moves you past them in a way that produces genuine and honest expressions.
Keep this in mind before you schedule your next portrait session.
It can make or break the success of your investment.
If you’re interested in learning more about what it looks like to work with me, set up a time to chat and let’s see if we’re a fit to work together.