Overcoming Camera Shyness for Introverted women
Social anxiety can be a debilitating experience, especially when it comes to public speaking or appearing on camera. For many of us, the mere thought of being in the spotlight can trigger intense feelings of discomfort and fear. In this article, I'll share my personal journey of overcoming camera shyness and building confidence, offering insights and strategies that might help others facing similar challenges.
Table of Contents
The Grip of Social Anxiety
I still vividly remember the social anxiety that washes over me whenever I have to speak in front of people. My face can turn bright red, my voice trembles, and I struggle to catch my breath. In high school, I nearly failed year 12 English because I refused to do oral presentations—I was so terrified that I preferred risking my chance of getting into university rather than facing my social anxiety.
With the rise of video content creation and virtual meetings, many of us find ourselves needing to overcome this fear to advance in our personal and professional lives.
From Camera Shyness to Camera Confidence
Even now, those feelings haven't completely disappeared, but I've made significant progress in building up camera confidence. Recently, I filmed my own online phone photography course, which required me to set up all the cameras and mics on my own, practice how to rehearse lines, and speak confidently on camera. It was a challenging experience, but one that taught me a lot about pushing past the discomfort of being camera shy.
Understanding the Root Causes
Why do so many of us, especially women, struggle with public speaking, video content creation, and showing up on social media? Imposter syndrome, shyness, and perfectionism often have deep roots. We're often told to play small and not draw too much attention to ourselves. These messages can become ingrained in us long before we're even aware of them, shaping how we view ourselves and our capabilities.
For highly sensitive women, this struggle can be even more pronounced. Being highly sensitive often means that we feel emotions more intensely and can be more affected by the opinions and judgments of others. This can make the prospect of being on camera or creating video content for social media even more daunting.
Surrounding yourself with good mentors and coaches is so important. It helps to be reminded regularly through social media or blog articles to be kind to yourself, and to notice the beauty you already have, inside and out. This kind of gentle encouragement really does work. I recently stumbled across an amazing article by Nicole Mathisen called How to Feel Beautiful, and I think it shares some wonderful points on how to feel good about yourself.
The Catalyst for Change
For me, the thought of living a life limited by camera shyness and public speaking became frustrating. I realised that worrying about how others perceived me stopped me from becoming the person I wanted to be. This frustration of being held back by social anxiety became my catalyst for change.
Breaking Through the Barriers
Moving past being camera shy isn't about finding some magical solution. For me, it came down to two key elements: frustration and practice. The frustration of not living up to my potential became a powerful motivator. I reached a point where the discomfort of staying the same was greater than the discomfort of change.
Practice was the other crucial element in moving fast the fear. The more I put myself in uncomfortable situations, the more I learned to manage my anxiety. It's about showing up until the discomfort becomes manageable. This process aligns with exposure therapy principles, which suggest that gradually facing your fears can help reduce anxiety over time.
I also remind myself of something I often tell my daughter: everyone is so busy thinking about themselves that they rarely pay as much attention to you as you think. This perspective helps me keep pushing forward, knowing that my goals and desires are more important than the temporary discomfort I might feel from showing up on camera, on social media, or speaking in public.
Tiny Goals Make a Big Difference
Starting with small goals can also help build confidence so you can move past being camera shy. I set a goal to create a YouTube channel to interview people. After just three interviews, it became easier, and now I've even started appearing on camera solo, speaking directly to my audience. Each time, there's still some nervousness and discomfort, but it makes the next goal or dream feel less daunting.
I then set a goal to show up every few weeks, talking directly to the camera for social media, and I went in with the intention of only listening to the footage once or twice to cut any big mistakes before sharing it. Creating video content like this was scary and uncomfortable, but once I did it, it freed me and gave me a confidence boost. I was motivated to take this less-effort approach to creating video content after talking with the Quiet Marketing Coach, Dani Gardner.
The main motivation for this advice was encourage people let go of perfectionism and just get video content published. But I also find this approach also helps to reduce the amount of time spent in self-criticism mode - review it as little as possible and then just share the video. I highly recommend Dani Gardener as a coach if you're keen to market yourself but want to do so in a way that doesn’t involve shouting your message or being on social media 24/7.
This gradual approach can be particularly beneficial for highly sensitive people. By breaking down larger goals into smaller, more manageable steps, we can build confidence and resilience over time without overwhelming ourselves.
Techniques for Overcoming shyness and building confidence in front of the camera
To overcome feeling camera shy and create compelling video content, I've developed a few techniques that help me feel more comfortable in front of the lens:
Get dressed in something that makes you feel good and confident.
Find somewhere that has great light so you skin looks good- a well-lit scene goes a long way to feeling good about the end result - plus you don’t have you use some over the top video filter to soften our skin so much.
Start by grounding yourself and letting go of your other work distractions.
Prepare by rehearsing your notes, which boosts confidence and reduces the likelihood of freezing up on camera. You want to aim to talk freely with some topic headings so it doesn’t feel like you’re reading word for word of a script.
Create a safe and familiar environment—whether that's setting up a filming space where you know nobody is watching or having a trusted friend nearby for support.
Remind yourself that perfection isn't the goal; authenticity is. Embrace the occasional stumble or unscripted moment to connect more genuinely with your audience. It makes us all feel better when things aren’t perfect.
By implementing these strategies, you can gradually move past your fear and make the process of creating video content not just bearable, but enjoyable.
Embracing Growth: Beyond the fear of being on camera
Overcoming imposter syndrome, camera shyness, and perfectionism is a journey. It's about recognising the stories we've been told and choosing a different path. It's about showing up, even when it's hard, and trusting that each step forward brings us closer to the person we want to be. If I can do it, I believe there's a good chance you can too.
Building confidence on video takes time and practice. Be patient with yourself and celebrate small victories along the way and that's best done with taking time to actually reflect on what you've done. I feel excited by the idea of looking back in 5 years time at the progress I've made towards overcoming my fears.
Thanks for reading, Honey x
Ready to feel more confident in front of the camera?
If this blog resonated with you, my Headshot Day sessions might be the gentle next step. They’re relaxed, supportive photo sessions designed especially for women who feel a little unsure about being on camera — but are ready to start showing up with more ease. Come as you are, and let’s capture some images that feel like you.
Frequently asked questions about camera shyness
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For me, it’s always been a mix of social anxiety, perfectionism, and worrying about what other people think. A lot of us grow up with the message to “play small” and not draw too much attention to ourselves, so when the camera’s pointed at us, it feels really uncomfortable. For highly sensitive women especially, we tend to feel things deeply and pick up on judgment more easily, which can make the camera feel like a spotlight instead of a tool.
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Absolutely. There’s nothing wrong with being camera-shy. It doesn’t make you less capable or less professional. I still get nervous even after years of doing this. The important thing is whether being camera-shy is holding you back from the things you actually want to do. If it’s stopping you from sharing your work or connecting with people, then it might be worth slowly working through it. But it’s okay to acknowledge it without judgment.
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There’s no magic fix, but what helped me most was practice and setting tiny goals. I started with short clips on my phone, just for me. Then I worked up to interviews on my YouTube channel. Each step made the next one less scary. I also remind myself that nobody is analysing me as much as I think. Most people are too busy thinking about themselves. And honestly, just letting go of perfectionism helps a lot. Record it, watch it once or twice, tidy up the big mistakes, then put it out there.
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Yes, but probably not in the same way an extrovert might be. For me, being an introvert means I don’t want to be “on” all the time, and I need recovery time after showing up on video. But it doesn’t mean I can’t do it. In fact, a lot of introverts bring something really special to camera. We tend to be thoughtful, intentional, and genuine, which people connect with. It’s more about finding a way to do it that feels safe and sustainable for you.
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Honestly? Because most of us aren’t used to seeing ourselves on camera. Our brains are wired to notice every tiny thing we don’t like, like a hand gesture, the sound of our voice, or the way we smile. But the truth is, nobody else notices those things the way we do. What looks “awkward” to you is often invisible to others. The best way through it is to keep practising and allow yourself to be imperfect. Often it’s the little quirks that make you relatable and real.
