Body Language Basics for Better Videos
Aug 25, 2025Have you ever wondered why some people look so natural and trustworthy on camera while others come across stiff and awkward? The answer often lies in body language. More than 90% of communication is non-verbal, and the way you move, smile, and gesture can completely change how your message is received. Mastering a few simple body language tips will help you look confident on camera, connect with your audience, and create videos that feel natural and persuasive.
Smile: The Shortcut to Trust
A genuine smile is the fastest way to build trust on video. It makes you appear approachable, reduces nervous tension, and instantly relaxes your viewers. Smiling even has physical benefits: it lowers stress, boosts serotonin, and slows your heart rate. Think of it as turning on a light in a dark room it changes the entire mood of your on camera presentation. If you want your audience to believe and trust you, start with a simple, authentic smile.
Posture Creates Presence
Your posture speaks before you do. Slouching makes you look unsure, while standing or sitting tall with shoulders back communicates confidence and authority. Good posture also improves your breathing and vocal delivery, giving your voice strength and clarity. During on camera training, posture is often one of the first skills we correct because it immediately transforms how professional and credible someone looks. The straighter and stronger your posture, the more impact your video presence carries.
Gestures that Emphasise, Not Distract
Your hands can either reinforce your words or undermine them. Open palms signal honesty, controlled gestures add emphasis, but random or excessive movements become distracting. One of the best speaking on camera training exercises is to highlight key words in your script and match them with small, intentional gestures. This keeps your delivery natural and ensures your body language complements, rather than competes with, your message. Think of it like music when your vocal rhythm flows smoothly, your body naturally dances to the beat.
"More than 90% of communication is non-verbal your body language speaks louder than your words."
Body language has the power to make or break how your audience perceives you. With a genuine smile, strong posture, and purposeful gestures, you’ll come across as confident, trustworthy, and authentic in every video. These body language tips are simple to apply but have an outsized impact on how your message lands. The more you practise, the more natural these skills become, and soon showing up confidently on camera will feel second nature.
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Video Transcription:
[00:00:00] Chris Schwager: Have you ever wondered why some people look so natural and trustworthy on camera, while others just feel stiff, even when they're saying all the right words? The answer isn't in the script. It's the way they move, their posture, their hands, their smile. These subtle signals can transform a video from unforgettable to magnetic, and the good news.
[00:00:22] Chris Schwager: Anyone can learn them. Today we're diving into body language tips that will help you unlock trust, influence, and confidence on camera, starting with the simplest cue of all.
[00:00:30] Chris Schwager: Hi, I'm Chris Schwager, video coach and founder of the Complete Video Success System, and I've spent decades helping professionals create high impact videos that build trust, generate leads.
[00:00:39] Chris Schwager: And drive business success. And if you've ever felt unsure or under-prepared or just plain awkward with video, this is for you. I'll give you the mindset and strategies to take control, build video confidence so that you show up like a pro. It's time to make your videos work for you. Body language, body language, body language, body language makes up 90% of communication.
[00:01:01] Chris Schwager: That means before your audience even processes your words, they're already reading your face, your posture, and your movements. And in this episode, I wanna share some of the most powerful body language tips to help you perform better on video. Let's look at number one, the game changer. You might have guessed it, it's smiling.
[00:01:19] Chris Schwager: Smiling isn't just about looking friendly. It has measurable health benefits. It reduces stress, boosts serotonin, and it even lowers your heart rate. When you smile on camera, your audience subconsciously relaxes and feels more connected to you. Think of it like turning on a light in the dark room, it instantly changes everything.
[00:01:40] Chris Schwager: But smiling alone isn't enough. Your hands matter too. Used well, they support your message and add emphasis to value. Words used awkwardly, they distract. And here's a little story. About 10 years ago, I was working with a financial planner in the studio. He'd done all of the on-camera training and came in for his big filming day, makeup on, wardrobe set, script ready.
[00:02:01] Chris Schwager: And after several takes, he was still unhappy. The delivery was 90% there, but something was missing. It threw me off guard. I've gotta be straight with you, he looked rigid, stiff, almost frozen. So I gave him simple instructions. Move gently on the highlighted words of his script that we added into the teleprompter, just one per paragraph, nothing exaggerated, just a natural shift.
[00:02:24] Chris Schwager: So when he came to those valued words, the words that we had highlighted, he'd just do a slight gentle shift on his body. That's all I said, just a nice little shift. And if you're watching the YouTube channel, you're seeing what I'm doing. So simple, right? And it made all the difference. We played back the take and it was night and day.
[00:02:44] Chris Schwager: Suddenly he looked alive, his body was moving in sync with his words and the video was ready to go. That's the power of small intentional body language adjustments. You might be thinking, well, do I have to choreograph every movement? And the answer is no. This is where simplicity wins. Instead of forcing gestures, focus first on tone and speed and cadence.
[00:03:08] Chris Schwager: And I don't know anyone else how they do this, but this is why I've been doing it for years. When your voice flows naturally, your body follows. Your shoulders loosen, your eyebrows lift at the right time, your hands move with purpose. It automatically responds. And here's an analogy, think about the body language like music.
[00:03:27] Chris Schwager: If the rhythm is steady, your body can dance freely. If the rhythm is clunky, then the dance feels awkward. The same applies in video. Focus on the vocal rhythm and your body will naturally dance to the beat. So the takeaways are simple. Start with a genuine smile. It's the quickest way to build trust. Use your hands sparingly, only to highlight keywords or values, and let your tone and cadence lead so your body will follow.
[00:03:47] Chris Schwager: These are the kinds of body language tips that can transform not just how you look on video, but how your audience feels about you. The way you move on camera really does matter. Whether it's a smile, a hand gesture, or a slight tilt of the head.
[00:04:08] Chris Schwager: Body language sets the stage for trust and connection. Just like our financial planner, you might only need one small adjustment to unlock a more natural, confident presence. Remember these body language tips: smile often, let your hands compliment not compete, and trust that when your voice flows, your body will follow.
[00:04:28] Chris Schwager: Practice them, repeat them, and soon they’ll become second nature every time you hit record. Thanks for listening to the Video Confidence Collective Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a five-star review on Apple Podcast and Spotify and subscribe to us on YouTube so you never miss an episode.
[00:04:42] Chris Schwager: For more resources, check out the show notes and follow me at Chris Schwager or Ridge Films and see you on the next episode.
