Ask Annie: How Can I Be Professional On Video?

I got this question from a wonderful participant. And I've gotten it many times. How can I be professional on video? 📹 Before I share a few tips about being professional on video, I first need to go on a VERY important rant: YOU BELONG. You belong in the online space. Exactly as you look. We're ALL taught to worry about what we look like and to worry if we are worthy as we look. This is a liberation issue. I want to share my love of Sonya Renee Taylor's book The Body Is Not An Apology and the movement The Body Is Not An Apology that she started. This movement is about dismantling the systems of oppression that live inside of us. A huge part of the ways those systems live inside of ME (and perhaps you as well) is believing that I'm supposed to look a certain way in order to be worthy of being in video in online spaces. One thing that might mean for some of us is that we're supposed to look thin, and/or our faces are supposed to be spackled with some layers of makeup, and maybe our hair is supposed to look a certain way. This is oppressive, and it is keeping many incredible healers and leaders off of video. So, let's redefine what looking professional on video means. I personally want to define looking professional as showing up FEELING comfortable, present, and in my own power. 💪 As healers who are micro-business owners in the online world, we get to CHANGE and SHAPE what it means to look professional. We get to make the online space more inclusive and less oppressive. We get to make more room for everyone. THAT is healing. For example… ➡️ I'm no longer here for the requirement of women to wear makeup when they're on video. ➡️ If my male counterparts are not required to wear makeup, why would I be? ➡️ If my pal Jeff Guenther doesn't have to wear makeup on video, then neither do I. ➡️ If you're a coach, a therapist turned coach, a consultant or a healer, then why would makeup and hairstyling be part of your job description? If adornment feels good to you and brings you joy, then it belongs. If makeup or other adornment are part of your personal expression including your gender expression, cultural expression, or spiritual expression, then they are professional. I LOVE sharing that joy with you. If it's a requirement, it is no longer joyful. For me: I feel powerful in my glasses. They hold a magic power for me and help me feel smart. 🔮 A jaunty scarf also puts me in my special feelings. 🥰 Sometimes lipstick brings me joy, and at other times it just messes up my coffee cup...😖. For other folks, makeup is part of of feeling powerful and joyful. Giovanni Trimble of @yourchosenfamilytherapy just introduced themselves to me on Instagram, and I could see right away that they are feeling powerful in that bright red lip. I am so here for it. @thebeautitherapist also known as Jessica Harris who is a money expert, therapist, and beauty expert is totally in her joy and self expression in makeup. So that being said: how can you look, feel, and be professional on video? Here are a few tips, most of which have nothing to do with your appearance. Sound quality (have a good mic close to your face) Lighting (have either natural lighting, a ring light, or a soft box) Decent editing (depending on your purpose) Background (not too much chaos, but perhaps not a blank wall) Decent editing (depending on your purpose) Comfort on camera (which comes with practice) Captioning or written out words like these (to make it accessible and watchable when folks can't listen.) Most of all, if you want to be on video, get on video. Ignore the above tips if they slow you down. We need you and your message. Show notes at http://rebeltherapist.me/podcast/170