When I first started creating content for The Broke Agent, I was utterly terrified to be on camera.
This is why I hid behind memes for over five years without ever showing my face. I’ll never forget filming a real estate rap video back in 2015 (yes, it’s as embarrassing as it sounds). The second the camera pointed at me, I completely shut down and lost all sense of my personality. I even had to take a couple of tequila shots just to get through the shoot. That four-minute music video took an entire day to film, and I swore I’d never put myself through something like that again.
The Fear of Being on Camera
I carried that fear for most of my career as a “content creator.” But when the algorithms shifted in 2020, original content and vertical video became absolute necessities for growth on social media. If I wanted The Broke Agent brand to thrive, I had to get over my fear.
To do that, I forced myself to get on camera as much as possible, knowing I would absolutely suck at first—and that was okay. I went on every podcast I was invited to, started my own, hosted webinars, filmed green screens, and practiced front-facing videos with scripts and hooks to improve my delivery.
I’m sharing this because I know a lot of agents feel overwhelmed when every marketing guru out there tells you to “just get on camera,” like it’s the easiest thing in the world. It’s not.
A Technique That Works
Recently, I came across this Reel from Chelsea Peitz, and I think it could really help those of you who struggle with video:
One of my favorite points she makes is that when you’re filming a Reel, your brain is often battling to remember the script or the points you want to make. A great way to counter this is by filming in quick cuts. Deliver one line at a time, even if it’s just a couple of seconds.
This technique has been a game-changer for me, especially when filming green screens that used to take hours for a 45-second video. Now, I deliver the hook, stop filming, and then go point by point, finishing with a call to action—all broken up into short clips. These are easy to edit together within Reels. Sure, piecing it together takes a little longer, but it lets you focus on one line at a time instead of stressing about the entire script.
I hope this helps!
