When it comes to looking good on camera, perfect posture is one of the easiest and most effective tricks I’ve learned. And I didn’t pick this up on my own—I got this tip straight from my friends in TV news.
The Posture Secret from TV News Pros: How Reporters Look Good on Camera
I first learned this industry secret from my good friend Hélène Biandudi Hofer when she was hosting WXXI’s Need to Know. I appeared on an episode to discuss women in politics and she gave me one clear directive just before we started recording: have. overly. perfect. posture.
At the time, I thought she looked a little stiff. Then I watched the episode, and while she looked composed and confident, I was unintentionally rocking a mild hunchback.
Lesson learned.
Since then, I’ve been intentional about my posture whenever I’m on camera.
However, forcing perfect posture can feel unnatural. That’s where The Body Breath comes in, it's a mindfulness technique I've adapted into all of my on-camera work to both appear better on camera, but also ease nerves and come across more confidently.
Here's how to do it:
[Insert the reel here]
The Body Breath: A Mindful Way to Improve Posture
Instead of simply trying to “sit up straight,” The Body Breath helps you ease into better posture naturally. Here’s how you do it:
Take a deep breath and follow the sensation as it moves through your body.
Feel it trickle into your nose, down through your face and shoulders.
As you inhale fully, let it continue downward—into your stomach, easing the vagus nerve, and then into your hips and legs.
If you need to, take another breath to send it all the way down to your feet.
As you exhale, notice how your body has naturally aligned itself into a stronger, more confident posture.
Instead of stiffly “fixing” your posture, this technique resets it in a way that looks and feels natural. Bonus: It also helps with on-camera nerves.
Why This Works: Let's Explore the Science
The reason posture is so important on camera comes down to how we’re being perceived and the actual science of video and photography. When we go from a 3D world to a 2D screen (the process of recording our world), we actually need to be a little extra in our movements and positioning to translate well because everything is flattened by the camera. Slouching, even slightly, can also flatten our appearance and make us look less confident. Therefore, perfect posture may be weird in real life but it's the more natural option on-camera.
Things to Keep in Mind When Practicing This:
There is no set number of breaths—it’s The Body Breath because it’s however many you need to reset.
If you’re new to breathwork, you might not feel the breath in your body at first. To build that connection, limit distractions, close your eyes, and really focus on where you feel the air moving. After a few attempts, your body-mind connection will deepen.
This is a tip you can use anywhere—before a live shoot, an IG video, or even public speaking. In just a few breaths, you can look better and feel more confident on camera.
There you have it! This is one easy way you can look better on camera without having to undertake our hours-long media training. Stay tuned—next month, I’ll be sharing another pro tip to elevate your on-camera presence.
Bookmark this post and, next time you’re filming, try The Body Breath for yourself!
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