56: My 30-Day Show Up Strategy That Ended My Camera Fear (For Solopreneurs)

🎥 The Truth About Getting Comfortable On Camera (That Nobody Tells You)

You know that sinking feeling when you open your camera app to record a story or reel? That voice in your head that says you look tired, you sound awkward, maybe tomorrow would be better?

I get it. Because eight years ago, I was that person who would rather do literally anything else than show my face on camera.

But here's what I learned the hard way: confidence doesn't come before you hit record. It comes after you put in the reps.

In this post, I'm breaking down the exact show-up strategy I used to go from camera-phobic to comfortable on video. No magic wands, no overnight transformations. Just a systematic approach that works even when you're a busy solopreneur with zero time for perfectionism.

Ready to stop hiding and start building real trust with your audience? Listen to this weeks podcast episode where I share my complete 30-day strategy, the buddy method for practicing off-platform, and my top-viewed stories that have nothing to do with my business.

💔 The Day I Decided to Eat the Cringe

Let me paint you a picture of where I started.

Two weeks postpartum. A 14-month-old toddler. A brand new CrossFit gym that desperately needed members. My husband had just been laid off, I'd quit my job, and we had exactly zero backup plan financially.

This was survival season.

My husband looked at me one morning and said, "Em, the people need to see you. They need to hear from you." And I wanted to throw something at him because I hated everything about being on camera. Seeing my face. Hearing my voice. Every awkward pause felt like torture.

But here's the thing about survival mode: it forces clarity. If we wanted people to trust us enough to walk into our gym, they had to feel like they knew us. Video was exploding on social media in 2017 (reels weren't even a thing yet), and I couldn't hide behind pretty graphics anymore.

So I created one non-negotiable rule for myself: I would not talk badly about myself when I watched my videos back.

Because here's what I was doing initially. I'd record something, watch it back, and immediately spiral: "Oh my god, Em, you need to lose weight. Your skin looks terrible. You sound so uncomfortable. Is that really what your face looks like?"

I tell my kids all the time that how you talk about yourself dictates how you feel about yourself. So I made a deal: watch the video, pick ONE thing to try differently next time, and move on. No bashing allowed.

That single mindset shift changed everything.

Instead of drowning in self-criticism, I'd think: "Okay, next time I'll try sitting up straighter. Next time I'll smile at the beginning. Next time I'll speak a little slower."

Every single video got me closer to how I actually wanted to show up. And somewhere around week three or four, something wild happened. It started feeling less cringey. Then it felt like nothing at all. Then I was grabbing the camera saying, "Just give it to me. Let's go."

I never thought I'd get there. I'm an introvert. I'm genuinely shy in real life. But repetition built the confidence that waiting never would have given me.

🎯 Why Showing Your Face Actually Matters (And What It Doesn't Mean)

Before we get into the strategy, let's clear something up.

Showing your face on camera is not about turning your business into a reality show. It's not about sharing every private detail of your life or crying on camera to prove you're "authentic."

It's about helping a stranger decide if they trust you with their problem.

That's it. That's the whole game.

When you're a service-based solopreneur, YOU are the product. People aren't just buying your services. They're buying your judgment, your taste, your point of view, your approach to solving their specific problem.

A static Instagram feed with no voice and no face will only carry you so far. People need to see the human behind the business because that's what builds the trust that leads to sales.

But here's what showing your face doesn't require:

❌ Sharing every private detail of your life
❌ Crying on camera to prove you're real
❌ Daily life updates that feel like a second job
❌ Performing vulnerability you don't actually feel

We follow a simple boundary in my world, and I learned this from Jasmine Star: Share scars, not wounds.

Scars are healed lessons. You're on the other side. You can talk about it calmly and give your audience something useful and tangible. Wounds are still bleeding. Nobody wants to watch someone process trauma in real time. It's uncomfortable, and honestly? I can't run away fast enough.

You're not opening your diary and reading from it. You're mentioning the human behind the business so the business feels human. Because people are so much more likely to buy from someone they feel like they know.

Want the complete framework for what to share (and what to skip)? Check out The Content Coven Membership where we practice showing up imperfectly together with weekly live calls and a community that actually gets it.

📲 My Show-Up Strategy: The Reps Beat Perfection System

Alright, here's the good stuff. The exact strategies I used to get comfortable on camera, designed for busy, imperfect humans who run businesses (and maybe have kids hanging off them half the time).

Strategy #1: The 30-Day Story Challenge

This is where I started, and it's still what I recommend to anyone who's camera-shy.

The challenge: For the next 30 days, post one face-to-camera story OR one voiceover story where your voice is included. That's it. Under 60 seconds. Your only rule is that your face or your voice has to be present.

When I was really struggling, I told myself: "Em, get over yourself. Show up for 30 days in a story and see what happens."

I didn't jump straight into reels. I started with stories because they disappear in 24 hours, which took so much pressure off. Nobody's going to analyze a story the way they might scrutinize a feed post.

Here's what happened: by day 30, I wasn't thinking about it anymore. I'd pull up my phone in the morning, open stories, and just check in. "What's up? Here's what I'm working on today. Here's a problem I'm having. Here's something I'd love your help with."

That's it. You've set an intention, made a micro-promise, or shared a mini-lesson. Your audience now has a reason to look for you later for an update or a part two.

Some morning story ideas to get you started:

• "Good morning! I'm mapping out [project name] today and want to show you behind the scenes"

• "Okay, I'm comparing two color palettes and can't decide. Vote for me?"

• "Today I'm batch-scheduling my reels. Want to see my process?"

• "Quick question: have you ever dealt with [specific problem]? Drop a yes or no"

The key is keeping it conversational, like you're checking in with a friend, not performing for an audience.

Strategy #2: The Buddy Method

This one came from a follower who DM'd me to say it worked incredibly well for her, and I love it.

The method: Find a friend in your industry who's also trying to get more comfortable on camera. Commit to sending each other video-only messages for 30 days. No texting allowed. Every message has to be a video.

Why this works: you're accidentally getting in tons of reps while talking to someone you're already comfortable with. You'll find your personality on film, discover a pace that feels natural, maybe even figure out your best angle.

Then when you go back to creating stories or reels, you'll feel like you're just talking to your friend. That mental shift from "performing for an audience" to "sending a message to someone I trust" is massive.

To make this work:

• Choose someone you genuinely like and feel comfortable with

• Commit to 30 days minimum

• Keep it simple: share what you're working on, something that felt awkward, a resource you found

• No pressure to be polished or perfect

This is about building comfort, not creating content. The content skills come later.

Strategy #3: The Two-Frame Update

This is my current daily system, and it keeps showing up feeling effortless.

Frame One (Morning): I share what I'm working on, a problem I'm facing, or something I want my audience's input on. This sets an intention and creates a micro-promise.

Frame Two (Afternoon/Evening): I follow up with something steal-able. Maybe it's the poll results from the morning. Maybe it's a one-liner they can copy. Maybe it's the solution to the problem I mentioned earlier.

Example:

• Morning: "I'm testing two subject lines for my newsletter today. Which one would make you actually open the email? Vote below!"

• Afternoon: "Okay, you guys chose option B by a landslide. Here it is if you want to steal it for your own emails: [subject line]. Feel free to make it your own!"

This approach does two things: it keeps you showing up consistently without it feeling like a second job, and it trains your audience to check back in because you're actually delivering value throughout the day.

Strategy #4: The Real-Life Sprinkle

Here's something that surprised me: my highest-viewed, most-commented-on stories have absolutely nothing to do with my business.

I'm talking about dishwasher wars with my husband. The books I'm reading. My at-home manicure system (shoutout to Olive and June). Vacation planning. Nail color recommendations.

These aren't content pillars. They're connection pieces.

I think of this like showing up to the office when I worked in corporate. I had coworkers I loved (some of my best friends started as coworkers). We'd sit down with our coffee and just talk. "Oh my god, my husband did this, you're gonna die." "Have you dealt with this with your kids?" "Where should I go on vacation?"

That's what I'm doing in my stories. I'm showing up like I'm talking to my coworkers in the morning, not performing for an algorithm.

Some of my best "real life sprinkle" stories:

• The dishwasher loading debate (people went NUTS on this one)

• Book recommendations in my favorite genres

• "This or that" vacation destination polls

• Behind-the-scenes of my weekly routine

• Unpopular opinions about random things

People remember that you're the designer who loves bright pink manicures and romantic novels. That becomes part of your brand. And honestly? It's the fun part of showing up.

Struggling to know what to actually say on camera? Listen to the full episode where I share my top-viewed story examples and break down exactly why they worked so well.

🗣️ How to Actually Talk When You're Nervous

Okay, so you're ready to hit record. But the second that camera opens, your mind goes blank and your voice sounds like a robot. I've been there.

Here's what helps:

Pretend you're leaving a voicemail for a client you love. Not performing for thousands of people. Just talking to one person you genuinely want to help.

Sit up straight and lower your shoulders. I know this sounds basic, but your physical posture affects your vocal tone and your confidence.

Smile with your eyes before you start. I always start my videos with a smile. I swear it helps me relax and makes the whole thing feel less intense.

Take a deep breath and just go. What's the worst that can happen? Seriously. I need to make a t-shirt that says "What's the worst that can happen?" because it's really not that bad in the end.

Speak to "you," not "you guys." Instead of "Hey you guys, good morning!" try "Good morning. How are you?" It makes it feel like you're talking to one person, which is way less intimidating.

Cap yourself at 60 seconds. Long videos are not always superior. Sometimes the shorter, punchier message lands better anyway.

✅ The Pre-Post Boundary Check

Before you post any video, run it through this quick test. It'll save you from oversharing and regretting it later.

Ask yourself:

1. Can I talk about this calmly without needing comfort from my audience?

2. Do I have a clear lesson or takeaway, or am I just dumping my feelings?

3. Am I okay if this video gets 100,000 views?

4. Would I feel proud if my future dream client watched this?

If you can't answer yes to all four, save it. You're allowed to be a person and a professional at the same time. Not everything needs to be shared.

🛠️ Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode

• Olive and June - At-home manicure system Emily recommends

• Previous podcast episode - Emily's deep dive on Instagram stories strategy and her top-viewed examples

🎬 Your Next Step: Stop Waiting and Start Showing Up

Here's the truth I wish someone had told me eight years ago when I was hiding from the camera with a newborn and a business that desperately needed to grow:

Confidence doesn't come first. Repetition does.

You don't need the perfect ring light. You don't need flawless skin or a professional setup. You don't need to feel ready.

You just need to start putting in the reps.

Pick one strategy from this post. Maybe it's the 30-day story challenge. Maybe it's finding a buddy to practice with off-platform. Maybe it's just committing to one face-to-camera story this week.

And then do it again tomorrow. And the day after that.

Because somewhere around week three or four, it's going to start feeling less cringey. And then one day you're going to grab your phone and think, "Just give me the camera. Let's go."

That's when you'll know the reps worked.

Ready to stop hiding and start building the trust that leads to sales? Join The Content Coven where you'll get weekly live calls, content challenges, and a peer-led community of women who are putting in the reps right alongside you. We're all figuring this out together, and that's exactly what makes it work.

Save this post for when you're feeling the camera cringe. And if you try one of these strategies this week, I want to hear about it. Comment below and tell me which one you're committing to. Let's do this together.