What should I do with my hands on camera?

Let them move naturally in the lower part of the frame, keeping gestures close to your body. If you tend to fidget, rest them lightly together and gesture only on key points.

Should I sit or stand when recording?

Standing often gives more energy and better breathing. Sitting feels more conversational. Either works if your posture is upright and relaxed.

How far from the camera should I be?

For a talking head, frame from the mid-chest up so your hands can appear occasionally, usually about one to one and a half metres from the lens.

Body Language on Camera: Posture, Hands and Framing That Build Trust

What to do with your hands, how to sit or stand, where to look, and how framing changes how viewers perceive you, with practical body language tips for video and calls.

Viewers read your body before they process your words. On camera, the frame is small, so every movement is magnified. A few adjustments make you look calm, credible and warm.

Posture

Sit on the front half of your chair or stand with weight on both feet.
Lengthen your spine as if a string lifts the top of your head.
Shoulders back and down. Not military; relaxed.
Lean in slightly at key moments. It reads as engagement.

Slouching compresses your breath and lowers your energy on camera.

Hands

Hands make you look natural and help you speak fluently. The trick is to keep them in frame and purposeful.

Frame so hands can appear: mid-chest up.
Gesture close to the body. Large gestures get cut off or look dramatic.
Use numbers. Hold up fingers for "three reasons".
Show open palms when explaining. It reads as honest.
Avoid touching your face, hair or clicking a pen.

If you do not know what to do, rest your hands lightly together at waist height and let them move when you emphasise something.

Face

Smile before you start and at warm moments.
Raise your eyebrows slightly on questions and key points; it adds expression.
Relax your jaw. Tension shows.
Nod lightly when you make a point you believe in.

Eyes

Look at the lens, not your own image on screen. If you read from a teleprompter, keep the reading line close to the camera. Our eye contact guide covers the details.

Framing

Framing	Effect	Use for
Close-up (shoulders up)	Intimate, intense	Short emotional stories, Reels
Medium (mid-chest up)	Natural, conversational	Most talking-head video
Wide (waist up)	Energetic, room for gestures	Demos, standing presentations

Keep your eyes about a third from the top of the frame, and leave a little space above your head.

Energy on camera

The camera flattens energy. What feels like 110% in the room looks like 80% on video. Speak a touch more expressively than normal, especially in the first sentence.

On video calls

Raise your laptop so the camera is at eye level.
Sit far enough back that your shoulders and some hand movement show.
Look at the camera when making key points, not at faces on screen.
Keep notes or a small prompter window directly under the webcam. See teleprompters on calls.

A 30-second pre-take check

Feet grounded, spine tall
Shoulders down, jaw loose
Hands relaxed and visible
Eyes to the lens
Smile, then start

Body language is not about acting. It is about removing the tension that hides the real you.