DIGITAL SPOTLIGHT - Interview with Nathan Warner

Petra

I really looking forward to this conversation today because I've known this person for quite some time. He has made me sound and look good for the last four years. And I'm really looking forward to the conversation with Nathan Warner, who will share some of his learnings, tips, tricks and strategies, and how you can improve your online presence, the easy way. Nathan, welcome to the show.

Petra

Thanks for having me, Petra,

Petra

I'm so looking forward to this conversation. So funny. We met online for the first time in a very professional sense. You reached out to me on LinkedIn to do a video and I thought, huh, sounds fun. Not sure what I'm doing. But I'll say yes. Anyway, and you made the process so easy. But for anyone who hasn't met you yet? Can you quickly introduce yourself? What are you doing? And how did you get to where you are now?

Nathan

My name is Nathan Warner. And you know, I was actually writing down when you sent me up with his interview, and I came up with a question, what do you do, I actually kind of tossed him turn between videographer animator, video content producer, creative consultant, and I found it quite tricky to find out what I did. So I think the closest thing would be the video content producer. But as you know, I'm quite curious. So I wear a lot of hats. But um, yeah, I help businesses and individuals create engaging video content.

Petra

Amazing. And this is how we initially met for video productions. But then you also work with me for the last probably two years now to shoot incredible photos for our clients to have better online profile pictures, but also for their websites and so forth. And then I thought, I want to start a podcast and all of a sudden, you said I can actually do the editing for podcasts, which I didn't know. So this is why I say you make everyone look and sound good, which is such a unique skill set and something that we all have to get better at.

Now, especially over the last 12 months, everything and everyone has gone online. What kind of trends and changes have you seen, especially for the online presence for individuals and also companies?

Nathan

A few things I've seen, the main thing I noticed is that big companies and big corporations we even see on you know, actual TV is whenever it was in lockdown, they actually had professional celebrities and corporations doing just very basic videos. So on their iPhones, you saw some really big thing isn't there was no big studio budget, and there was no big production behind it. 

They were addressing on TV on, you know, primetime TV, in their home settings.

And I think that was interesting, because it was pretty good for them to say, you know, they wanted to be seen to be staying at home because of Coronavirus during 2020. And I think that encouraged a lot of people to kind of nudge them over the line that they could do it online, they could have an online presence, they can do videos themselves with their iPhones.

And I think I've noticed that actually, there's been a big influx on customers that want to not only do their own video content, but start up their own online learning platforms. You know, the other thing as well as even with my family, friends noticing that students weren't able to go into school, and it kind of reinforced that you can learn from home because I mean, we've been slowly migrating to the digital.

This was the final thing to kind of push everyone to it kind of forced them to learn online and study online and work from home. And yeah, so I think it's been the last nudge and now people are feeling a bit more confident about it.

Petra

That's a great segue way to feeling confidence. Because what I've also seen with so many say executives or senior professionals who are very experienced with public speaking, they don't have an issue to stand in front of a crowd to host meetings, to run workshops, and so forth. In a second red light comes on from the camera, they freeze and nothing happens.

You said already, just because it's a little bit more normal and people are doing it, they feel a bit more confident. However, most still don't do it. Have you got any tips on how we can actually be more confident on camera?

Nathan

It's it's so true that as well because I know some very impressive business people that they can stand in front of 1000s of people and talk and the moment they're in front of a camera. They're even bewildered, they're like, ‘Why can't I say this? I know this stuff’ … and they get irritated with themselves. So definitely the first thing to remember is stay calm. 

If it's a live video, it's just like a talk. So don't stress too much. And if it is a recording that is going to be edited. Remember that it's just take your time and don't stress yourself out. It'll be fine. You can edit it. 

That's the magic of filmmaking. The things I would say to remember when you're either videoing yourself or having somebody else do it for you is don't sweat the little things. You will be looking at your wrinkles or the fact that you've put on more weight over the past years or you hate how you say this. Your teeth, nobody is looking at that. Next time you watch a video online on YouTube, just didn't take yourself out of your shoes and realize how much you're not looking at that person's physical appearance that much, you've got to be presentable. 

But you don't have to be this airbrush. Stunning supermodel, nobody cares, therefore the content, it just helps that it looks neat and presentable. The other thing would be that you're not a trained actor.

So the biggest thing people think is, when they are doing videos, they get themselves a full script to memorize every single word. Nobody learns like that. If you're not a trained actor, you're not going to memorize whatever it will be, say 100 to 500 words verbatim. So do what you do. Whenever you do these talks, you give yourself bullet points, if you know your field, if you know your discipline or your industry, you will easily be able to be prompted. 

So don't overwhelm yourself with a giant script with all these cues. Because I've done that with clients and they just freak out. Yeah, and then the last thing I'd say for confidence is make sure that you turn on your smile, turn your smile dial up, I tell clients, when you're talking kind of like when you're talking to somebody or listening, you'll naturally look quite bored. And you'll talk quite monitoring. Make sure that you turn your smile off. 

And it seems fake. It's kind of like the California smile. You know, they're very sunny. It's it feels ridiculous, but it translates much better on camera. So if you're talking to people in the everyday world, like at meetings or networking events, you would never talk to them like Hey, how you doing there. My name is Nathan Warner, nice to meet you. It's too much. It's so animated. But on camera. It looks natural. Definitely. In fact, if you don't do that, it looks really bad. It looks like you're bored or angry because people naturally frown. 

Petra

Amazing point. Because also in the second you smile, you've got a different voice and a different tone.

Nathan

You're also fantastic at that as well. And you've gotten very good at just turning up that sunniness and seeming engaging, you can just switch it on. And when I talk to you, normally you're back to normal face. So yeah,

Petra 

You know, this is great feedback. So we are all for words of affirmation. So we keep each other compliments.

Nathan

I'll keep going as well, because all of the filming, I knew the creative side of it. But because of you I learned so much about personal branding and about the reasoning and I guess people's Why Why are they filming because that does come into it. So you taught me a lot of the marketing things, whether it's directly to me or more just me inheriting so much of your wisdom and knowledge being at your networking events. Remember, I was behind the camera the whole time. So I was learning a lot, and then crawling through the Edit. So thank you so much for teaching me the reason why I'm making film.

Petra

Honestly, we are the perfect team. So I enjoy working with you so much because you make the process very easy. And you're always which I love about you to stay with the worst version here is that you make it easy for people to be in front of a camera because you constantly make jokes you laugh about yourself to make people feel relaxed. And this is what the real secret here is to make a video production or photoshoots really successful that people enjoy themselves that they don't have this awkward smile here or you know, pause here because anyone can smile it and look at this a mile away.

Nathan

We might need to get on with it because this feels like the other break in the middle of the podcast episode. Just for a plug about Nathan and Petra and how amazing they are now back to our feature episode.

Petra

But you know, it just also proves that the point that when you feel comfortable, you just do it very naturally. And this is especially on video - what do you spend some before needs to come across the people are more looking for the authenticity of the genuine content rather than looking perfect people are over this we are not in the you know 2010’s anymore where you have to have a curated feed with everything looking perfect, you know, subject matter expert, and this is what people are looking for. At the same time. Yes, short and sharp. It's not about talking for an hour non stop. 

People don't have the time. How can you condence your message in a minute or two have bullet points. And this is also what makes you makes it much easier for you to record videos.

Nathan

Sure you can make it snappy, actually, the more professional and polished you make a video, it's good, but even how you present it the more alienated you become. So I think it's good to be slightly hearing any talker you want to see people know what they're talking about the sharp feel they feel confident about looking at them. But if you do that too much so it becomes artificial and people can't relate to it. something great about you is that you do make mistakes and you do you make up your own words. So some words I listened. I'm like that's two words. It's mixed together. But the good thing about you is that you own it. 

So that makes people think, oh, it feels comfortable. If you meet somebody that impressive and that on it and sharp, it makes people feel like oh, I'm gonna go near them. I'm too shy, or they're too big, but you're very much. You're very adaptable, and you're very approachable.

With the big smile, and you again - Own your stuff, and I've only met a few clients that do that. And that's, that's definitely something that shouldn't be unsung.

Petra

Yeah, thank you for that. This is also a great tip in terms of personal branding, you want to be clear about how do you want to come across because that comes in, in your content production, in your photos, in your clothing, whatever you put out there, when you say I want to look very professional, very authoritative, very, you know, experienced whatever it might be, you've got a very different presence to someone who says, you know, I'm happy to make a joke out of myself, I'm happy to be seen as approachable or funny or dorky. So I can allow myself to make those mistakes, and it still feels authentic, because it's part of your brand. There's nothing right or wrong with either. It's just the question, how do you want to come across? How would you feel comfortable that people introduce you to others and remember you, and basically, you create your content, you create your videos, you have your photoshoots.

Now, what you told me is having a clear structure in terms of videos, so it's all about having a hook getting people's attention first, then having some insights and a call to action. How do you recommend anyone who wants to start with videos? Where to start? How can you find this hook that makes people interested in listening to you further?

Nathan

That's tricky, because that's it depends on the industry on the person. And I guess the approach you're going for, because that kind of goes into the PR realm of are you trying to get away from the old school corporate, or do you want to see more professional, I've worked with a lot of new age, Kineologists. 

And they were trying to get away from that kind of New Age hippie vibe. And they want to be seen as serious. And there's some people that are a little bit too stiff and boxy. And they want to be seen as approachable and casual. 

So I guess, the one thing I'd say is definitely evaluate even what's your services evaluate what it is you exactly one. But the one thing I'd say is definitely come up with a format of it's, I guess, it's the end outcome of where you want your videos to go. So that always falls down to and this would be the biggest on something would be the pre production. 

So make sure that you're scripting and formatting and figuring out why you're making videos, I've had a few clients that they start making videos, and they don't fully understand why they're making the videos. So I kind of think of it as you've got your businesses the store, and you're making products, but you don't know who wants to buy them, and you don't know where they're going to be on the shelf on the shelves, I guess could be Facebook or social media. So definitely having a clear understanding of why you're making videos where they're going to and for whom, because a lot of people now saying, oh, everything is all about video wanting to make videos, but they're not really understanding why they're making the videos. And that can be a bit of a problem. So I'd say probably, yeah, the biggest thing would be try to understand why you're making videos, and I guess, the destination of those videos.

Petra

Amazing tip, you start with the end in mind.

Nathan

Thank you for saying, I think I said video probably about 20 times a little bit.

Petra

Yes. But the end in mind determines the start of it. So you want to add I have an interesting fact. Did you know asking a question, or putting a controversial statement in there that he then passed, for example, the Earth is flat, if no one ever or something like that, that people like her, What is she talking about? What is she talking about?

Nathan

This is this is why you're in front of the camera, and I'm behind the camera so I can give you good pointers and make you look good. But you've always been able to refine it. So you I think you're saying this, I'll say and then you say in a clear way perfect.

Petra

Practice makes not ever perfect, but better anyway, and more comfortable. 

Like when we started doing videos, I was stumbling I was I don't know how often I started with the same sentence and just forgot it. Even now, when I haven't done videos for quite some while for quite some time, it's quite hard for me to get back into it. But again, you make the process so easy by simply giving the pointers and this is, I think also an important trait and a skill from somebody you work with. How can you support your strengths but also complement your weaknesses.

Nathan

And actually the first time we met It was a video with you and me and I was interviewing you in front of the camera and that was probably one of the last times I was in front of the camera. So I think after being with you I learned my place and I got on the other side of the camera and let you have the limelight.

Petra

Now, we have also been talking a little bit about the increase have videos in general. And then people are more comfortable to do their own videos. And there's this big saying also what Gary Vaynerchuk always says document rather than create meaning. Take on the gold content, you are at a conference, take a photo, you are hosting a lunch and learn session, take a photo or a quick video of what the session is about. Have you got any tips, tricks, strategies, tools, anything that can make the production on the go a little bit easier, but also looking professional without having to do the professional editing.

Nathan

It's a few film techniques definitely would be, definitely check the lighting. A lot of people, they kind of standing in front of the light, it's behind them. 

So make sure it's in front of you. So it does like you are I see a lot of people that and then you've got to adjust that and fix that. It's really quite tricky, though. Because there is such a large aggregation of videos out there. It's not necessarily about having a clear understanding, you're actually kind of going against the new school. So the old school way of production was you pay a big budget, you have paid actors, and it's very controlled. What people doing these days is very uncontrolled. It's very natural. 

And like we said, transparent. So it'd be more to create engaging content. There is also another saying, which is, quantity is the new quality. And I still don't know if I fully agree with that. 

But I do understand where they're coming from. It's not necessarily about what content you're producing. So if I'm at a live Expo or workshop, it's just the video can act as a reminder that you're still there, you're still engaging, and you're reminding people that you're still there, it's exactly the same as advertisements during the commercial break. 

It's just why does McDonald's still need to advertise everyone knows who they are. It's just that constant brand recognition. So when you're at an expo and you say, Hey, I made some water about this Expo with this person here, stay tuned, we're coming up is just reminding people that you're still there with fresh content. And it's giving the algorithms of things like Google and all the social media is reminding them that you're still present, and you're still engaging with their platform. So you're scratching their back, so they scratch yours. 

So really, I think that's what they mean by documenting as opposed to just filming constantly. There's no real way to make it, it's just a way to show that you're still there. It's a reminder,

Petra

I would actually agree with their quality of a quality aspects that you can talk about the same topic or the same content a few times. 

And this is also takes the overwhelm out of creating content. So when you say I've got this big event coming up, you can say, first, I'm really excited to be at this event. Who else is there?

Next one is I just bought it the speaker and I can't wait to learn about so and so then you are on the go you are traveling there you're taking people on the journey you can ask question would you prefer I'll a window where we could see travel is your goal to train for when you're on the road, coffee or tea, just getting people engaged, then you are there saying, you know, I really excited five minutes ago until my speech, then you do a recap. So even though we're talking about the one and only event and conference that you're attending, you can talk about that for literally two weeks without getting boring because you always have a different angle. And as you said, it's all about being Top of Mind and remembering people that you were there. And also remembering, reminding them about your values. It's all about learning and development, for example, or speaker or anything that you want to be associated with, you talk about it rather than sitting down and perfecting this amazing post that is all about education, but doesn't show any personality.

Nathan

Absolutely. I think that's really true. And that reminds me actually that the biggest thing that stops people and make some progress, and it can be perfection and perfecting things. So opposed to a stress own, this needs to look perfect, and I need to have relevant things. And this video needs to go viral trade video like it is these days, it's not this big thing where we start the production, we have a massive budget and we this is going to be big, it's going to be on primetime TV when you've made it now because there's so many videos and everyone can do them. 

There's a lot of videos if you go with that in mind. And a good example of that is they even say with stand up comedians, if you can think of a stand up comic. So you go and see whoever's on stage at the moment. When you leave there, you know how you can never remember what jokes were said. You actually remember probably one or two jokes, but you can't remember exactly what jokes you heard. Same as any speaker. When you go to a meetup or any kind of networking event. And you hear somebody you say, Oh, I really liked them. They were great. If you ask somebody, what can you tell me some things they said, you'll be able to remember one or two things but they weren't exactly the things that you they weren't the best things you are like, I can't remember what joke they said. Or I can't remember what insight because you have to write it down. It's because people rarely actually remember the content or what people say. They actually take away the persona. They take away the values and how that Person held themselves and how they carried themselves. So with that in mind, when you're making a video, don't stress the little things like the content of what you're saying. Because half the time people are subconsciously listening, but they're more watching, you're subconsciously, how you hold yourself, what kind of vibe you're setting out you energetic, are you dry, are you engaging, it's it's the little things in between there. So don't stress too much about the actual content. It's, it's the persona, it's the personality that you're getting off.

Petra

That's such an important reminder, because also the same from Maya Angelou when she said:

Nobody remembers what he said, but everyone remembers how you made them feel. 

The same applies to your videos to your photos, people are processing photos or images 60,000 times faster than text alone. And with video, it's just another way of how you can come across how you can portray yourself without necessarily having to say anything, people don't always look for the latest and greatest, the best content, they just want to get entertained as well as and educated. So this is a really good reminder.

Nathan

It's the difference between being a personality and a real person opposed to being a news presenter, which is very much Hello there. And you know, my name is Nathan Warner, I'm here live at the Expo. And it's it's very rigid, opposed to having that kind of raw camera angle and talking to people and as background noise, you know, so I say just the biggest thing would just be action based. So just do it.

Petra

Now, we've talked a little bit about the do's and don'ts, we need to have the light in front of us or on the side rather than in the back because it can make us look black, or very shadowy. Have you got any other tips and tricks how we can look better in front of a camera or even on a photo?

Nathan

How to look better? It's it's quite tricky unless you're actually there. And it depends on the equipment you're using. If you're just using an iPhone, it can be quite limiting. And it's very automated. 

So the shutter speed and the focal points, it'll all be fixed up. So kind of idiot proof. So it does make you look good, regardless of where you are definitely standing. 

The light is hitting your face opposed to the other way around. Hence why a lot of people, they will put themselves in front of a beautiful view behind them. But that beautiful view will make them look shut away. Nobody can see now because this is just audio.

But much like I am right now. The other thing would be probably not that will be visual control, but audio control as well. If you're not using professional audio recording equipment, it can be quite noisy. So make sure that you control the sound by putting yourself somewhere quiet the best places, Windows. 

If you're inside somewhere with a window in the background, that will be another prompt. And you try not to use too many filters because it can actually lower the resolution of the picture. 

The more you airbrush yourself and bring out and edit the frame from an iPhone. It can pixelate at much more, and you don't see this, but when it goes to other people's computer, it actually loses the sharpness and the quality, it's going to always look a lot better on your own device.

Petra

There's already so many great tips that you can use for your phone. And we are also going to dig deep in this topic on the 13th of April where you will run a workshop on how we can present ourselves better online. And the same tips and tricks and techniques are also applicable for online meetings, for example, because it's also video presence. So you don't want to have the video audit light behind you and you know all those small little tricks to help you to create a better executive presence. Yeah,

Now, have you got any tools or apps to use whereby and would recommend everyone to use.

Nathan

Um, I actually wrote down a few of these. And the one I would love the most would probably be one called switcher studio. So switcher studio is an online app you can use for your iPhone or Android device. And basically, it's nothing you can record on it. But it's mainly for live videos. And you can even put your own personal logo, you can upload it to the profile. 

So whenever you put out a live video, your logo will be on the bottom screen along with your name or whatever you want. So it's almost like a filter. That was really good too. Because actually, this is what I use when I was interviewing when I first met you. And the best thing about that it's actually a little bit of a bit of a hack or a bit of a cheat is you can actually record the if you're interviewing somebody or doing a live video, you can record it, you can edit it or if it's a good take, and then you can actually upload that video to this switcher studio. And it's actually comes out as being live, but it's not it's been pre recorded. 

So you can record wherever you want and being. And then upload it as a live video. And for all people No, it was a perfect flawless take. So really good and it's a good way to actually brand your live videos. 

The other one would be I've got nothing against iMovie I think industry standard wise that gets a lot of bad rap A lot of people say go on to Adobe for you know, Photoshop or Premiere Pro, but iMovie. 

And if you're feeling like going a bit more professional, Final Cut Pro, which is another really, if you don't want a subscription based software, it's perfect. And the last one would be lumen five, which is perfect for editing. Other than that Instagram Facebook are actually doing some pretty impressive things when it comes to Video Timeline editing. Amazing

They actually also the last one too. This is more for photos. Have you heard of Pexel?

Pexel. I love Pexel. Because if you go to a lot of like Shutterstock images that cost quite a bit, they offer a lot of free stock footage for photos and videos. You can also buy as well.

Petra

Yes, that's a good point. Because not all the time, we need to have our own footage. Sometimes we just need a nice stock photos already enhance the content we put out there. 

I love it. Now, before we wrap up, as I said, we've got our workshop on the 13th of April, where we talk more about how to present yourself incredibly well online on a camera, but also in online meetings in front of you know, video camera, but also a normal photo camera. Now, in terms of video, he also just quickly mentioned live videos. But where do you see the future of videos going into? We've seen such an increase in video, do we see more of that we see different types of content and videos are people over video, what do you think?

Nathan

It's tricky to try and figure out.

Because I mean, when you asked me this question before, I didn't really know how to answer it. Because it's almost like guessing where science and technology will go. 

I mean, at the end of the day, it's still somebody's opinion. So I kind of thought more about the video of makeup. 

So where because I mean, obviously the shelf life for an industry like filmmaking is quite tricky. And I've had to think about that as well. Will it become completely obsolete with automation, everyone's filming now. And what I realized, actually, is it's not necessarily the quality of videos that I make. 

But it's actually again, the relationships you build and how you make people feel good. And this goes not just to filmmakers. I mean, it does, but it's not necessarily professional filmmakers like myself, where it's my business, because everyone is a filmmaker now. So it actually applies to everyone. So it's more just about surrounding yourself with people that make you feel confident, as we said, You've got some incredibly charismatic people that can do public talking. 

They're making millions in their own business, and they've had a very fruitful career. But when you put them in front of a camera, they freeze up and they don't know how to act, and they don't know what to do. What I've noticed is that people are actually more in need of feeling confident and having direction. Sometimes it's just a sounding board. 

So I would say, I think the future will be more it's kind of like automation, just because things can be done. It's more, you know, the soft skills, how they say hard skills can be easily automated, but the soft skills will be a bit tricky will be the last to go. So I think it's more the humans in front of and behind the camera that will actually make that easier, whether it's an iPhone, or whether it's a really expensive mirrorless DSLR. But yeah, I would say it's probably more because there is such a lot of movies out there online, I guess it would come back down to the quality of the interactions, why we're making films and who's in front of the camera, and what creativity is going behind these productions.

Petra

Agree. And I think also because we've got more access to those tools, often they are free tools. And it becomes more than norm, people also expect the higher quality. It's I think we're also leveling up in our own content production. 

Because when we started all of us, including some meetings, everyone accepted dropouts, but worse backgrounds ever, you know, bad connection and, and tone of voice. But now because it's become so natural people expecting a higher quality. And I agree with you that it's not often the tool that makes a difference, but the people who supports you, and if you lay the structure to make it easier to overcome the overwhelm, makes all the difference. 

Nathan

It would definitely be the written content. At the end of the day, no matter what kind of production or bells and whistles and glitter and smoke and mirrors are put on supplying the written content, the actual content itself. The Naked Truth is what makes content engaging. 

So if you've got these explosions, and you've got these amazing sound effects, you've got these awesome visuals, but there's no story. There's no narrative. Or just, you know, there's no substance, it's not going to be a good video, it's not going to be a good piece of content unless it's, you know, substance based.

Petra

Awesome, so many good tips and tricks, I'm really looking forward to our workshop. So whoever listens to this live, make sure you hop over to the link in the show notes and join us live on the 13th of April, it will also be recorded. And you can also give some of the exercises refer gold prior to it, how to take a photo of that we also give some feedback. So feel free to try and it's very safe and fun place to be, as you will experience. Nathan, have you got any final words? And also, where can people find you and learn more about you?

Nathan

They can find me on LinkedIn. And they can also find me on Facebook and Instagram, Jacqueline productions. Yeah, and definitely reach out if you've got any questions or Yeah, and I'll talk to you soon.

Petra

Awesome. Well, I'll put all the links in the show notes. And, again, thank you so much. I'm really looking forward to what the future holds for us.