Call your reviews the Shy persons Video Review Guide.   "I've challenged myself to do this, bear with me, I really am a shy person and this is a very odd thing for me to do.  Then do your review.  Should work.

I am shy too on film. (Some would argue otherwise but we won't go there. Ha!) I always mess up. I am even shy when I do recorded phone interviews. I think the best way to get over that is to practice. Know what you're going to say, try it out and then do the review. Don't be too harsh on yourself. We are our own worst critics. If you're shy about being on camera, focus on the product most rather than yourself.

I don't know if I will ever be able to do a video review. I'd love to because I could show makeup techniques and results but I'm so self conscious. Argh.

Maybe the thing to do is to practice with a camera until you feel more comfortable. Get a tripod and mount your camera on it. If you don't want to buy a tripod, then set the camera on a table so that it is pointing at you. Lots of modern cameras will let you flip the monitor around so that it is facing you. Position yourself in the sweet spot in the center of the monitor.

Think about what you're going to say and start recording. Look at the camera's lens, smile and speak slowly. Slower. Really, really slow. Practice that. Smile some more. Speak more slowly. Don't forget to smile! Practice again. Think about how excited you'd be if you were discussing whatever the subject is with a friend. Be excited on camera... just speak slowly and smile.

If you didn't like the first couple of tries, keep practicing. If you have objects that you want to show on camera (these are called "props"), have them handy so that you can reach them without looking. Hold the prop up so that it's right next to (or just under) your face. It doesn't matter if the prop is an iPhone or a can of beans, hold it next to your face. You can glance at the prop, but you should mostly be looking at the lens of the camera. Don't forget to speak slowly and smile!

The mistakes that most people make in video presentations are:

1. The lighting is terrible. With television, you can never have too much lighting.

2. They speak too fast. You have to be slow and clear.

3. They don't smile, so they look like grouches.

4. They don't keep eye contact with the camera.

5. They don't have any energy or excitement about the subject.

Practice all these things by yourself until you feel comfortable letting someone else see it. After all, there's no need to be nervous if no one sees the video but you. Once you get a good clean take, you can show it to others... but the beauty of video is that you can have 20 bad takes until you get to the one that's great. When people see that great take, they'll think you're a natural on camera.

Most of all... have fun!

--Bob (who has written, produced and directed a few videos... and was on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" twice)

My biggest challenge would be speaking slowly. I am from the northeast (and am ADD) and I do everything fast. I talk fast, eat fast, move around fast, type fast (and always with errors). I wonder if I will be able to slow down if I ever were to do a video review. I know I have to be VERY careful when interviewing people over the phone to pace myself and not interrupt or talk too quickly. It's really a challenge!

Funny,  I usually find that people speak too slowly when speaking in public or on video (think vintage Al Gore).

I've been a public speaker for over 30 years and I strive for a conversational pace.

I hate slow speakers! Al Gore, GAHHHHHHHHH. Yes, conversational is good. But I talk super fast so I would have to slow myself down to get to a pace that most people speak. I do everything quick like if I don't, I won't have the chance again. Crazy.

Without pulblic speaking training, most people speak too fast. I sure did. It was only when I had a steady gig on the radio that I realized the need to slow down. I ended up writing and reading the news, and slow and steady is the way to go there. Speaking slowly also lets me read ahead as I'm speaking, to prepare for any unusual words.

The radio experience also taught me to add energy to my performance, so I'm always up and energetic in front of a crowd. Most performers do this, so they have "on" and "off" personalities that can be quite different.

--Bob

I  used to do widely-attended video conferences all the time and it amazed me how nervous and uptight the people who were on with me would get before we went live. It's a camera, not a firing squad.

Chewing gum, playing with pens, etc. are very bad habits as they're a sign you're uncomfortable. The "big secret" is to treat the camera as a person, someone you know well and are very relaxed around. Let your real personality come through, don't pretend, and have fun doing it. And wing it a little so you don't grow boring. It's no big deal once you find your groove.  

One thing I did learn is, if you "talk" with your hands, be aware that they will appear freakishly huge if you move them closer to the camera. Keep them near your body.