Media Coaching
Many people have difficulty expressing themselves clearly on camera. Their thoughts may be disorganized. They struggle to get to the point, don’t know how to speak in soundbites, and are overcome with nerves. Sound like you?
If you need to shape your message and boost your confidence, Portland can help you be clear, succinct, authentic, and inspiring. Her decades of experience as a television host and producer on shows like What’s the Alternative? have made her adept at coaching people to relax on camera and convey their messages with confidence.
Over Zoom and in person, she’s coached authors and health experts preparing for live and taped television interviews, Zoom presentations, and live talks.
Portland Helmich is a godsend of a media coach, especially for someone like me, who’d rather open her mouth for the dentist than a TV reporter. Not only did this multi-talented TV journalist help me relax on camera, she helped me get comfortable with the interview process from start to finish. As a veteran print journalist, I didn’t think I needed help writing soundbites for radio and TV, but I was wrong. With Portland’s help, my soundbites achieved a pithiness I never could have achieved on my own. When I say, I can’t thank Portland enough, I’m not just saying it. I really, really mean it!
Jean FainPortland helps clients look their best, prepare their space (on Zoom), clarify talking points, shape succinct soundbites, and be the kind of guest hosts and producers ask back.
Portland can specifically help you with:
- Interview Preparation
- Clarifying your main talking points and shaping them into succinct soundbites is essential before any on-camera appearance.
- Space Preparation (for Zoom)
- Make sure there’s space behind you when you’re in front of computer. Make sure there’s depth, something for the eye to see beyond. Don’t sit with your back right to a wall.
- Make-up
- For women: color your lips with a neutral lip pencil – it’ll make lipstick last longer. Subtle colors are best. Dab a bit of gloss in the center of your lower lip only. Generally speaking, if you do choose a brighter lip color (like red), go easy on the eye makeup. If your eyes are more made up, choose a more neutral lip color.
- Jewelry
- Keep it simple. You want people looking at your face, not your jewelry.
- Wardrobe
- Stay away from busy prints like paisley, polka dots or pin stripes. They tend to moray on camera. (They can look like they’re moving). Choose a solid color instead (you can accent with a patterned scarf or tie as long as the print isn’t too distracting).
- Confidence
- The more relaxed and comfortable you are, the more fun you’ll have, the more inspired viewers will be, and the greater your impact.
- There’s more… click here to contact me for additional tips!
I’m not a natural on camera and can get in my own way, feeling nervous and insecure. Portland has taught me how to relax and show up authentically on TV and video. She knows how to get the details right and communicates them well. She’s helped me write scripts for video, fine-tune my message for TV interviews, pick out the right wardrobe, apply make-up, get my hair right, and set up an inviting background for TV and video appearances. For videos, she’s coached me to take my rookie script and discover the story, inspiration and benefits behind it, making a compelling video that has the impact and results for the viewer that I dreamed of. I just had my fourth TV interview and they said they’d like me to return to the show. I owe it all to Portland’s masterful media coaching.
Lisa Tener