help desperately needed - please - I am being filmed and panicking!!

[missbonita]

OK. I need help desperately. I should have sorted this sooner but have been burying my head in the sand.

I run a business that has become very successful at a niche thing and we have a huge wait list, no web site etc - all very disorganised as I just work - doing my job all the time and no marketing etc etc.

Anyway, to the point. I have been 'taken in hand' and someone has decided that I need a website and to be organised so I can deliver so a lot more people. I am extremely introverted and they are insisting that I be the face of the brand and present videos for the website. I am terrified.

I live in jeans and a jumper, I wear no make up although have a bank balance crushing high end skin care habit so my skin is quite good. I am dark skinned with very long blonde hair that I don't know how to do anything with.

Shit. I am being filmed - by a proper set up - lights and everything - on Tues as a test. I sort of want it to be awful so they can't make me go ahead. I hate wearing make up but know I need to or I'll look dead. I know I can't wear a grey polo neck or a hoodie.

Any advice on what I can do? I have no money to buy anything or have any 'styling' done. I do have make up and other clothes but feel anxious and 'fake' when I wear them which is a bad habit I have got into.

It will be watched by tweens/teens and people like us - their parents.

Please please help.

Ask me anything - I will answer what I can without outing myself. Sorry if this all sounds so stupid and immature. I am 43! Sorry.

PS I name changed as I post on MN a lot and this together with stuff on my usual name would definitely 'out me' and I know lots of my clients are on here and I am embarrassed :(

Get a professional to do your hair and make up. You could try MAC if you have one nearby.

Following with interest. Have done some TV media bits and clearly don't have the faintest clue - from watching back - what works on camera.

Sorry, just read your post properly. Although could you 'bill' it to the business as a cost of the video?

If not, YouTube?

Try watching some similar videos and see what works, plain colours rather than patterns for tops I would think. If it's Tweens maybe channel some Kids TV presenters?

The filming is tomorrow and Tues 7am - 12pm as it was the time the equipment is free. The camera man usually charges loads but is doing it in exchange for services as long as I fit in with him. But that means no make up/hair help due to times. I know it is a test but they said it'll go on the page if its good and I need to stop being stupid.

That is a genius idea - copy someone with my vague colouring who is popular
RIGHT - off to search

Think I need to wear colour and make up from looking at that. Oh god. I'm off to try on everything in the wardrobe

Wear block colours, no patterns. Simple hair and more make up than you'd normally wear.
Always wear heels, and go smart casual. Jeans, heels and blouse.
Get them to tape a couple of tapes, then watch it back. So you can see if you look washed out etc

You'll be grand

A couple of takes

Remember, your business - you're in charge. Crews will have seen every type of nerves. Don't worry about that. If you're asked questions, remember it's a conversation.

thank you. I would never had done this and got the website sorted without the help of the person who is coming to film tomorrow. He is being very bossy but needs to be or I'd duck out and I know I am being an idiot.

I have tried a green and a blue jumper and both seem good colours. I have some lovely jeans and nike airs - I don'd own any heels. I know, I know.

My face is the problem. I don't own any foundation. I am scared of looking old and saggy and grey. I am mixed race so supposedly dark skinned but very light so quite sallow and grey. Oh god. I know how pathetic it sounds. On a good day I am JLo colour and on a bad day it's farrow and ball elephants breath haha

Any tips for how to make my skin look less dead?

I have a bare minerals powder foundation, a tinned moisturiser and a mascara to work with. DD has an urban decay eye palette so I can nick a bit of that and she has a pink blusher. I have some Sunday Riley Good Genes that will give me a bit of a glow I hope. Arrrgggg my annoying face! I really want DD to do them videos and she is willing but the bossy helpful man says it needs to be me and I can do it.

thanks for the kindness - any more advice? Anyone done this before?

I used to work in TV (mainly on the production side but occasionally on camera) and my tips are:

No busy patterns, or they can strobe on camera
Bright colours if possible, so no grey, navy, beige, black next to your face
The camera will leech colour from your face, so wear makeup to add it back in and define your features

I’m now a lecturer and quite often have to assess nervous students doing presentations. I tell them to do a test run in front of the mirror before the exam, and also to time themselves. You will speed up if you are nervous - remember to breathe! - so I always say to aim to come in about three minutes over in the dry run to be bang-on on the day.

You can do this and have DD to hand

Sounds like you have enough make up to try so thats good.

Mascara, blusher and lipstick will all definitely need to be applied on the day if nothing else.

No idea what the bare minerals powder will look like on camera, should be fine though.

Talk slowly, calmly and confidently he will guide you so it'll be fine.

Thank you this is very helpful and giving me confidence. I really really appreciate it. Green and blue jumpers that are a flattering fit, my good 7 for all mankind jeans and my lovely nike airs that male me feel bouncy and young. I'll be sat at a desk. Make up I have found a sample size of Chanel bb cream that I have tried a patch of and has a lovely slightly tan colour that seems good - thanks @Judydreamsofhorses that is such helpful advice. Anything else I need?

My hair is very long and my usual style is quite wild and bushy! Do you think I need to 'style' it? I have no clue.

DD13 is happy to help thank god. She is telling me to channel Holly Willoughby which is exceptionally kind and unrealistic!

Lipstick - arrgggg forgot lipstick. I am not a natural lipstick wearer..... I am thinking

thank you so so much MN help is so wonderful at times like this