So you’re been selected to be a conference keynote speaker, congratulations! You’ve got the presentation written, a deck full of powerful slides, but have you considered how to look good on stage delivering it all? As a leading London conference photographer it’s my job to capture you looking your best, and over the years I’ve learned that stage presence is about more than just what you say.
How you look and how you carry yourself can significantly impact how your message is received, so here’s a few essential tips that’ll help take your stage presence up a notch, leave a lasting impression with the audience, and make you look amazing in the conference photos.
Ditch the notes: how learning your presentation helps you look good on stage
One of the most fundamental and powerful ways to elevate your stage presence is to know your presentation inside and out, without relying on notes or a script. When you have your content memorised it frees you to connect more deeply with your audience, and this connection is key to a successful presentation.
Here’s how memorising your presentation feeds directly into your stage presence:
Helps maintain eye contact
When you know your presentation by heart, you’re not constantly looking down at notes or a script. This allows you to maintain consistent eye contact with your audience, which is crucial for engagement. Eye contact makes your audience feel seen and valued, creating a stronger connection. For photographers capturing your talk, this also results in far more compelling photos of you looking confident and engaged with your listeners.
Enhances your posture
Knowing your material allows you to stand tall and keep your head up throughout your presentation. This naturally improves your posture, which, as mentioned earlier, is critical for projecting confidence. Without the need to glance down at notes, your hands are free to be more expressive, and your movements can be more fluid and natural.
Boosts your confidence
Confidence on stage largely comes from preparation. When you’re not tied to notes or a script, you can focus entirely on delivering your message with passion and conviction. This confidence is not only felt by your audience but also enhances your overall stage presence, making you appear more authoritative and in command.
Allows you to move around the stage
Being script-free allows you to move around the stage more freely. You can walk, gesture, and engage with different parts of the audience without the awkwardness of juggling notes. This dynamic movement keeps your audience interested and makes your presentation more visually engaging.
You can also respond to the audience’s reactions, adjust your delivery on the fly, and add spontaneous elements that make your talk more memorable. This flexibility also makes it easier to handle any unexpected moments, like a technical glitch or an audience question.
How to reduce your reliance on a script
You don’t actually have to learn your keynote presentation as written word for word – in fact it’s better if you don’t. Naturally you do need to learn the content to some degree, but the goal is to internalise the flow and structure so you can deliver it smoothly and confidently. That way you won’t get flustered if you forget the exact words you wrote, and you’ll deliver it more naturally than you might if you were reciting a script like a robot.
To deliver your keynote without a script start by breaking down your talk into key points and practising each section until it feels natural. Remember it doesn’t have to be exactly the same each time, you just need to get to the key points. Rehearse in front of a mirror and ideally record yourself so you can see how you improve each time.
What if you can’t learn your keynote presentation?
Of course there’s many good reasons you may not be able to memorise it – perhaps you’re stepping in for someone else at the last moment, or you just find memorising it too challenging. That’s fine, don’t beat yourself up – after all, autocue exists for a reason!
But if you don’t have access to autocue then the more you can reduce your script to more easily handleable notes, and the more you can reduce the need to look down at them, the better. The more text there is on your note cards the more likely you are to get lost at some point and have to pause and awkwardly scan through them to find your place. Stick to big clear headings that keep you on track, and when you do need to use them all you’ll need is a quick glance down.
Posture on stage: look good and command attention
Good posture is essential for your overall presence on stage. Start by standing tall with your shoulders back just a little, and your head held high – imagine a thread emerging from the very top of your head going straight up to the ceiling, just taut enough that you feel it pulling you upright. This all makes you appear more confident, helps with projection, and establishes you as a confident, authoritative figure before you start speaking.
A lot of people are worried about what to do with their hands. A helpful trick is to keep your hands slightly raised in front of you by bending your elbows a little. This encourages you to use your hands more naturally as you speak, which brings more feeling and passion to your words, keeping the audience more engaged in what you’re saying. When your hands are up and active you tend to feel more energised yourself, which translates into a more powerful stage presence.
In addition, knowing your presentation inside and out is a game-changer. When you’re not constantly looking down at your notes, you maintain better eye contact with the audience. This connection is crucial for keeping them engaged. Plus, from a photographer’s perspective, it’s far better to capture you looking up and out at the audience rather than down at your notes. The more you practice your talk, the more confident and composed you’ll appear on stage, and the more dynamic and impactful your photos will be.
Pro Tip: Practice in front of a mirror or record yourself to see how your posture and gestures come across. Pay particular attention to how you hold yourself when speaking versus when you’re listening to audience questions. Standing upright with your hands engaged and your eyes on the audience conveys confidence and control.
Dress to impress on stage – but comfort is key
It’s tempting to go all out with your outfit, but there’s two things to consider: first, you’ll likely be under bright lights and possibly on your feet for a while; second, dress for the conference crowd – some conferences are very much a smart casual shirts and chinos (or even jeans) sort of vibe, where others call for a full business suit.
So opt for clothing that looks sharp but also allows you to move freely and stay cool. Natural fibres like cotton and wool are breathable and can keep you comfortable throughout your talk. That wool blazer might look a million dollars but could leave you red-faced and dripping with sweat by the end. Also try to avoid anything too tight or restrictive – you want to be able to gesture naturally without worrying about your shirt buttons popping off!
Pro Tip: Stick to solid colours or subtle patterns. Busy prints can be distracting and don’t always photograph well under stage lights. Also, make sure your clothes are free from wrinkles; a quick steam beforehand can make all the difference.
Makeup and grooming: details matter!
It doesn’t matter who you are or how you identify, a bit of makeup can go a long way under harsh stage lighting. For women a touch of foundation, powder, and perhaps a bold lip colour can make your features stand out. For men, a light dusting of powder can reduce forehead and nose shine, and a bit of grooming (think trimmed facial hair and well-combed hair) ensures you look polished.
Pro Tip: stage lights can be unforgiving so even if you don’t normally wear makeup consider applying a bit of translucent powder to combat shine. And don’t forget about your hands – they’re often in the spotlight too, so make sure nails are clean and tidy.
Find your light on stage and be aware of the screen
Stage lighting is there to enhance your presence, but not all stage lighting is equal – I’ve been to some venues that have a magnificent stage but the only lighting is directly overhead, causing horrible dark shadows in eye sockets and under your nose. The lighting might also not cover the entire stage.
So get familiar with the lighting setup beforehand if possible. Stand where you’ll be delivering your talk and ‘find your light’ – the spot where you can sense the light is directly on you. For a well lit venue that’ll probably be the whole stage but pay attention to the areas that aren’t lit, so that you don’t inadvertently step into darkness and stay there for the whole presentation.
Take a selfie on your phone to see how the lighting plays on your features. If the lights are directly overhead and making your eyes disappear into shadow consider taking a step back to allow more light onto your face.
Finally if there’s a screen behind you check if it’s being projected onto, as opposed to a proper LED type screen. If it’s being projected then be very aware of walking across the projection. Firstly your shadow will be obscuring the content on the screen whenever you do that. But also your face will be lit by the projection, not the stage lights. That can make your face look weird, covered in distorted words and graphics. If you spend too much of the presentation like this there won’t be many good photos of you.
Engage with your audience & vary facial expressions
Your face is one of the most powerful tools when you’re presenting on stage. Don’t be afraid to show emotion – a genuine smile, raised eyebrows, or an expressive gesture can help convey your message more effectively.
Being less reliant on a script or notes allows you to look up and out into the audience much more often, which brings them into the presentation and keeps them more engaged. Looking down at your notes closes you down and pushes the audience away.
If you ask questions of your audience step forward, sweep your gaze across the room, use an enquiring expression, and pause just enough to let them think about their answer – but not so long that it feels awkward if nobody takes the lead to reply out loud.
If you’re using a screen it’s useful to refer to it and point things out from time to time. But especially if you’re a little nervous it can be tempting to spend most of your time looking at the screen and not your audience. Try to be aware of that and not to use it as a crutch too much. As interesting as the screen content may be, the audience is there to hear from you, so remember to turn back and face them whenever you can.
When you’re rehearsing your presentation in front of a mirror or watching it back on a video pay attention to how you use your facial expressions. You want to ensure they come across clearly from the stage, even to those sitting at the back of the room.
Pro Tip: Work on your smile in front of a mirror. A relaxed, natural smile is your best friend on stage – it makes you seem approachable and confident, and it’s great for photographs too!
Be mindful of your movements on stage: dynamic but controlled
Moving around the stage can be a great way to engage your audience, but it’s important to strike a balance. Too much movement can be distracting, while too little can make you seem stiff or nervous. Rehearse your keynote while walking around your space – think about when it makes sense to move and when it’s better to stay grounded.
Pro Tip: Avoid constant pacing back and forth unless it fits the tone of the presentation, as it can make you look anxious, too overbearing, or even too rehearsed. Instead, take deliberate steps and pause when you make key points. This not only helps you stay centred but also creates a more varied cadence for your audience, allowing the more impactful moments to stand out.
Props & accessories: keep them simple
If you’re using props or accessories make sure they enhance rather than detract from your presentation. Anything you bring on stage should have a clear purpose. The simpler the better – you don’t want your audience focusing on a flashy accessory rather than your words.
Pro Tip: If you’re using a microphone, practice handling it so you’re comfortable with it on stage. If it’s a lapel mic, check how it looks with your outfit and ensure it’s positioned correctly to avoid muffled audio.
And if you’re using a clicker to move slides along do your best to get familiar with it before you take the stage. If anything goes wrong with the clicker don’t allow nerves or panic to take over, and definitely don’t get stroppy or snarky about technical people “letting you down” as a way to mask embarrassment. Your audience starts out on your side, and open vulnerability in the face of technical mistakes will help keep them there.
Relax and try to enjoy it – fake confidence will get you a long way
Finally, the most important thing you can wear on stage is confidence. If you’re relaxed and seem like you’re enjoying yourself, your audience will pick up on that energy. Take deep breaths, smile, and remember – you’re the expert in the room. Own that space!
If you’re incredibly nervous that’s okay too. But remember, the audience is there because they want to hear from you. Take that knowledge onto the stage with you and you’re halfway there. Admit it’s your first time, if you want. A little vulnerability goes a long way! Then cast all that aside and do your thing, because everybody there wants you to do well.
Pro Tip: Arrive early to get a feel for the venue and do a run-through of your presentation. The more familiar you are with the space, the more at ease you’ll feel when it’s showtime.
Conclusions
As a professional London conference photographer specialising in capturing keynote speakers looking their best on stage I’ve seen firsthand how crucial it is to deliver not just a compelling message, but also to project confidence and authority on stage. Your stage presence can significantly influence how your audience perceives your message. By implementing these tips – whether it’s mastering your material or maintaining strong posture – you’ll not only engage your audience but also ensure you look poised and professional in every photo.
Ready to take your stage presence to the next level? Practice these techniques, embrace the spotlight, and step on stage with the confidence that you’re about to deliver an unforgettable keynote and look fantastic doing it too.
