During auditions, particularly commercial auditions....do subtle facial expressions come across on camera?

As an actor, it feels more natural to do smaller expressions because when I exaggerate it feels so fake. But I'm starting to realize that it doesn't always come across on camera and that it becomes a mediocre performance. Does anyone have any experience with this?

The camera is the great magnifier.

You do NOT need to push or suggest. Just be yourself and do what you NATURALLY do.

Yeah....thinking about your facial expressions during a scene is the last thing you should be worried about. The less you do...the more you're in the moment...the better off you are.

godzilla - have you taken any on-camera classes? Particularly one that you're able to take your work home with you and watch it?

If not I suggest it hugely and I'm sure everyone on the boards would second that, for both commercial & theatrical benefits.

One of the first places I trained on-camera was with Jeremiah Comey, you're sent home with your work on a flash drive and can watch it on your computer. I was BLOWN AWAY by subtlety the camera picks up, literally FLOORED. If you literally feel like you're doing absolutely nothing with your face chances are your expression are coming off magnificently on the screen. All the better for not worrying/thinking about your expressions during your read, like LuckyMe said.

Something worth looking into, if nothing else just so you can see with your own eyes what the camera picks up and what looks overdone.

Thanks for the advice guys!

I was probably just over-thinking. I guess it is that after auditions I tend to doubt myself and I feel like I did too little.

I have taken a commercial class, but it has been a while ago. I should probably go back to take another one to refresh my memory.

As I always say, the camera can see you think. Overacting is a real danger. Play the scene, and trust that it's coming through.