Most of the world has come to a halt as a result of the global pandemic. As a type of social distancing, hundreds of millions of people work from home across the world. For both corporate meetings and sharing a ‘quarantini’ during digital happy hours, standing at the front of a webcam for hours has become the standard. Many people are curious how to look as good on the internet as they do in person now that Zoom, Skype, and other services have swept over our everyday lives as we know it – like work interviews and dinner parties. That means finding out how to make your face look good on your coworkers’ laptop screens or the value of having a clean-living room in the background. It’s not all about vanity: viewers can make judgment calls from you as an individual, according to Sunny Lenarduzzi, a Vancouver-based digital businessman, former TV reporter, and frequent YouTuber.
With more office workers working from home as a result of the outbreak, video conferences have become much more common for a variety of business purposes, from team meetings to coming up with ideas discussions to new announcements.
However, communication strategies that work well in a conference hall cannot transfer well to Brady-Bunch segments on a computer monitor.
- WORK IN A CALM, CARPETED SETTING.
When a room is vacant and uncarpeted, the sound can be hollow and echoey, which can be disturbing to others. During web conferences, carpeted rooms with soft furnishings provide the best audio. If the space from which you’re calling doesn’t have furniture, even a carpet on the floor and maybe some floor bed sheets can help minimize reverberation and produce a warmer atmosphere.
- MAINTAIN EYE LEVEL WITH YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN.
Having your phone or device at eye level, whether seated or standing, is important. “The eye-level section is very big,” Mimi says. When using a laptop, your normal instinct is to push the screen back, which results in the up-your-nose look.” To prevent unflattering angles, she suggests pressing your smartphone against someone solid while remaining at eye level.
- MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH LIGHTING.
Rooms with low lighting seem disrespectful and outdated. Make sure you have a bright but soft light on your desk to highlight your face during the video conference. I suggest placing adjustable and-hue LED desk lamps on either side of your webcam, aimed at your face, so you can change the illumination to match the illumination conditions and establish understand the basic principles on your face. A single wide lamp can also suffice.
- LOCATE THE MOST APPROPRIATE LIGHTING.
Experts agree that softer, natural light is preferable, but make sure that any doors in the room are functioning for you rather than against you. Finding a windshield with indirect sunlight is recommended by photography experts because the filtered light is more compatible than overhead lighting and less harsh than direct sunlight. “Having a window beside the you typically are does not work because you get backlit,” Mimi explains. “It’s a challenge.” The same can be said for getting a window behind you that casts you in the worst possible light none at all.
- POSITION OF THE CAMERA
Bringing the camera up to eye level will give the appearance that you’re having a face-to-face conversation with others. Setting up a tripod, mounting a camera to the top of your screen, or placing your laptop on a stand or stack of books are all options.
If the camera is pointed down at you, you’ll appear small in the frame; if it’s pointed up, viewers will be drawn to your chin, ears, or nostrils. Above everything, placing the camera below your eye level is a distraction. Even when they’re thousands of miles or worlds away, look them in the eyes.
- Select the appropriate backdrop.
Even though our homes are generally less suited for technical meetings than your workplace boardroom, there are certain locations where you can take a call that are better than others.
Zoom isn’t the place to flaunt your performance-filled bookcases or your massive Basquiat print, particularly if you’re on a business call. Though enticing, such home décor flexing diverts attention away from the star of the show: you. A simple white backdrop is recommended by Yara.
- Take note of your body language.
With a hands-free setup, you can be more expressive and change your posture without accidentally messing up the direction and lighting you’ve spent so much time perfecting. But have you given much thought about how you sit in front of your phone or computer? Mimi, for example, is a firm believer in taking a stand. Standing may be the secret to feeling more energized and less confined that you never knew you wanted. She advises that if you’re standing, you can spread your weight evenly between both feet. If you decide to remain seated, make sure you keep great posture and sit close enough to be heard and understood.
