How to Look Better on Your Video Call: Advice from a Video Production Company
Whether you’re working from home or back at the office, chances are you’re still taking video calls. We’re a video production company sharing our top tips and advice to help improve your video call setup in a few easy steps.
The era of video conferencing calls is still very much a reality in the corporate world. Despite things being relatively back to normal since 2020, a large percentage of our calls and meetings are still happening with video conferencing software like Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Amazon Chime, and others.
Making people look good on camera is basically our job so you could say we know a thing or two that could help you out. Today we’re sharing our video production experience and highlighting ways you can uplevel your appearance for your next video call.
Lighting for Video Calls
Lighting is perhaps the single most important thing to consider when looking to improve your video call setup. Poor lighting can almost instantly put someone off and won’t make a good first impression. So, if you’re able to accomplish only one thing from the tips in this post, it should be to improve your lighting.
Natural Light
You see that sunshine peeking in through your window? That right there is the most flattering (and most affordable) lighting option you have for your Zoom call. Whenever possible, we suggest moving your video call setup to face a window. For rooms with plenty of windows to choose from, make sure you’re facing the largest light source. If there is a lot of harsh sunlight during the time of your call, you may need to play around with your blinds or shades to ensure you’re not squinting from the sun or getting shadows cast on your face.
Facing a wall vs. Facing a window
ACTIONABLE TIP: Not sure which area of your space has the best natural lighting? Using the front facing camera of your smartphone, walk around your office, home, or apartment and determine which room makes you look best.
Lighting Options
We understand that big windows and natural lighting options are not available for everyone. Sometimes you’re limited to spaces with no windows or just overall poor lighting. This is when it’s worth investing in a light to improve your appearance on video.
Our top recommendation here would be to get a small and affordable light such as a ring light. There are many options available for every budget and many can easily clip on to your screen. This can give you a portable light source with varying levels of brightness and sometimes different colour options ranging from warm to cool light. For those lights with multiple settings, we recommend 6,000K (kelvin) which closely resembles natural light.
Another option is the Logitech Litra Glow Premium, a streaming light that is easy to use with many customizable features. A third more comprehensive option would be the Lume Cube Broadcast Lighting Kit. This compact kit does a great job of providing natural looking light and comes with an adjustable tripod and a diffuser as well.
ACTIONABLE TIP: Take some time to test out various placements for your light before your video call. You’ll want to make sure the light isn’t visible in the frame and that it is at face level to avoid casting any unflattering shadows.
Home Lighting
When you’re pressed for time and natural light isn’t an option, look for the best lit section of your space. Avoid sitting directly below a light fixture in your home as that can cast shadows on your face. Also keep in mind that warm lights can appear orange and unflattering on video. If you have a lamp that you can place directly behind your laptop or screen, this may be the best option for quickly bringing more light into your shot.
Overhead light vs Light in front of laptop
Video Call Background
Even though you are technically the main focus of the screen, whatever you’ve got going on in the background is going to be noticed as well. Avoid sitting directly in front of a blank wall and look for ways to create depth. Ideally you have either a traditional office setup or something similar. For those working from home, having a bookshelf and some plants in the background can easily bring life into your space. Use this as an opportunity to design a personalized virtual office space that you can use for all your video calls.
That said, you still want to aim for a space that is clean and uncluttered. Take an honest look at your setup and consider moving any posters, large photos, visible brand names, or objects that may be overly distracting.
ACTIONABLE TIP: Your face should be centered in the middle of the shot with equal space on all sides. It’s also important to have some subtle lighting in the background to avoid having you look like a talking head. If you have a lamp or standing light, consider placing it in a back corner to fill the room with light.
Many video conferencing software have a feature that enables you to blur the background. We wouldn’t recommend using that unless you’ve got no other options to improve your background. If you’re taking a call in your children’s playroom full of toys, then blurring a background is definitely something to consider. While a lot of virtual background options are fun and tempting, we don’t recommend using them for professional corporate calls.
Improving Sound
Even if you’re perfectly lit, your video call won’t be successful if people can’t hear you. We recommend always testing audio levels within your video conferencing system or with a third-party site like TokBox that allows you to make a pre-call test.
The built-in microphone of your laptop is generally okay but it may pick up some distracting audio if you’re using your keyboard or working at your desk. The microphone on a webcam does a better job of hiding some of that noise but you may want to consider using headphones with a built-in microphone like the ones that typically come with your smartphone.
When you’re spending a lot of time on video calls and truly want to sound professional, you can invest in a separate microphone. There are many geared toward video recordings and podcasters which will guarantee a crisp and clear call every time.
Another important element of improving the sound quality of your call is to make note of the naturally occurring noises in your space. Is there anything loud going on in the background? Some appliances like your dishwasher, AC unit or a ticking clock may be distracting and worth turning off or moving away from. If your room is prone to an echo, adding carpets, curtains, furnishings or sound panels will make a big difference.
Adjusting Camera Angle
Now that we’ve tackled lighting and audio, we can focus on making minor adjustments to bring your video call setup to the next level. There’s a chance that your built-in camera or webcam is below eye level, sometimes even near the keyboard of your laptop. This means that you may be looking downward during your call and can also be an unfavourable angle for those watching. We recommend having your camera at least at eye-level but preferably slightly above. This could mean propping up your laptop or monitor with books or boxes so that you are looking directly at the camera. It doesn’t matter how ridiculous your setup looks from your perspective, as long as you’re standing up taller and looking more confident on camera.
What To Wear
Another way to improve your appearance on a video call is to pay attention to what you’re wearing (on top, at least). We recommend avoiding logos or busy patterns that can be distracting or appear distorted in the camera. It’s best to stick to solid colours that compliment your skin tone and don’t clash with your background. It may also be best to avoid white since the additional lights could wash out your complexion. Also keep in mind that you’ll most likely be sitting down so any overly baggy sweaters or blouses may make you appear more slouched over than you’d like.
Other Things to Consider
Do a quick mirror check before your meeting to avoid making adjustments to your clothes or appearance in the middle of your call. All it takes is a quick look in the mirror or in the Photo Booth app to avoid getting caught with something in your teeth or noticeable smudges on your eyeglasses.
Be mindful of your posture at various points in your meeting as we sometimes tend to slouch without noticing, especially when we’re sitting down for long periods of time.
Pay attention to what’s happening during the call and remember that making eye contact with your audience means looking into the actual camera and not at your screen.
Remind others in your space that you’re on a call and keep the door closed if possible.
Make sure your laptop is charged or plugged in to avoid running out of battery and being disconnected.
Final result of using a portable light, creating depth in the background, and raising the laptop to eye level
Key Takeaways
Prioritize lighting as this alone will significantly improve the visual quality of your call.
Raise your web camera to eye level or above.
Always test your video and audio before a call.
Choose an outfit that compliments your skin tone and background.
Make minor adjustments to your space to hide clutter and create a professional background.
For examples of good vs. bad video call setups (and for a little entertainment), you can take a look at the twitter account Rate My Skype Room.
We hope our tips have helped you improve your lighting and video call setup for your next virtual meeting. If you have any questions or need additional assistance, feel free to leave a comment below.
About Winter Summer Media
We create premium visual content for corporate videos, interviews, announcements and events. A simplified approach to all your B2B video marketing needs.
