Video meetings dominating our work-from-home lifestyles can make looking polished on camera feel intimidating. But with a few simple tweaks, you can come across as competent as in-office meetings.
This comprehensive Zoom masterclass distills video call best practices tailored for beginners. Follow these expert tech tips to finally ditch video call anxiety!
Why Professional Presentation Matters Online
Let‘s level-set on why intentionally improving video presence is worth the effort. As per analytics firm GlobalData, video meetings boomed by over 300% during recent remote work uptake.
But get this – 93% of communication relies on nonverbal cues like facial expressions, posture, and attire. Fostering trust and connection virtually demands thoughtful self-presentation.
Consider your video display as an avatar representing your personal brand – Experts estimate snap judgments based on appearances happen within just 30 seconds! Putting some care into seeming camera-ready pays dividends towards achieving your professional goals by boosting perceived capability and likeability.
| Benefits of Polished Video Presence |
|---|
| ✅ Projects confidence and credibility |
| ✅ Conveys competence and professionalism |
| ✅ Establishes warmer connections |
| ✅ Advances careers and opens opportunities |
Let‘s master projecting our best selves on video calls!
Step 1 – Dress the Part
Kick things off by suiting up in smart business casual or formal workwear on top, and ignore dressing bottoms for convenience. Steer clear of distracting loud prints or busy patterns that strobe on video.
| DOs | DON‘Ts |
|---|---|
| ✅ Solid color dress shirts | ❌ Graphic tees or tank tops |
| ✅ Blazers or sweaters | ❌ Revealing necklines |
| ✅ Jewel-toned colors | ❌ Flesh-toned or white tops |
| ✅ Neat hairstyles | ❌ Messy hair or hats |
Dressing professionally boosts productivity by over 20% per studies! Treat video meetings as you would in the office by putting together a credible look.
Step 2 – Perfect Your On-Camera Makeup
Amplify natural features with subtle makeup suited for harsh webcam lighting.
Apply a tinted moisturizer for smooth evenness. Lightly fill in eyebrows to add definition – go a shade darker than natural hair. Swipe on some mascara to make eyes pop without clumping.
Finish with a soft pink or coral lip tint to emulate a healthy glow. Avoid frosted eyeshadows that accent creasing. Powder down shiny spots but skip full-coverage foundation to allow real skin to shine through!
Step 3 – Master Flattering Camera Angles
Laptops position webcams below eye-level unflatteringly. Elevate devices to achieve direct eye contact. Stack some books under laptops or monitors. Position phones using stands.
Set cameras back an arm‘s length to prevent distortion from widened faces or enhanced double chins! Frame shots to include your head fully but minimized background.
Lighting should brightly illuminate you from the front. Enable overexposure warning dots on camera apps to check brightness. Drapes can temper side windows if needed. Overheads alone cast shadows under eyes and noses.
| Scenario | Optimal Setup |
|---|---|
| 💡 Natural Light | Near window, facing outwards |
| 💰 Low Budget | Clip lamp behind device |
| 💡 Artificial Light | Ring light facing you |
| 🎞️ Recording | Soft box lights angled towards face |
Glance at the video preview before calls to perfect alignments maximizing visible confidence and capability!
Step 4 – Curate Your Surroundings
While ideal backdrops are simple walls or bookshelves, play up what you have access to. Ensure no distracting clutter is visible behind you on video.
Zoom‘s virtual backgrounds work in a pinch but can tax internet connectivity. Customize space to reinforce branding – consultants may display diplomas, artists can showcase art.
Above optimizing aesthetics, give your full attention during meetings. Avoid distraction by closing apps, muting phones and putting Do Not Disturb signs to stay focused.
Step 5 – Activate Automatic Touch-Ups
Zoom‘s Touch Up My Appearance setting applies subtle skin smoothing, texture evening and blemish reduction to faces for instant polish. This uses facial recognition algorithms to retain a natural yet flawless appearance.
Enable this in Video Settings for an instant mini makeover! Pros apply this handy cheat towards always looking meeting-ready. Do switch off when internet lags as the feature demands heavier processing.
Step 6 – Review Your Video Feed
Moments before joining the meeting, analyze your video preview to catch any adjustments needed. Verify centered framing, flattering lighting, appropriate surroundings and engaging energy.
Make minor tweaks to maximize visible confidence and trustworthiness. Remember monitors show mirrored images so your video feed captures reversed views.
Implement Video Call Best Practices
Whew, those were a lot of tips! But staying credible on camera is very doable with simple setup tweaks and some care towards intentional self-presentation.
In a nutshell:
✅ Mindfully dress the part
✅ Set up pro lighting solutions
✅ Position camera at flattering angles
✅ Show up powerfully authentic
Soon mastering your video presence becomes second nature. These tricks help you always bring your A-game onto virtual platforms as video networking increasingly dominates business interactions.
Looking forward to seeing you shine brightly on our upcoming quarterly kickoff video call! Do tag me with your polished video setups.
