The world has definitely changed and we are spending so much more time on zoom and video conferences. Over the past few weeks, I have been optimizing my setup, and thought that I would share some of the low-tech tricks that I have learned along the way.
1. LIGHT YOUR FACE
This is the most important trick that I have learned. You don't need a fancy ring light or fancy equipment. You just need natural light and a lot of it. So, open your blinds and curtains and let the light pour in. Ideally you want to position yourself facing the light source. So, that simply means, set up your computer, laptop, phone in front of the window. You don't want the light hitting your back. You want it hitting your face. If it is getting late, and it's dark outside, you can add a light behind your computer to help illuminate your face. That is the goal. Simply removing the shade of a table light can do the trick. In addition, you can bump up the brightness of your screen as this acts as an additional light source. But, be careful not to bump it up too much. If it is too high you will overexpose your face and look like a ghost. Another trick that I have learned along the way is to open my email or facebook before I get on a call. The white background acts as an additional even light source.
2. RAISE YOUR CAMERA
There is really only one acceptable camera angle and that is head on....eye level. Obviously when we are sitting at a table, the computer is much lower than eye level. Looking down into your screen means people are looking up at you and trust me, that is not the most flattering angle. There are many laptop stands available that you can find online, that simply raise the computer to a more optimal level. But, you can also use a stack of books too. You really don't need anything fancy. The goal is simply to raise your computer/camera to eye level.
3. TAKE A STEP BACK
The lens on our cameras and computers often distort us if we are too close because they are often wide-angle lenses. The part of your body closest to the lens will appear the largest. So, if you are too close, guess what ends up looking too big.....your nose most likely. Simply stepping back, makes you look proportional.
4. CLEAR YOUR BACKGROUND OF CLUTTER
Once you have found the best lighting, look around and see what is in your background. You want people focusing on you, not your background. I recommend keeping it plain and super simple. Blank walls, or a simple piece of art. This puts the focus on you and nothing else.
All posts are intended strictly for educational purposes. It is not intended to make any representations or warranties about the outcome of any product/service.
Comments