Better Video Calls with a Few L.A.F.S.
Ah, video calls. Have we ever had so many? Gone are the days of hiding safely behind a keyboard or phone with omnipresent video calls upon us.
We feel stressed—always at the ready to have to turn on that camera at a moment's notice.
We feel awkward—with our face and environment on full display.
We feel exhausted—having to focus on these cameras and screens so much.
But, hey, it's the new normal, right? (Side note: I'd be fine never hearing that term again...amIright?)
Well, if you gotta do it, might as well look and sound your best by having a few L.A.F.S.
You see, there are four common mistakes people make when showing up to a video call. Making one is bad enough. String two, three, or four of them together and you look like a convict that just escaped through the prison sewer system.
Well, fear not intrepid Zoomsters because you, too, can look like the J-Lo and A-Rod of video calls by simply having a few L.A.F.S. Let's get after it...
L: Lighting
I've got one word for you—BACKLIGHT! It's the number-one way to ensure you will look horrendous on camera. Behold...
Aren't I hideous? The simple fix...don't sit with your back to a window and place a light source in front of you. Voila...
Hey, look at me! Great. Now that we've sorted out the lighting it's time to move on to...
A: Angle
If I had a nickel for for every time I've had to stare up someone's nose lately I'd have...well...a Dwayne Johnson-sized pile of nickels! To wit...
That's not flattering, is it? I'll answer for you; no, it's not. How can you fix it? There are a few simple options.
- If you're using your laptop's built-in camera, place your laptop on a box or something that raises the camera to eye-level.
- If you want to get a bit more fancy, there are a bunch of nice laptop risers that can adjust the height and angle of your laptop and camera.
- If you're using a separate webcam, instead of clipping it to your laptop, try picking up a stand or arm on Amazon. If you have a small tabletop tripod, those work great, too.
Okay, now you're well-lit and no longer showing off the inside of your nasal cavity. That brings us to...
F: Framing
For some reason people have a tendency to fill the entire frame with their face. Like this...
Imagine if when we met with people in-person we were all nose-to-nose? Why so close? Zoom out. Sit back. Relax. This is a meeting, not a mugshot. Plus, if you zoom out a bit people can also see your hand motions, which makes the conversation even more natural.
See that? Look how natural I am! Alright, so now we're well-lit, at a good angle, and nicely framed. Just one last thing...
S: Sound
In today's video-call world, it's not enough just to look good; you also have to sound good. Fortunately, that's pretty easy to do...
- Use your computer's built-in microphone. They're generally pretty good.
- If you want to step-up the sound quality you can use an external USB microphone.
- Needless to say, eliminate all background noise (kids, dogs, lawnmowers, jackhammers, opera singers, horror movie scream rehearsals...you get the idea).
- Close programs that ding and dong like email and chat messages.
So, that's it. Have a few L.A.F.S. and you're good to go. Dial-in your Lighting, fix your Angle, Frame yourself nicely, speak naturally for good Sound, and Bob's your uncle.
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Executive Leadership | Board Member & Past Chair | Insights Professional | Driving Business Growth | Consultative Solutions
4 年Good reminders here, David!
Managing Partner & owner at the award winning i-view viewing facilities; Owner, Prevision Research; Owner, The Research Club. Advisor & board director Melbury Wood & Market Expertise. Trustee, Surrey Cricket Foundation.
4 年Very helpful Dave. I’ve been good on the L, A and S but mirroring others on the F. I shall hang back a bit
Curious Optimist| Coach and Strategist facilitating business growth| Helping bold organizations make change
4 年Great tips.
Founder | TEDx Speaker Coach | Creator, Behavioral Storytelling
4 年Justin Welsh, William Leach, and Kevin Carroll also know how rock the screen.
Founder | TEDx Speaker Coach | Creator, Behavioral Storytelling
4 年Priscilla McKinney and Ryan Gill are two who always look great on-screen. Who else does it right?