Looking your best on Zoom

My favourite hilarious moment on Zoom (or Skype or TEAMs) thus far has been the close-up view of a cat’s bum as it walked in front of the monitor, rubbed its back against the screen and raised its tail in pleasure directly in front of the camera.

At least it wasn’t the presenter’s cat and therefore not a close-up. The cat owner’s priorities were, cat first, zoom webinar content a distinct second so she did not wave it away and I was laughing too much to get a screenshot to share with you - but I am sure you are forming a mental image. 

We have probably all experienced some exciting moments lately during online meetings. Some of them have gone viral due to their surprising humour from unplanned interruptions. This article is about the things you can control and how you can make what people see of you consistent with the image you would like to present at any meeting you attend. 

 In the virtual world there are things you can do so the person or people you are talking to are not distracted from the content, your message or meaningful conversations by eyeing off the dirty dishes, the ceiling rose or what’s going on outside your window. Yes, even though this advice is all about how you look on screen, it’s actually about having the focus on the purpose of the get-together, and not about you at all. Make your image clear, unfussy and pleasant; then everyone can relax. 

With me? Great. Lights, camera, action! 

Lights 

Simple fact - if you can’t be seen, you won’t be included. This is not just about when you speak but all the time. People need to see your expression and your reactions to what you are saying, just as in face to face meetings.

Strong light from one source may show you as a silhouette, or with half your face in shadow. 

To fix this, add sidelights and downlights. You can use lamps, desk lamps and overhead lights. If you are making videos or many presentations, you might want to consider purchasing a ring light which has adjustable lighting that gives you an even all-over light, warm or cool.

clutter- wrong light- wrong screen! (ring light in background)

Alternatively, move your device to an area of the house or space that has a natural light source and move the camera around to where you are receiving the best, that is the most flattering, light. 

Camera

BACKGROUND CHECK

Pay attention to the background. It needs to reflect your work life or your professional interests. People can’t help but make judgements on all these things. Consider the colour of the wall behind you, the possible clutter that may distract the eye and whether you might add or subtract some items. I like to have a posy of flowers in a vase or a pot plant somewhere visible. To remind people I am a writer, I also try to make sure that the bookshelf is in the picture. For filming, a corner provides depth of view, but for meetings, the simpler, the better and a flat wall is elegant.

THE RIGHT ANGLE

Adjust the angle of the camera so that your head is in the centre of the screen, both vertically and horizontally, and your eyes are level with the top third of the screen. When your eyes are looking directly at the camera, you are making eye contact with people in your group, which is reassuring and closer to the real thing for all participants. 

poor camera angle - backlit - floppy hair - too much roof- inside and out!

more even, natural lighting - centred - pleasant background

In most cases, this will mean lifting your seat or placing your laptop on a standing desk or a pile of big fat books.

Otherwise, you may have an upward angle, and we get to see the intersection of your ceiling and wall, or only your nose and forehead, which can be unsettling to our inner balance. 

LOOKING GOOD

A quick word on hair and makeup. The lighting needed for a crisp image can tend to wash your face out, leading to a lack of definition in the features. If you usually wear makeup, apply it a little more heavily for the camera (just like movie actors do!) If you don’t, then perhaps just a touch of mascara, natural colour lipstick and defining your brows will help make your expressions more visible. I am speaking to all genders here, so this is definitely up to your personal preferences. 

Another hint is to change the way you part your hair, so you look on camera the way you do in real life. Make sure any loose strands of long hair are fastened back to avoid flicking, touching or smoothing it. Wearing a solid colour that stands out against the background is another useful and easy thing to do that is restful to the eye of your viewer. 

Action 

Get to the meeting ahead of time and test all communication devices. Obvious, I know, but even if you are using the technology daily, something can change between sessions. 

This is also the time to check your lights, camera angle, and background on the preview screen. 

If you are the presenter, have a script handy with zoom instructions. These can include how the meetings will be held, and any actions that are proscribed, such as recording that may infringe copyright or how the chat will be used. You will, of course, have sent this out ahead of time, but a spoken reminder is becoming a familiar and useful way to set the tone of the conversation to come and make sure everyone understands what is going on. 

So there we are. There's so much more to being part of an online meeting than this, but for nowor all you have to do is relax, breathe and gently lift the corners of your mouth!