Show your best face in video calls

To look good on a video call you need three things: natural light in front of you, the camera at eye level or slightly above, and a tidy background with no noise around you. With 10-15 minutes of preparation you find the spot at home or in the office where you look best, and from then on every meeting with colleagues or clients starts with everything ready.

Communicating remotely with apps such as Zoom, Google Meet or FaceTime is part of the job for any sales team. If you still find it hard to turn on your camera, these seven tips fix what shows most on screen: the light, the angle, the space and your own attitude.

Tip number 1: Find the lighting that suits you best.

The most flattering light is the one that comes in naturally through a window. We are looking for soft, diffused light that reaches you directly.

If the light comes from above, from the side or from behind, some parts of your face will be lit while others fall into shadow.

So the best option is to position yourself in front of a window or a source of light that is not too strong. 

If the light is too strong or bright, your face may end up extremely lit and completely washed out. 

Use the curtains to soften the incoming light.

On the other hand, if your problem is that not enough light comes in through the window, or you do not have a window, use a desk lamp or some other artificial light, placed in front of you, just behind the computer.

Now that you know what the light should be like, it is time to find the spot.

Take your phone, turn on the front camera and walk around the house. Notice the shadows that form on your face as you move. 

You have probably already spotted where in the house you look best. That is the place where you will set up your workspace for video calls from your mobile or your computer, whatever app you use: Facetime, Zoom, Google Meet, etc.

Tip number 2: Find the angle that flatters you most

The worst camera angle is always from below. 

Anything placed below your head will force you to look down, slightly distorting your face and revealing features you did not know about, such as the dreaded “double chin” or possible wrinkles on the neck. 

You should get the camera lens to sit slightly above your eyes. This will force you to keep your head up (slimming the neck area) and will also help keep your eyes open and alert.

How do you raise the laptop?  Very simple: use a box, a stack of books or anything you already have at home with a firm surface. 

Do not forget your arms and hands: during the video call you may need to check or share a document, so make sure you can reach the keyboard comfortably.

If you are using an iPhone, the way to raise it is the same, but you can also use a mug as a stand for the phone.

Free up your hands. If you hold the phone you may end up getting tired, which will cause involuntary arm movements and make the person you are talking to uncomfortable.

Tip number 3: Tidy and clean the space you have chosen.

Regardless of whether your home is clean or not (most of us hardly ever have it looking presentable), the space that will appear in your video calls is the one thing you should always keep clean and tidy, ready to use. Do not tidy it up in a rush just 5 minutes before a meeting. 

Tip number 4: Avoid distractions and external noise.

Achieving complete silence while working from home can be tricky. Especially when you share your space with family or pets that may appear on the scene at the most inconvenient moment.

As far as you can, block out interruptions and external noise such as the washing machine spinning, a coffee machine or the television.

Using headphones can help you focus on the people you are talking to.

Tip number 5: Do not watch yourself on the monitor!

Most of us cannot help looking at ourselves constantly on the monitor, to see whether we look good or not, to fix our posture, or simply because it is the first time we see ourselves on screen and it is so striking that we cannot take our eyes off ourselves.

Do not do it. Look straight ahead, at the person you are talking to. Constantly looking elsewhere can be seen as a lack of respect, since that person will feel that you are not at all interested in what they are explaining.

Tip number 6: Avoid nervous tics!

Touching your hair, scratching your head, talking with your hand over your mouth, poking your ear with your finger, and the list could go on…

We can assure you that it is something the other participants in the video call do not want to see!  And although many are involuntary, they can be very annoying and rude. Try to spot your tics so you do not repeat them in the next video call.

Tip number 7: Dress for the occasion.

Your outfit should be appropriate. Keep dressing the way you did to go to the office.  It would be very odd if you always wore a suit or shirt and now decided to swap it for a hoodie or a hiking tracksuit.

At least the part of you that you are going to show in front of the camera needs to match what others expect from you.

If, even after finding the perfect space, you are still afraid of video calls, read this other article where we explain how to overcome your fear of video calls.

And if contacts are exchanged at the end of the meeting, share your digital business card in the video call chat: the other person saves your details with one tap and, if you are part of a team, the administrator keeps every card up to date from a single dashboard.