Coronavirus has brought about numerous temporary changes to the way our routine life works. One of these changes is how important video conferencing has become, in both personal and professional lives. If you’re a PR agency, you have to be very careful about how you look, to both your colleagues and clients because they will definitely focus on how you look.
Here are some tips on how to look on point for your video calls:
Lighting matters
Find a spot at home that is well lit, or else use a small table lamp with a lower colour temperature – move it as close or as far as you need to give you the best lighting. Bright windows behind you are a big NO! They will only cast a silhouette, making you look like a black figure on the screens of your peers. Try not to sit right under a light-source either to avoid shadows under your eyes and keep your laptop at eye level and avoid the much-dreaded double-chin shot.
Soundcheck
Sit close to the mic or wear headphones. The mic on headphones cut down on background noise as much as possible, so no barking dogs or noisy kids.
Choose the perfect seat
Try to find a sturdy stool or an upright, sturdy chair on four legs and keep your feet planted on the floor to avoid shuffling. If you’re sitting on a couch or an office chair, make a conscious effort to not slouch or swivel around.
Composition is important
As with anything that is visual like photography or videography, composition is key – especially framing. Sit at an optimal distance from the screen where people can see your head, shoulders and your chest.
Find the perfect background
A monotonous wall with nothing too distracting around you would be the ideal background for a video conference with your peers or with a client. With the development of technology, many platforms such as zoom offer a function with which you can change your background to something of your liking. At Vivaldi PR we make full use of this feature on special occasions such as birthdays.
Look at the camera
Don’t keep glancing to the side to check yourself out, it’s distracting. Try to place an object behind the camera for you to look at, which will give your audience the impression that you’re looking at them.
The dreaded nostril shot
Make sure your monitor or camera is level with your face. If your laptop is too low, you will end up looking down at the camera – gracing your audience with awkward views of your nostrils.
You can practice video calls with friends before you have to take important calls on video, this will help you get a hang of things and get closer to looking on point in front of the camera.
The Human & Digital Communications Agency
Our award-winning communications team blends human interactions & digital engagement seamlessly to produce results for brands.
