Now that our primary means of human-to-human contact is across a screen, optimizing your setup is key. You want the lighting to be flattering on your face and distractions minimal. I wrote a post on this a back in 2013, which I’ve gone back and polished up for today’s technology and climate. Below are my updated tips on how best to set yourself up for video conferencing.
For lighting, natural light behind the camera is best, but if you aren’t near a window, make sure the room is well-lit (video looks grainier when it’s dark) and that no bright lights are shining on you. Also, while it sounds like nice ambience to have a window behind you, if you don’t have enough light in front of you, you’ll be back-lit. That puts your face in shadows. Instead, try to position the light so it’s right behind or next to the computer. If the light is too bright, cover it with a cloth to soften the effect. You can also try ring light which is specifically designed to create a flattering light for your camera.
Angle the camera so that it’s at eye level or pointing down at you. An upward angle looks awkward and is less complimentary. You can prop your computer up on a few books to get it to the right height.
Put a piece of white paper or a white cloth on the table you’re sitting at (keep it out of the camera frame). This will reflect flattering light up onto your face.
Look at the camera, not the screen. It’s awkward at first and takes some getting used to, but to create the best experience for the other user(s), you should be looking at the camera, not the screen. If this is hard, try turning off the window that allows you to see yourself. It can be tempting to check yourself out, but it’s distracting to the other person.
In contrast to a 3-D meeting in an office or boardroom, on a video call the focus is on you, chest up. So small actions or habits like clicking your pen, chewing on your nails, or rubbing your face/hair are amplified. Try to avoid them.
Sit up straight. Bad posture is also emphasized on screen.
Smile — you may feel goofy doing this when you’re not right in front of the other person, but it’s important.
If you can sit slightly back from the camera, do it. You’ll look better proportioned on screen.
Plug in your laptop instead of running on battery power, which may default to poorer video or sound quality.
Try not to adjust your setup during the call, as this can be distracting to those on the other side.
I know it’s hard with the whole family home, but try to have a clutter-free background and a quiet environment with minimal distractions or interruptions.
Don’t multitask. The person you’re conferencing with will know when you’re not paying attention, so avoid embarrassment and turn off all other programs on your computer. That way there won’t be any unexpected sounds going off, and you won’t be tempted to look at your email (the other user can hear you typing!)
I know, this is a lot to think about with everything that’s going on in the world right now, but do your best. Once you have a setup that works for one call, each subsequent call will get easier.
What are your strategies for successful video conferencing?
Cheers,
Julie