Tips and Tricks

With Zoom and other technology, you can meet with anyone from anywhere. But just because you’re joining a meeting from home or another remote location doesn’t mean you can slack on professionalism – especially if you’ll be on camera. Use these tips to appear more polished and make a great impression the next time you meet on Zoom.

Strive to provide a plain background so viewers can focus on you instead of personal photos, wall art, or other distractions. To further avoid visual clutter, tidy up the areas of the room that will be seen on camera.

Take a minute to put on a nice shirt and comb your hair. You may discover that getting ready for your work from home day is energizing – and your coworkers will appreciate not having to see your bedhead.

Make sure the light is in front of you, not in back. If you’re using a lamp, place it behind the screen. Turn off overhead lights, which can cast unflattering shadows. Natural lighting works well, too, but be sure you’re facing the window. Another trick: turn up the brightness on your screen so it illuminates your face.

Many people place their webcam too low, which creates an awkward angle. Set your device on a few books or a box so that you’re looking slightly up to the camera for a more flattering angle.

Experiment moving your webcam a little closer to your face and a little further away to figure out what works best. Aim to make sure most of your upper body — not just your face — is visible in the camera area.

Once you’ve figured out your background, lighting, and web camera placement, you may want to create a permanent space that you can always use for video calls. If you regularly participate in video calls from home, this will make your life much easier!