Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, we’ve faced major learning curves - one of these being the complex world of Zoom! We’ve always thought that when joining a Zoom call, people just turn on their cameras and join the call. But apparently that isn’t the case. Through the exploration of many YouTube videos and blog posts, we’ve narrowed down a simple, but effective list of helpful tips and tricks.
Our Top 5 Tips:
1. Camera Position
By positioning your camera just above eye level, you will be able to create a slimming effect on your face. This will also allow you to look directly into the camera, which will make the other person feel more comfortable – as you will be looking at them at the same level, rather than looking down on them.
2. Lighting
Having proper lighting will illuminate your beautiful features, while simultaneously hiding any problem areas. This will also work to ensure that the person on the other end can clearly see your face. We recently purchased an inexpensive ring light on Amazon which works wonders, but natural lighting will work just fine!
Lighting Tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9odWah1XPA
3. Tidy Background
Although this may seem obvious, it is so important to tidy up your background before joining a Zoom call. A clean background will ensure that the people on the other side of the call are actively listening and looking directly at you, not checking out your laundry basket or essential oil collection in the background.
4. Touch Up Your Appearance Feature
We just recently discovered this Zoom feature, and it is life-changing! Like many people working from home, we have been embracing the makeup-free life. This amazing feature blurs any unwanted skin blemishes and imperfections, in order to smooth your face – and appear like you’re wearing a light foundation. With this feature, there’s no need to put makeup on for your next Zoom call.
5. Turn Off Video and Microphone Upon Entry
This one is a bit more of a technical tip, but it has helped our team immensely. This option is within your personal Zoom settings, and it ensures that your camera is turned off, and your microphone is muted upon entering the call. This feature will make sure that you are 100% ready before you manually turn on your microphone and video. This way, you will no longer need to worry about being caught in an awkward situation upon joining a call.
Instructions: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/203024649-Video-Or-Microphone-Off-By-Attendee
Once all of these tips are combined, the result will be a subtle put-together look! This is a great way to come across as a pro, without looking like you’ve tried too hard.
Good luck!
Corinne Visscher