Like a lot of you, I’m working from home a lot these days.
Since I’m an IT guy, I split my time between working from home and staffing the office.
Everyone else at my office is working from home, so we are holding more video conferences using Microsoft Teams.
My wife is a teacher, and she’s been recording videos for her class, so I’ve spent more time than usual lately making sure she and I both look our best on camera.
I’ve scoured the web for tips on looking great, and I’ve found a few that have worked for us.
Lighting
The time of day will play big into your lighting needs.
Natural light is easy and free, but it requires you have your computer set up where the light will fall on your face.
Having a desk where you sit facing a window will make lighting your videos simple.
On the other hand, if you have a bright window in the background of your video, you’ll need a pretty bright light source in front of you to even out the light.
A table lamp or a desk lamp can substitute for natural light, but you’ll need to work on placement before your next video conference.
At work, my office has no windows, so I turn my desk lamp up so that it shines in my eyes. It is annoying, but makes me look much better in my meetings. At home, I have a huge window in my face that provides great light.
Having the light source straight on (shining into your face) will provide even light. Moving it off to one side or the other at no more than a 45-degree angle will provide depth.
Make sure your background is clear of clutter and there is some light on in the room. I have a colleague who shows up for video conferences lit only by his computer screen with a pitch-dark background. It’s not a good look.
Also, try to get your video camera up at eye level. Most of us use laptops on our desks at home, and the built-in cameras point upward.
Get a laptop stand, stack some books or get a box to elevate your camera for a more pleasing angle. You get a video preview in most video conferencing apps, so you can adjust your lighting and background before you start the meeting.
If you’re on a Mac, you can launch Photo Booth to get a quick video preview.
On my Windows PC at work, I use a Logitech camera that has its own app called Logitech Camera Settings that lets me see the camera view to make adjustments.
Sound
Most of us make do with the microphone built-into our laptops, which doesn’t always make for the best audio.
An external microphone placed closer to your mouth will provide better sound.
The best option you might already own is a pair of earbuds with a microphone in the cable. You probably got a pair in the box with your last cellphone.
Apple’s white wired earbuds have a very nice mike and sound really good. Plus, you’ll be doing everyone a favor if you wear earbuds or headphones during the meeting so your computer’s mike doesn’t pick up the sound coming out of your speakers, which can make the meeting much noisier. Most video conference apps to a good job of filtering out background noise, but when it’s audible, it can make it hard for the whole group to hear conversations.
Almost any USB microphone you can afford should work on a Mac or Windows PC and provide better sound that the standard laptop mike.
A few weeks ago, I reviewed the Jabra Speak 710, which is also a great choice to upgrade your microphone.
Also, a room with carpet will sound better than a room with a tile or wood floor. Carpets reduce echo.
Also, before you enter a meeting, you have the option of muting your microphone. Always mute your mic before you join a meeting and unmute only when it’s your turn to talk.
Sharper image?
If your laptop is more than three or four years old, chances are it doesn’t have a high-quality selfie camera.
Check out the quality for yourself, and if you will be video conferencing a lot, you might want to invest $80 in a better camera like the Logitech C920 HD Pro Webcam. But be warned that with many of us working from home, they’re getting hard to find.
