Over the last year, video conferencing has gone from a “nice to have” to a “need to have” for many businesses. However, many users still struggle to get a clear picture on their teammates — and I mean this literally.
From shadowy, blurry faces, to floating heads, oversaturated pictures and even camera shots up people’s noses, I feel like I’ve seen all the odd ways we can present ourselves while video conferencing (intentionally or otherwise).
So, in light of National Camera Day on June 29, I’ve created a list of my go-to steps to get professional-grade, picture-quality conferencing using just a webcam and some basic photography tips.
1. Check Your Appearance
Don’t worry, you don’t need to dress head-to-toe in your finest attire while video chatting. However, I still recommend professional or business casual attire from the waist-up. Psychologists have found that by simply wearing professional outfits, people have higher self-esteem and self-efficacy. 1As for preventing the dreaded floating head, any solid-patterned or bright-colored clothing shows up best on camera and helps prevent blending into any virtual backgrounds or green screens.