Easy Filmmaker Tricks to Look your Best on Video Calls
Whether it’s cocktails with friends, chats with family, meetings with colleagues, or even job interviews and first dates, you’re probably spending a lot of your waking life on some sort of videoconferencing platform right now.
As a content creator, I’ve been spending at least 3hrs/day on Zoom: brainstorming with crew, pitching new clients and even conducting documentary interviews.
And it looks like that might be the routine for the foreseeable future. Which means we are all going to be “meeting” a lot of people through the video screen on our computers and phones. Our careers and love lives may now be dependent on those first-screen impressions.
So how do you put your best face forward (literally) on a videoconference call?
Here are a couple of easy tips, taken straight from best practices on set to ensure your video calls don’t look like the world’s worst Youtube channel:
Note: I recommend using a laptop if you have one. It means you can be hands-free and get comfortable, especially if you’re clocking a lot of virtual hours.
Location Matters
Avoid looking like a ransom video - create some distance between yourself and a back wall. Look for spaces that have visual interest in the background, like a plant, a standing light, a couch, a piece of art. If possible, try and add a splash of colour (I throw a blanket over the arm of my couch). And I doubt I have to say this, but clean up a little! A dirty dish or an abandoned sweater in the background leaves more of a lasting impression than you think.
Phillip de Franco’s been nailing this Youtube channel thing for awhile.
Pro Tip: If you want to do a little set decorating, add elements in your background that show off a little of your personality. My couch blanket isn’t just for colour, it’s an old-school Hudson’s Bay blanket that screams cozy cottage and camping vibes – two things that play a big role in my life. But make sure those elements fit in the space naturally, to avoid looking like props - you don’t want the “perfectly placed guitar” look that Colin Jost was immediately called out for.
All of the Lights
Video calls need all of the lights! But don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you need to go out and buy yourself an influencer ring light. If you have natural light from a window, place yourself and your computer/phone IN FRONT of the window. DO NOT setup with the window behind you, you will appear in complete shadow. If you’re lacking in natural light, place a desk light just behind your computer/phone, pointed at your face.
Pro Tip: You can even place a second monitor/tv screen off to the side of your laptop/phone, with a white image on it. This will give you a lovely, full, soft light similar to a professional softbox. Daylight lightbulbs also look much better than Warm White bulbs, which tend to give everything a yellow glow via video calls. So if you plan on doing a lot of calls, think about replacing some overhead lights in your “set” with these bulbs.
Rainbow Brite
Video calls tend to wash everyone out, so add some colour with your clothes - or at the very least your top. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t done at least four calls in a fancy shirt and fuzzy pants/slippers combo. Jewel-tones look great, as well as bright palettes.
You can also wear larger print patterns or abstract designs, just avoid very tight pinstripes or busy patterns.
For dudes: Quarantine beards and hockey flows are all the rage, so no need to shave/trim (unless you’re rocking a bad teen ‘stache). Run your fingers or comb through your hair just before the call, to smooth down any stragglers.
For chicas: If you wear makeup and want to add a little extra, focus on eyes and adding a bit of colour to your face (again, that’s thanks to video calls making you look like a pale goblin). A sweep of mascara and some red/peach/pink in your cheeks and lips is all you need.
Because video calls flatten visuals, wear your hair down or in a high bun where you can still see your hair, to avoid looking bald or severe.
Getting your Good Side
Place yourself in the middle of the frame. Aim for mid-chest with a bit of space above your head. This will give everyone a good view of your face and your hands, and roughly represents the image our eyes capture at in-person meetings.
Pro Tip: Lift your laptop/phone off the table so that your camera is roughly at eye level (any woman knows looking down at a camera is not a good look). If you are recording or presenting, look straight into the camera (where the little light is), to make viewers feel you are looking straight at them.
Make Yourself Heard
No need to go for professional audio, but find a quiet space and turn off any external audio (music playing in the background can be super annoying for the other guests). You should also speak a bit louder than normal and be more animated. Because there aren’t as many visual cues as there are in person, it takes a bit more energy to be heard and get your message across in video calls.
Pro Tip: If you’re doing a lot of calls, starting a podcast, or hosting a webinar THIS is a great and cheap microphone option (depending on your computer, you may need to rig it to your phone to record the audio, while still using your computer’s camera).