How to Look Your Best on Video Conferences
With many places of business still observing social distancing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, video calls and conferences have become an increasingly popular way for people to stay in touch. Gone are the days when video calls were reserved for chatting with faraway family and friends. Increasingly, corporations and even small businesses are using video conferences as a way to hold meetings, reviews, interviews, and generally stay in touch with employees. Experts predict that this new workplace trend is not going away anytime soon, even once businesses return to normal operations.
In our last series of blog posts, we discussed how GoDonut can help you stay connected with family, friends, and co-workers while social distancing. In this blog post, we expand on our discussion of how GoDonut can improve your social distancing experience by discussing how to make the most out of your video calls and conferences. With video communication services such as Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, and others rapidly expanding their services, it’s important to stay on top of this growing trend in order to make a positive impression in the workplace and beyond.
GoDonut, our mobile device holder, allows you to enjoy your phone or tablet completely hands-free. This is ideal for situations such as video chats and conferences, in which having to hold your device up with your arm for an extended period of time would be inconvenient, unprofessional, and even painful. GoDonut works with nearly all phone and tablet models, including iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, LG, Kindle Fire, and many more. It comes in two unique designs, the GoDonut Original, which features three convenient slots in which to place your smartphone or tablet, and our revolutionary new GoDonut 360, featuring a swivelable design so you can view your device from virtually any angle. Read on to learn how to look amazing on any video chat or conference, and order your GoDonut today!
Lighting
No one wants to have to squint to see their employees’ faces on a video conference. Make sure to open up the shades and let the sun in. However, it’s important not to let all that light hit your back, because that will shadow you even more. It is best to have your back to the door, rather than the window, to help avoid this situation. Another option is to point a steady lamp directly by your face. Also, keep in mind that your screen can be a big source of light, so adjust your screen brightness if necessary.
Perspective
The cameras on smartphones and tablets are considered “wide-angle.” This means that if you get too close your face will look distorted. This is a common problem for people who are holding up their device with their arm, rather than using a device holder, such as GoDonut. The only acceptable camera angle you should be using is head-on, at eye level, at least a foot from your face. It is essential that you raise your camera in order to get the right perspective. You can do this by placing your device holder on a set of books, a stool, or anything else that allows your device to be at eye level.
Appearance
This is workplace 101, but you’ll want to look tidy for every video conference you take part in. Even if your workplace is casual, make sure to at least comb your hair, shave your face, apply your makeup, and do any other preparatory work you would normally before going into the office. Try to avoid wearing busy patterns or plaids, as this can be distracting. The same goes for plain white shirts, which can give you the appearance of a floating head. While conferencing in your pajama pants may be tempting, what we wear can greatly affect how we feel about ourselves, and you may not exactly feel like a professional in a pair of Star Wars boxers. So, no matter how much it may pain you at the time, at least throw on a pair of jeans!
Get Comfy
Much like a physical workplace meeting, once you sit down you shouldn’t be moving around all the time. Make sure you seat yourself in a comfortable spot, away from any distractions, so that you can sit for a long period of time. Make sure that your device’s charger is plugged in nearby so that you can continue your video conference without interruption even if your battery gets low.
Background
You will want to be intentional about what people see behind you in the teleconference. Choose somewhere in your house that is clean, attractive, and has just the right amount of light. Of course, not everyone has that luxury; if your home office has gotten a little messy since you started working remotely, don’t worry — you’re not alone. Many teleconferencing apps now allow users to select a “virtual background” for their calls, so that their boss doesn’t have to know about the dirty laundry littering their floor. If you want to go for something straightforward, opt for a picture of a wall or a solid color. If your boss has a sense of humor or you work somewhere casual, you can try out one of the apps’ sample backgrounds, such as a tropical island or outer space. With the ability to upload your own photos as backgrounds, the possibilities are virtually endless!
Test Out Your Video Before the Call
It can be a shock to suddenly see yourself on screen if you’re not prepared for it. If there’s something you don’t like about your appearance, you may begin to fixate on that and stop paying attention to what other people are saying. In order to avoid constantly adjusting your surroundings, screen brightness, or hair during a video call, test out your video ahead of time before going live. Most apps have an option to preview your video before your call starts, and this is something we highly recommend.
Once your call starts, make sure to hide your video preview from yourself, despite the temptation to check your appearance. This will stop you from constantly assessing how you look, which can distract yourself and others. Just remember that it can be easy to forget you’re on video without your video preview, so leave the nose-picking for another time.
Up Your Teleconference Game With GoDonut!
For the ultimate video conferencing experience, turn to GoDonut. Our universally compatible device stand is perfect for holding phones and tablets during video calls, allowing you to focus on what others are saying rather than keeping your arm steady. GoDonut comes in two different models, GoDonut Original and GoDonut 360, each available in nine fun colors. So, what are you waiting for? Order your GoDonut and stop dreading video conferences for good!
