5 Tips for Looking Great During Zoom Meetings
As COVID-19 treks onward, video conferences have become an increasingly pervasive part of our lives, whether it is through job interviewing, school lectures, networking sessions, team meetings, casual meetups, and many more.
Why Should We Look Good?
We’re not trying to look good because we are vain or self-centred. We aren’t trying to look good because of a false sense of superiority, either. Heck, we aren’t trying to dress in a full-scale dress or tuxedo, either.
No, we’re just trying to look our most professional when meeting others, including our peers, coworkers, families, and our bosses. If that means wearing a nice blouse with ample lighting and a tasteful use of facial cream, then so be it.
Plus, taking care of ourselves is self-care, which fosters a plethora of benefits, including, but not limited to:
- Enhanced self-esteem
- Burnout reduction
- Improved physical health
- Increased knowledge
- Stress reduction
- Improved attentional focus
- Better productivity
…and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
A Deeper Analysis into Beauty
Let’s disregard self-care for a moment. If we want to look good, I can further rationalize the following:
- It increases your personal self-esteem, allowing others to see you shine, and increases your likelihood for gaining a good performance appraisal
- It gives you something to do, and distracts yourself from negative thoughts like depression and anxiety
- It makes us feel validated, allowing us to be appreciated and valued, fostering better productivity at work
- It forces you to be mindful about your own personal hygiene, even if others cannot smell you (but the people in your house might)
- It fosters a greater sense of social awareness and social relationships, even in virtual contexts
- It makes a better first impression for everyone
How to Look Your Most Optimal
Now that I’ve piqued your interest on the benefits of looking good, I’ll lay some personal tips that I’ve acquired from friends, family, and from myself.
Wear Tasteful Clothes
Ruffles and frills might be too distracting or itchy. Plus, when in doubt, go business casual. Take note of what your coworkers or peers are wearing during the sessions if you’re really unsure.
While we’re at it, it’s best to wear some kind of pants (or even a skirt, I’m not going to assume your gender). No one’s going to look at your legs when you’re conferencing, but there’s a tiny chance something might happen where you are forced to get up from your seat.
For example, here’s some instances where I have seen people get up, while wearing pants (of course):
- An opener activity, where the host asked everyone to get up and stretch
- A light going off, forcing the person to get up and turn on another light
- A curtain randomly falling down, causing the person to scream and jump out of their seat
Use Strategic Makeup
Regardless of gender, some makeup can be used to hide acne scars, blemishes, etc. You’d be surprised at how many adults are turning into teenagers again, sporting acne like a teen would.
You don’t need to be caked in makeup. If mean, if you’re into that, I’m not going to judge you personally, but some of these conference apps can sometimes compensate for it.
For example on Zoom, there’s a feature that can clear up blemishes and even out your skin tone. It called “Touch Up My Appearance”. It’s saved my life countless of times, especially as my make-up reserves are low.
Promote Flattering Lights
As a former photographer, a light source behind your head might cast you as a dark and menacing shadow. Side angles are okay, but can sometimes create animated shadows on your face. Meanwhile, light sources in front of you…literally put you in the best light.
It’s best to rely on warm indoor lighting that’s above your head, and/or any lighting that can cast itself towards your face. If needed, you can place a lamp beside your desktop or laptop.
Capitalize on Camera Angles
While we’re at it, decent camera angles are good too. You don’t want the camera facing under your chin. That’s just going to let others see your nostrils. That’s an unflattering angle, even for the hottest people on earth.
You also don’t want to look like a disembodied and floating head on the bottom of your screen either. I’ve seen a lot of people do this. Try to find a way to bring that camera down. If that means stacking books under your laptop or changing your chair height, then so be it.
It’s best to face forward, with your eyes looking directly into the camera. It’s ideal if your face and your upper shoulders are your most prominent features.
Optimize Your Space
Sometimes, we can’t remove things in our background and that’s okay. Sometimes, our space is too cramped to move things around. Your best best is to allow the background to be a blank wall.
You get bonus points if there’s a bookshelf behind you. However, too many books might be too distracting. Plus, any books that look remotely political and/or religious might incur the secret wrath and fury of others.
If possible, clean up your space ahead of time, and let the other people in your house know that you have a conference call. You don’t want your kids randomly wandering inside, especially if you’re talking to someone super strict. If absolutely needed, you’ve got your trusty mute option available.
Final Thoughts
While it’s okay to feel self-conscious about how we look on camera, at the end of the day it is just a Zoom call. If worst comes to worst, no one is going to be harmed. Expect to get a cut internet connection, lag on your computer screen, and many more.
However, if you’re feeling overly self-conscious, it’s not unreasonable to assume that others will feel similar about themselves as well. With this in mind, and hopefully with time and practice, you will feel your most comfortable.
If push comes to shove, remember:
- Wear professional but nice clothes
- Wear some pants (you never know)
- Play around with lights and camera angles
- Optimize your background visuals
If you’d like to read more about reducing self-consciousness, I would recommend the following:
