Tips to Look and Sound Professional on Video

Like it or not, most of us are spending time in front of a webcam. With the sudden onset of virtual everything due to the pandemic, many writers have been thrust into using video technology with little or no training.

Whether you are using video to attend meetings, teach a virtual workshop, or produce webinars for profit, you should do all you can to look and sound your best. These tips will help. The good news is that you can accomplish most of these tips without purchasing expensive technology.

Optimize your background and lighting

The number one way to improve your on-camera professionalism is to make yourself look good. Which means avoiding these common mistakes:

• The wrong camera angle. A low camera angle isn’t flattering. Everyone looks better when the camera is at eye level or slightly above. You can use a tripod to accomplish this, but a stack of books or a cardboard box will also do the trick.
• Windows in the background. The glare from sunlight behind you is annoying for viewers and it also means your face is in shadow.
• Using a busy background. Avoid backgrounds that are messy or distracting. If it’s practical, you can set up a corner of the house to be your private filming studio, with an on-brand set. For the rest of us, a blank section of wall is best.
• Lighting that is too bright, too dim, or uneven. Ideally you want to avoid direct sunlight, and provide warm lighting from several angles to avoid harsh shadows while illuminating your face well. You may have to experiment with portable lamps to get the right lighting. Or invest in a ring light.

A simple trick: You can figure out how to improve all of these considerations by turning your phone on selfie mode. Experiment with different locations and lighting to find out what looks best.

Other things to consider

• Don’t use a virtual background unless you’ve practiced with it and know how to keep yourself looking good while using it. If you move a lot, a virtual background is probably not the way to go.
• Remember to frame yourself properly. Keeping your head and shoulders visible and centered in the frame is best.
• Be aware of doors. Allowing a door to be visible in the background opens up the possibility of someone accidentally interrupting your video. It’s better to keep doors off camera so you can see intruders and stop them before they become visible to viewers.

Optimize your audio

• Know the limitations of your mic. If you are using the microphone on your device, stay close enough for it to pick up your voice. If you move too far away, your voice will become faint or garbled to listeners. The microphone that comes with earbuds is often an improvement over using your device mic.
• If you plan to teach on video, or regularly do something like Facebook live, invest in a microphone. Two options are a clip-on lavalier mic or a tripod-mounted mic that sits on the floor or desk in front of you.
• Pay attention to background noise. If at all possible, avoid recording when someone is mowing the lawn, or when a noisy appliance like the washer is running. Also be aware of fans. Too much moving air near the mic can create odd noises for listeners.
• Avoid unwanted beeps. Turn off all notifications on your device. Silence your phone. Check the room for anything else that could make an unwanted noise.

Improve your delivery

• In a live situation, a presenter makes eye contact with the audience. In a video, a presenter makes virtual eye contact by looking directly at the camera. This can feel awkward, because your eyes want to look at the slide, or at other viewers pictured on your screen. Pro tip: put a sticky note near the webcam to remind yourself where to look.
• In a similar vein, video presenters should avoid looking down to read. It’s much better to look sideways, so find a way to position your notes at eye level and to the side of your camera rather than on a table in front of you.
• Plan your outfit. Solid colors work best on camera. Also consider the evergreen quality. If this video will be viewed year-round, select an outfit that could be suitable for any season rather than a sleeveless shirt or bulky sweater.
• Practice, practice, practice. Get used to the software controls and how to switch from one view to another, so you aren’t stumbling when the video goes live.
• Open your presentation to the first slide before you begin the video session. That way you can click right into the presentation without delay.
• Don’t forget to adjust the camera so you center yourself in the frame.

Don’t neglect technical details.

• Consider bandwidth. To avoid frozen screens, garbled audio, and other problems, make sure you have sufficient internet bandwidth. Every device in the house is competing for bandwidth, so turn off everything you can. This is not the ideal time for someone else to be streaming a movie or playing online games.
• Also be aware that WiFi signal varies throughout the house. Choose a location where you have a strong signal.
• Close all extra tabs to keep background programs to a minimum.
• Clear the cache. A full cache can bog down your speed, so it’s a good practice to restart your device before recording. (Just leave yourself sufficient time in case your computer decides to do a backup without warning you.)
• Do at least one solo recording session, including any visuals you plan to use, to make sure everything looks and sounds good.
• Make sure your battery is fully charged before the session begins.
• Join the meeting a few minutes early to make sure everything is working.

Finally: Do you have a backup plan? Imagine you are in the middle of a live workshop and your internet goes out. What will you do? If you plan to do live video, make sure you have a hotspot as a backup in case the internet fails you.

I hope these tips help you look and sound awesome in your next video session.

Lisa E. Betz worked as an engineer, substitute teacher, and play director before becoming an award-winning mystery writer. She brings her analytical mind, quirky humor, and positive outlook to all she writes. She draws inspiration from thirty-five years of leading Bible studies to create entertaining mysteries set in the world of the early church, and then she fills that world with eccentric characters, independent females, and an occasional sausage-snatching cat. Her first novel, Death and a Crocodile, releases February 9.

In addition to writing novels, Lisa blogs about living with authenticity and purpose. Visit her at www.lisaebetz.com. Facebook LisaEBetzWriter Twitter @LisaEBetz and Pinterest Lisa E Betz Intentional Living.