My husband was set to go back into the office on August 1st. They made it one week before going hybrid, as I know that many are. So that means video conferencing is sticking around at least a little longer.
In all honesty, I’ve conducted most my post-graduate school career remotely, so I’m very comfortable Zoomin’ . Of course it doesn’t replace real-life interaction, but it can still be highly effective if you know a few tricks.
Stay Focused
It’s so easy to get distracted and/or disengage while on screen. And we’ve all had that moment where we didn’t realize our camera was on, amiright? One trick I’ve learned is when I’m speaking, look directly at the view finder only. Here’s what I mean:
Another tip is to keep your screen clean! You’d be amazed at how often this gets overlooked as well as how much of a positive difference it can make.
Bright + Opaque
I’ve seen some interesting tips about how to do your makeup for video conferencing, but I’ll let you in on a secret: skip the crazy contouring and expensive lighting by simply making your makeup brighter and more opaque. Also do this if you’re having outdoor photos taken!
All this means is whatever makeup you apply, add an extra layer. If you normally wear a nude shade of lipstick (hi), wear something with a little more color.
Why? Screens, unless they’re super high-tech, wash you out just like bright lights. If you’re taking the time to apply makeup, you want it to do its job, so just know you have to apply a little more for it to show up.
One tip is to apply your makeup then take a photo with your phone or check it in your video conferencing camera…you’ll have a better idea of how it will look.
Lighting (but not that kind)
By now you’ve probably heard about or purchased a ring light. They are meant to distribute light evenly around your viewfinder, soften the view and tame unsightly shadows. My issue is that I don’t typically take time to properly set one up. And even if I do, the lighting in my house is so wonky that it makes very little difference.
So, I recommend pushing the light where you want it.
The best way is to mimic your video conferencing setup and snapping a picture on the camera you’re using. If you can’t do that, try to get in front of some really bright light. The goal is to see where your natural shadows are, as well as where you get shiny.
For many, the under the eyes and around the mouth can get dark, while the forehead and nose can look like spotlights.
Wherever your dark spots are, add some concealer (even if you’re not wearing foundation - just make sure to blend well) since it’s more highly pigmented than foundation. For shiny areas, just add some translucent powder. It’s that simple!
Whether you’re often gracing a screen or not, the fact is we’re all snapping photos for our world to see more than ever before. These tips will help you feel your best so you can conquer your goals! Appreciate you, mean it. -JY