How to Look Better on Video Calls

Soft light wraps around your face and minimizes imperfections. Hard light creates harsh shadows.

• Cloudy day window: Perfect natural diffusion
• Sheer curtains: Soften direct sunlight
• Bounce light: Point a lamp at a white wall or ceiling to create soft reflected light
• Ring lights: Popular because they provide even, shadow-free lighting

Avoid: Direct overhead lighting (creates "raccoon eyes"), bare bulbs, and mixed color temperatures.

Different light sources have different color temperatures, measured in Kelvin (K).

• Warm light (2700-3000K): Yellowish, cozy — can make you look healthy but may clash with daylight
• Neutral light (4000-4500K): Balanced, professional — good for most situations
• Cool light (5500-6500K): Bluish, like daylight — energetic but can be unflattering

• Free: Face a window, use daytime natural light
• $15-30: Clip-on ring light for laptop — small but effective
• $30-50: Desk lamp with LED bulb + white paper as diffuser
• $50-100: 10-12" ring light on stand — the YouTube standard
• $100-200: Key light panel (Elgato Key Light Mini, Logitech Litra) — professional, adjustable

Your head and shoulders should fill approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of the frame, with some headroom above.

• Too close: Feels invasive, distorts facial features, shows too much detail
• Too far: Hard to see expressions, feels disconnected, wastes screen space
• Just right: Head, shoulders, and a bit of upper chest visible — about arm's length from camera

Tip: Leave a bit of space above your head — about a fist's width. Too much headroom looks awkward, too little feels cramped.

Looking at the camera lens — not the screen — creates the impression of eye contact with your audience.

• When speaking: Look at the camera lens as much as possible
• When listening: It's okay to look at the screen to see reactions
• Tip: Put a small sticker or googly eye near your camera as a reminder

Your head should be roughly centered horizontally, with your eyes in the upper third of the frame.

• Horizontal centering: Equal space on both sides of your face
• Vertical positioning: Eyes in the upper third (rule of thirds)
• Avoid: Being off to one side, too much headroom, or cut-off top of head

Having some distance between you and your background creates visual separation and depth.

• Ideal: 3-6 feet (1-2 meters) between you and the background
• Benefits: Natural blur effect, you stand out more, hides wall imperfections
• Too close: Looks flat, shadows cast on wall, less professional

Virtual backgrounds can help hide messy rooms but come with tradeoffs.

• Pros: Hide any background, consistent across calls, can be professional
• Cons: Edge artifacts (hair disappears), can look fake, higher CPU usage
• Best use: When your real background is unsuitable and you have good lighting

Since only your upper body is visible, neckline choices matter more than usual.

• Crew necks and V-necks: Safe choices that frame your face well
• Collared shirts: Professional, add structure to your appearance
• Avoid: Very low necklines (awkward framing), turtlenecks (can look heavy on camera)

Accessories can enhance or distract from your appearance on video.

• Glasses: Clean them, adjust lighting to minimize glare, consider anti-reflective coating
• Earrings: Small studs work well; large dangling earrings can be distracting
• Necklaces: Simple pieces work; avoid anything that catches too much light

Video compression can wash out features, so slightly more definition helps.

• Foundation: Even out skin tone, match to neck (video shows color differences)
• Eyebrows: Fill in lightly — brows frame your face and show expression
• Eyes: Subtle definition helps eyes stand out — mascara, light eyeliner
• Lips: Natural or slightly enhanced — very bold colors can be distracting

Less is more: Heavy makeup can look overdone on video. Aim for a polished, natural look.

• Keep hair out of face: Obscuring your face makes you harder to read
• Check the camera view: Hair can look different on camera than in mirror
• Facial hair: Keep it groomed — stubble can look unkempt on lower-quality cameras

Many webcams allow manual adjustments that can significantly improve your image.

• Exposure: Increase if you look too dark, decrease if washed out
• White balance: Adjust until skin tones look natural
• Contrast: Slight increase adds definition
• Sharpness: Don't overdo it — can enhance imperfections

Where to find: Logitech webcams use Logi Tune app, others may use Windows Camera settings or manufacturer software.

Dedicated apps offer more control and enhancement options.

• Camo (Mac/PC): Use iPhone as webcam with professional-grade controls
• OBS Studio: Free, powerful — add filters, color correction, overlays
• Snap Camera: Fun filters, but also professional enhancements
• ManyCam: Virtual backgrounds, effects, multiple camera support

• Smile genuinely: A natural smile makes you appear friendly and confident
• Nod occasionally: Shows you're listening and engaged
• Avoid resting face: A neutral expression can look bored or annoyed on camera
• Mirror the energy: Match the tone of the meeting appropriately

• Too dark: Add light in front of you, increase exposure in camera settings
• Washed out: Reduce lighting intensity, close blinds partially, decrease exposure
• Uneven lighting: Both sides of face should be similarly lit — add fill light if needed

• Lower your light: Light from above can cast shadows under your eyes — bring it to eye level
• Add fill light: A second, softer light reduces shadows
• Use touch-up features: Enable "touch up my appearance" in Zoom or similar
• Concealer: Light application under eyes can help

• Raise camera: Camera below eye level emphasizes chin — raise it up
• Push chin forward slightly: Old photographer's trick — feels weird, looks good
• Sit up straight: Slouching compresses the neck area
• Distance: Sitting too close to camera distorts facial features

• Angle your light: Position lights higher or to the side
• Tilt glasses slightly: Angle them down a few degrees
• Raise your monitor: Looking down at screen reduces glare
• Anti-reflective coating: Consider for your next pair of glasses