While you used to have to physically go to a studio if you wanted to look “professional” on screen, there is such a range of options these days that you don’t have to break the bank to create a clean and professional look at home.
As a professional who does a lot of presenting, I have learned a lot about how to ‘up my game’ when you need to show-up as a presenter or leader on a virtual platform.
I have been asked numerous times about my set up and how others can get it, too!
In my last article (5 Ways to Look More Professional in Your Zoom Sessions, Part 1), I offered five ways that any professional using virtual platforms can make small shifts in their space that can make a big difference in how they are coming across to the other people on the call.
In part 2, I’m going to share with you some of the things that I did in my own space to take it up another level, and offer suggestions for how you can do that for yourself, whether you have a $100 budget or a $1,000 budget.
No matter what space you have available to you, there are options for you to be able to create an on-screen look that exudes professionalism! The equipment you might want to consider includes an external (USB) camera, an external microphone, a boom arm, a tripod, an LED ring light or light kit, sound panels and a collapsible green screen.
So, where do you start?
Let’s look at three things you can improve that will make a big difference in how you show-up on camera; the way your office looks, lighting, and sound.
#1 - The way your office looks.
You may have been using a random space in your home, but do you have an extra room or guest room that you only use two or three days a year that you can convert into a home office? Maybe get a day-bed or murphy bed and create a space you can use every day. If not, there are ways you can turn any space into a professional looking office with a green screen!
You can get a small one that attaches to the back of your chair, a pull-up screen that is portable, or a stationary one that attaches to the ceiling. I started with a pop-up green screen, but it took up a lot of floor space, so I decided to get a pull-down that is attached to the ceiling.
A green screen allows you to have a beautiful and clean background no matter what your space looks like! You can also display different scenes of your choice in your background, whether that is the Eiffel Tower or a clean room! (You can use background on Zoom without a green screen, but the challenge is the image isn’t always clear.)
- The green screen I use can be found here: https://amzn.to/2K9ncx6.
#2 - Camera and Lighting
Having an external camera (outside of your computer) can make a big difference in the quality of your image. Prices range between $50-$200.
We’ve all seen how much lighting can make a difference when on a video call, both positively and negatively! Too much light can wash you out and make you look like a ghost, while too little light can put you in a shadow so we can’t see your face at all. By adjusting your lighting so that there is enough light pointing at you so that everyone can see you clearly - just like they would see you if they were sitting with you in person - and making sure that there is not a lot of light behind you (that can light up what’s in back of you, but make your face dark), you make it easy for people to watch you! They can see your facial expressions and they feel more like you are sitting across a table talking with them.
Bad lighting can put a barrier between you and your listeners, while good lighting can make them feel more engaged with you.
Just using a lamp or the lighting you already have in your room might not do the trick. Using a ring light or a light kit can make a world of difference in how everyone else sees you.
At first, I used a ring light. But, as I continued, I wanted to get more things off the floor in my office. So, I bought a light kit that clamps to the desk and has a remote control.
- The camera I use can be found here: https://amzn.to/3mxRXsH
- The lights I use can be found here: https://amzn.to/34m1QDt
#3 - Sound
When your sound is good, nobody thinks about it. But think about when you’re on a call and the person talking is hard to hear; maybe there is static or they keep cutting in and out, maybe their voice sounds far away or like it’s in a tunnel. As a listener, the sound of you can overtake the message. If you are easy to listen to, I’m going to keep listening, but if you are hard to listen to, I’ll probably start to tune out.
By improving your sound, you can pull your listeners in and make it so they want to keep listening.
Become aware of the sound quality in your space; consider things like high ceilings or echos. Record yourself talking (you can use the audio recorder on your cell phone or listen to a recorded Zoom call that you were on). When you listen to it, you will hear what everyone else hears. If you sound good, great! But if you could improve your sound, the microphone you use can make a big difference in your vocal quality. Again, record and listen to yourself. Whether you currently use your laptop mic, a headset, or an external mic, know that there are ways to improve your sound quality and consider making an upgrade.
If you want to take it up another notch, think about getting sound panels or sound boards for the room. You can get cheap styrofoam panels or professional sound boards; they can be movable (so you can take them down when not in use) or you can get decorative ones that look cool and stay on your walls.
I started out using styrofoam sound panels that I had used for years while moving from room to room in the house. Now that I spend so much time in my office, I wanted something permanent, and those styrofoam panels were not very attractive (and my cat loved to chew on them!). That’s why I upgraded to the room kit below.
- The microphone package I use can be found here: https://amzn.to/34oaUry
- The sound treatment room kit I use can be found here: https://amzn.to/3aqWE50
A couple of other things to consider:
- Get a laptop stand that allows you to adjust the height - this comes in handy so that, no matter what chair you are using or whether you are sitting or standing, the camera can be brought to your eye level. This is important because you will not be looking up or down at the people you’re talking with.
- Get an ergonomic chair that feels good to you when sitting for a long time - the more comfortable you feel, the more relaxed you will look!
Although I’ve shared with you what works well for me, there are a lot of options when it comes to improving your space, your lighting, and your sound while on camera, whatever you budget may be! Here are a couple of other resources to learn more about options for improving the look of your on-camera appearance:
- https://techcrunch.com/2020/05/13/how-to-create-the-best-at-home-videoconferencing-setup-for-every-budget/
- https://zoom.us/hardware?hardwaretypes.name=Cameras_for_Conference_Rooms
I would love to hear about what you’ve done to show-up looking and sounding more professional in this new virtual world we work in!
(BTW, the picture used for this article is of my own upgraded office.)
