Working from home has become the new normal for most of us with virtual meetings taking place via Zoom, Team, Google hangouts and other platforms. Making a good impression in your virtual meetings is now more important than ever. The following practical tips will help you do this easily.
Quality of Video
The first impression starts with the quality of your video session. The light shining on your face is most effective coming from behind the camera. A laptop will make it easy to move around finding the best spot. If you have a desktop system, you might like to invest in a daylight lamp you can place behind your screen.
Once the lighting is sorted you need to turn your chair and observe your background. With numerous ornaments, framed photos and colours, your camera will work hard to make the background look clear taking the focus away from your face. In addition, you might be sharing personal things and memories with many diverse people. The decision is yours but make it a considered choice instead of an afterthought when you look back at any video recordings. A single colour background always works best and minimal clutter.
The WiFi will determine how clear your video will be and if the audio comes through properly. If your entire household is connected to YouTube, Tiktok and Netflix at the time of your video call then you might want to consider creating a personal hotspot with your phone so you have a clear connection without any lagging.
How To Dress For Zoom
Dress considered from the waist up. In styling terms this is called your Vital V. The area above the waist that in any sit down meeting or video call gets 100% of the focus, including your hair.
Wear your best colours. In any day this will make you look your best but on video this is amplified. Too strong colours will fade you into the background and too soft will make you look ill. Consider doing a virtual colour analysis.
Patterns can work but not all. Observe TV Broadcasters who have to attend to this, particularly the news readers. Their clothing is usually one colour or a simple colour block. Clear medium size patterns where there is a defined start and beginning to each colour work better than blended small patterns that bleed into each other.
Colour Block with a Layer. This means you are willing the movement of the eye looking at you to move up and down (vertically).This can be done with a jacket that is a different colour from your top.
Want to Wear Black. Black is usually not your best friend at the best of times (only 3 of the 12 colour seasons actually have black in their colour swatch). So if you must, then for women apply a little more lipstick or add a nice pair of earrings or necklace. Men can make black look best by wearing a lighter colour suit jacket over the top.
Accessories Yes or No? Yes, these can look stunning on screen but be minimal with your dangling necklaces and earrings as they could be distracting. Glasses frame your face well too, so if you need them don’t hesitate to wear them.
About Angela Barbagallo
Personal Style Strategist to Women and Men wanting to be confident in the way they look. From senior executives to small business entrepreneurs who want to lift their business look to the next level. Angela helps to match your “visual resume” to your capabilities so you create a great first impression every time.
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