Upgrading your video for a professional look
Post-pandemic, professional impact is increasingly video intermediated. Your impact depends on how you come across on Teams or Zoom.
Some of this is of course just you - what you say, how you package and deliver the key messages you want to deliver etc. And this part hasn’t changed (I think!).
But the other part is the technology. Of course your PC or tablet / phone can “do” video conferencing but the quality often isn’t great. We’ve all sat through too many video calls or briefings staring up executives’ noses.
Here is my list of things you can do to upgrade how you come across on video (in priority order):
Upgrade your lighting
Ideally two lights at 45 degree angles to your line of sight. One should be set brighter than the other (key light and fill). Both should be diffuse light sources to create a softer look. LEDs preferred as they don’t get hot. You may be able to get away with one if you are sitting by a large window providing diffuse light.
Upgrade your camera (basic)
Get an external webcam and plug it into your computer. Invest in a stand / holder to keep your phone broadly in line with your eye level. Look at the camera as you speak.
Upgrade your camera (medium)
Use your phone as an external camera (and potentially microphone). Connect to your computer using camo app (iOS; Android) and camo studio (PC; Mac). Change your camera / mic on Teams / Zoom to Camo. Invest in a stand / holder to keep your phone broadly in line with your eye level, remembering that the camera at the back of the phone is typically higher quality than the selfie camera. Look at the camera as you speak.
Upgrade your camera (full-on)
Use a DSLR / mirrorless camera or other camera that you already have as a video camera (1080p / HD preferred at 30 fps; no need for 4k). This requires a) for the camera to both be able to deliver a “clean HDMI” feed b) and not have a maximum video output time c) for you to get a video capture card (HDMI->USB) to connect your camera to your computer. Ideally the camera should be able to deliver a (full frame) 35mm field of view or wider assuming that you will be sitting close to the camera. Invest in a tripod to keep your camera broadly in line with your eye level. Look at the camera as you speak.
Upgrade your microphone
Use an external directional microphone to deliver improved audio. Run the audio from the microphone through your camera rather than directly into the computer to avoid your audio signal and video signal being out of sync and creating (very distracting) lip sync issues. Advanced: consider running your audio through a (software) equaliser to improve the quality of your audio; potentially also a pre-amp if you actively want to manage the sound coming from your microphone.
Invest in a teleprompter
Place your camera in a teleprompter such that you can see your presentation materials / other meeting participants while you look straight into the camera. This requires a second monitor connected to your computer. This monitor needs to be able to show a “mirrored” version of the input signal it receives (only some commercially available small monitors are able to do this). You could also use an iPad as the second screen but you will need dedicated software and hardware to send mirrored content to it from your computer (check out Luna Display for a solution).
Run ‘production’ software
Run your camera input through software on your computer (e.g. OBS or Ecamm) that allows you to create scenes / add overlays / create layouts in video embedding slide presentations etc. This won’t be suitable for all settings: unlike sharing your screen, your video is not always clearly visible in multi-participant Teams calls for example. This software will also allow you to livestream video to 3rd party platforms or simply record your video content for future editing.
(Optional) invest in a green screen
A Green screen allows you to gain control of the background of your video (important if your setting itself can’t be adapted) and allows creative production options (by ‘chromakeying’ in your production software). By no means necessary but can both provide more creative options and allow you to control the setting in which you appear which may be important in projecting the image you wish.