Techniques to help produce better video calling

In today’s digital age and people working from home, more and more people use Skype, Teams, Zoom… all sorts of virtual meeting calls, rooms, and chats. Therefore, you need excellent virtual presentation skills. But have you ever noticed it’s difficult to hear or see the other participants? Have you ever gotten uncomfortable adjusting yourself because the other person’s camera angle is high or too low? Or have your eyes gotten tired because the light is to dark or bright? These are just some of the nuances that make for bad video calling and can cost you a business deal, achieving a goal in a project, losing a sale, lose followers in social media video tapings…

For most people, the thought of recording on video or having to be seen through a lens tends to give them the heebie-jeebies. As an ex-performer both stage and camera I understand the heart-pumping fear of having to stare into that lens. I eventually wrote a book, PITCHERSIZE, to help young entrepreneurs in the Startup community. This was to help them with stage presence to be able to better Pitch their business.

There have been many times I dreaded being on a video call with somebody because of their bad video practices. Most people don’t even realize it matters. So, I’m here to tell you it does. Don’t let bad camera, lighting, and mic usage be the death of your business. In addition, you can always enroll in a video mastery class such as this free camera Confidence Mini-course.

5 easy steps to improve your on-camera presence

1. HAVE GOOD POSTURE

To have excellent virtual presentation skills starts with posture. You might not think it matters but it does. Even though people can only see a portion of your upper body, we see more than you’d think. It’s easy to notice if somebody is slouching or leaning over. When you position the camera correctly and position your posture to be in an attentive manner you appear more trustworthy, charismatic, and available. It also will help you breathe a lot easier, which is something people often forget to do if they’re nervous. Better posture just makes you feel better and it instills confidence.

• Roll your shoulders back and focus on not slouching. This shows authority and confidence.
• Move that head around. Let it sway naturally when you speak. This is much easier when the camera is eye level.
• Don’t cross your arms and keep them in front of you. If the camera is at a 3/4 shot you’ll have room to use your hands when talking just as you would naturally when standing.
• Keep your back straight. 

2. Camera framing matters

Camera angle:

You will be speaking to an audience of one or more. Someone will be watching. The best way to connect to a viewer is to speak as if you are talking directly to them. So be yourself! That said, when you speak to people you don’t usually look up or down to dramatically at them. So, why do so many people do this when on video calls? The camera should be positioned at eye level and with a 3/4 shot visibility.

Most computers do not raise the lid to have the camera at anyone’s eye level, even 17′ ones. Although, if you are short in the torso and have a 17′ it might work out. Mostly, not. So, you may need to raise your computer. Prop your computer on books, a box or a desk stand to get the camera at eye level. And if you have a desktop computer on top of a monitor, then angle it down slightly. And if you have a really high monitor and you are on the shorter side, prop yourself up. You can sit on books or anything that will get the camera at eye level. 

The point is to give your audience a better visual of you and put you all on the same level. This makes for much better viewing visually and characteristically. You don’t want to be looked down on no more then you want them to feel they have to look up at you. Even if you are the leader, authority isn’t based on physically looking up at someone, it’s in someone’s character or not.

Camera distance:

In addition, you don’t want the camera too close or too far from your frame. You want the camera to be far enough away that you can use your arms when talking, but not too lose that we count the veins in your eyeballs.

Often it is the case that people will sit too far wile they are viewing someone speaks, but lean forward and sit too close when they are speaking. Keeping the camera at the best distance and angle will ensure a more positive presentation experience for both the viewer and the presenter.

3. There is a dress code

For excellent virtual presentation skills, this may seem silly, and you might even try to get around dressing up for a ten-minute video call. For sure many have put on a dress shirt but sat in their underwear while on a video call. You can see your bottom, right?

However, your dress image represents your attitude and demeanor. And that people can see through what obstacles you think you are putting up. So, it is important and valuable to dress as if you would actually visit that person and have a meeting or be in their class.

Unfortunately, people do judge people and the idea that first impressions count is spot on. If you are meeting someone for the first time on video meeting and they show up like they just got out of bed, I’m sure you’d think they didn’t care much about that meeting. How likely are you to do or would want to do business with somebody that doesn’t show they care even in the simplest manors?   

4. Sound and light

For the love of good meetings, please check your sound, and if you use a mic make sure it works. People in any form of video or camera presentation, meeting, or call will forgive bad video over bad sound any day.

It is very straining to look at a video when you can barely see the image. Just the same it is overly stimulating when the image is too bright. Natural lighting is best whenever possible and should be from the front of the camera toward the face. The best would be all-around lighting and isn’t directed from one place or another. Such as large ceiling lighting. in any case, make the best efforts to have a balanced visual with good lighting. You can add a lamp, angle one away or open a window.

5. Background

One last but not least of the basic good camera techniques you should consider. What’s in your background?

I have seen hanging laundry, cluttered bookcases, passing people, television shows playing, kids playing video games… These are just a few of the distractions I’ve encountered while having a video meeting. This is, to say the least, distracting.

The best background is white. A white wall, sheet, screen image from green screen technique… I have hung a white bed sheet before getting a nice white background. However, if you choose this route, iron it first, please! We don’t need to see your wrinkly bed sheets. Do your best to make a clean plain background. It is less distracting and keeps our focus on you the speaker.

In conclusion:

This is how to gain good virtual presentation skills. It isn’t difficult to have excellent virtual video presentation techniques and skills. It might take a little effort, but worth it. And it’s much easier to suggest to others how to improve their video appearance if you have a good video appearance.

If you want to learn more about developing your Presentation skills on or off-camera check out PITCHERSIZE – Working Out The Perfect Pitch. A book on using Presence, Professionalism and Pizzazz to build Audience appealing presentations.