How to be Camera-Ready for Virtual Business
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Zoom like a Pro
One of the beauty bonuses of working from home is that you really don’t need to wear any makeup. But when a Zoom meeting lands on your schedule, a little effort will ensure that you present a professional image. I'll share some beauty pointers to get you camera-ready: pretty and polished in 15 minutes or less! First, though, here are some simple technical tips that will make the most of your appearance.
Your Virtual Studio
When it comes to setting up your portal to the world, you're essentially creating your own mini photo-shoot studio at your desk or in a custom-created space. Allocate a place in your home where you feel comfortable, but a place that also shifts you into business mode. With a little decor edit, this could be a cozy corner in the kitchen, a secret alcove or somewhere in the basement. The key is to ensure the space remains off-limits to everyone else in your home while you're online. This is your movie set—dedicated exclusively to conducting business.
Background
I'm fascinated to see the background setting of individuals who communicate virtually. Students, for example, often post videos of their work with rumpled sheets and pillows as a disconcerting backdrop. I immediately send a message: Make your bed! As you consider your surroundings, think about how much you want to share with co-workers and clients. Do you want to show photos of your family and friends that could draw attention and inspire personal questions that you’re not ready to answer? (Oprah has a stunning painting of a young black girl as a background to her virtual meetings; it looks so beautiful and I always wonder, is it her?) Do you want to include objects that communicate your lifestyle, or reveal just a tiny taste of how you live? I vote for a neutral background that keeps the focus on you, with no distractions to take your audience off-point. A clear wall with a few selected pictures or a single piece of art is always a nice touch. You could fashion a background by hanging a simple pair of curtains neatly over a door, or brand your background by displaying your company logo. Zoom offers downloadable backgrounds from movies sets, some of which are breathtaking and fun.
Lighting and Locating
Just as a fashion photographer positions models and directs light to achieve the best shot, the same kind of strategic angling can enhance your online look. Think of your computer as a camera, with you as the focal point. Place books under your computer to raise it to the level and position that captures and enhances your appearance from shoulders up, waist up, or somewhere in between. Here’s a specially designed and adjustable laptop stand created for this purpose. The frame should outline your head and hair and a portion of your background. To look your best, your computer should sit near the best lighting sources in your home. When sunlight isn’t available, or when you’re Zooming into the wee hours with international clients, set your main light just behind the center of your computer screen to project onto your face. One or two lamps from your living room can be called into duty. (You may be able to angle this light towards the most flattering side of your face. Most of us have a "good" side). Place supplementary lights on both sides of your screen for more dimension and interest. Don’t use ceiling fixtures as your main source of light as it casts unflattering shadows.
Ring Lights
These are best used with smart phones and tablets that you affix to the center of the circle of light. Their features allow you to control the light’s intensity and temperature for instant set-up and custom lighting. Conveniently, you can use them anywhere. Available on Amazon in various sizes, I like the 18- and 20-inch models. I also use them to brighten my home studio on gloomy days. I also discovered a cute and compact version. This particular LED Ring Light clips on to your computer or phone and has 3 light settings
Natural, business-savvy makeup Application for zoom
Skin
Follow your usual beauty routine to clean and moisturize your face. This step ensures you can apply your makeup efficiently and with control.
Concealer
Any pink or redness in the skin is amplified on computer screens. The right concealer may be all you need to address this; you may not need foundation. Concealer should match the colour of your skin (and your foundation, if you use one). Use it to cover prominent redness around the nose or mouth and over any dominating blemishes. A concealer that is one-half to one shade lighter than your skin will work to reduce shadows that form under and around the eyes and the mouth. If you follow me on social media, or have had a lesson with me, you're familiar with my colour-correcting technique. To disguise those dark blue shadows around eyes, I use a peach-based concealer for fair skins, and an orange shade for dark skins. Each works best with foundation blended over top. Lightly dust with powder to set in place.
Foundation
If you need to even out your complexion more, reach for your usual liquid, cream or powder foundation and carefully “stipple” over top of concealed areas.
Powder
Even if you don’t usually use powder, pressed or loose, I strongly encourage it to mat excess shine that can make you look sweaty and nervous on camera. Focus application on the T-zone where light reflection can be strong and unflattering. If your skin is oily, powder your face completely for a smooth, velvety finish and long-lasting oil and shine control. Check out my Invisible Powder
DDB Mineral Powder Foundation
A powder foundation like my Mineral Powder Foundation can be the quickest way to get your face “camera ready”. Check it out!
Blush
Too much blush will make you look feverish on screen. You want your blush to define your cheeks and add a little glow that says, Here I am. Let’s get to work! Apply cream blush after foundation and before powdering. Apply powder blush after set-powdering your entire face. Smile and begin application at the ear, follow the cheek bone and finish by sweeping upwards onto apples of cheeks. Buff until well blended. Use softer shades if you're fair and richer shades if your skin is tanned or dark. Wash lightly across closed eyes. Poof—instant eyeshadow! Check out my Pretty Powder Blush Collection.
Eyeglasses
A cool trick I learned working with celebrities, is that they would wear glasses on days when their eyes weren’t looking quite so fresh and bright. They chose different colours and styles with non-prescription, non-reflective lenses to suit their personal style. Glasses have a way of filtering and blurring light around the eyes, similar to the old Hollywood trick of coating camera lenses with Vaseline to make mature actors look younger. Whether you usually wear glasses or not, wearing them for a Zoom call can sometimes negate the need for eye makeup. Please do not wear sunglasses for professional meetings. They send a negative message about how you feel and don’t hide the after-effects of the night before as well as you think. Shades may look cool on celebrities but they're not cool for doing business. Reach for your readers or order a groovy new pair of specs on-line. Take advantage of advice and apps on these websites; they can help you find the best set of frames to flatter your face shape.
Eye Makeup
If you enjoy making up your eyes, then by all means, do so. Consider working with a natural palette of ivory, tans, taupes and browns, which will look clean and softer on camera than will cooler colours like pinks, blues and purples. Avoid metallic and glittery makeup that could make you look like you're headed out clubbing as soon as you sign off. Use eye drops to remedy tired, red eyes at least ten minutes before your meeting.
Lip Makeup
Play it safe and reach for the same lipstick or gloss you have come to rely on. If you don't wear lipstick, lip balm will keep lips moisturized. Dry lips look like elephant skin onscreen. I’m not a fan of matte lipsticks. Unless you have voluptuous lips, this texture can make them look flat, especially in darker shades. On the opposite end, lip gloss that is too shiny can make you look like you just ate a juicy hamburger. Check out my Satin Smooth Lipsticks and Luxe Glosses.
Test Shoot
Do a trial run on your own to ensure you look like you want to on camera. You’ll be able to see yourself exactly as others will see you on their screens. Adjust accordingly.
Is the background, lighting and angle of your screen in check? Does the frame shot capture all you want viewed?
If prominent shadows show up in your test run, brighten your lighting or apply more concealer to the darkest areas of your face.
Does your complexion look even and fresh rather than shiny and sweaty?
Have you camouflaged redness and blemishes?
Is your blush too weak or too strong? Add more, or tone down with face powder.
If your eyes appear lost behind your glasses, consider applying mascara. Dress your eyelashes by directing the application into and along the roots of the lashes. This technique creates a natural outline that will open up your eyes. Layer on a second coat for more lushness.
Want more eye emphasis? Add a dark brown eyeliner or eyeshadow applied with a fine angle brush along the base of your lashes. Begin with a thin line and widen where necessary to suit your eye shape.
Check that you're satisfied with the look of your lips. Are they too soft and invisible? Too bright? Or too dark? Too matte? Too shiny?
If I'm having a bad hair day, is it okay to wear a hat? Depends on the hat. Stay away from baseball caps and hats with wide brims. Both styles will cut off light from your face and create shadows. Instead, pull your hair back, put it in a pony or try a fabulous wig that you feel confident wearing. Turbans fashioned from scarves are dominating the virtual world right now. They solve bad hair days and add a little extra colour to the picture so many of us are looking at these days!
Check, check and check. Congratulations! When you're "camera-confident," you can relax about how you look and focus on the matter at-hand—your business!
