+Amber Mac's first tip is really a big deal! I've seen the inside of noses way too often & could never figure out how to fix it! I've got a few tips of my own to add to Amber's / +Fast Company:
1. Makeup: A bit of makeup if you never wear any helps a lot! Just powder and lip gloss (or Vaseline) goes a long way!
2. Lights in front, not in back! Having a light behind you that shows up 'in frame' tends to throw off the entire video. Move your webcam around a bit so the 40 watt bulb behind you doesn't look as bright as the sun!
3. Background: Clean up your messy bookshelf and make sure there is no dirty laundry pile behind you. How you 'set' yourself goes a long way to demonstrate your personality!
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Before you turn on your web cam, consider these smart tips for a polished production!
From Skype chats with your family to live business meetings online…my Fast Company post, complete with before/after photos!
Web-cam glam for polished video chats – 3 smart tips: http://www.fastcompany.com/1819425/web-cam-glam-3-easy-ways-to-look-polished-on-video-chats
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Web-Cam Glam: 3 Easy Ways To Look Polished On Video Chats | Fast Company
More than 300 billion total calling minutes take place annually on Skype; 50% of those calls are video conversations. Microsoft executive Steve Ballmer revealed this stat at CES last month while discu…
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Excellent tips here!
Great additions!
I'm picturing a desktop pic-stand, with a rack for the laptop (providing the right angle for the built-in cam, strong enough to type on) and a goose-neck lamp at the top (maybe two).
great tips….. thank you
+Amber Mac Great post, only thing I would have made clearer is that your tips apply equally to men as to women. Since I started doing more video I know have my own camera kit which includes concealer, liquid foundation and translucent powder. I know a lot of men are very nervous about this but the difference is amazing.
As it is, I'm looking for any excuse I can to not hang out. If I have to put on makeup, you'll NEVER see me.
Great tips. For a soft focus effect – has anyone tried the vaseline over the lens rather than on the lips? Also don't forget to deal with pets – shut the dog out with an extreme bone. Not sure how you stop the cat stealing your close up though!
I don't think tip #3 is a great one, if you don't want your wrinkles up front & center! 😉
Another good reason to straighten out your office/room/background: video compression algorithms try so hard to capture the complexity of your messy background that it may play havoc with the part of the image that is your face. The plainer the background (lots of wide areas of unvarying color), the less crunchy the image of you will look. It's the same reason you want to keep the camera still (usually not a problem during Hangouts).
All great stuff!!!