How to Look your Best on a Zoom for the Virtual  and Remote World.

Hi!  I'm Tracey Watts Cirino, author of Beyond Common 12 Essentials for Success in Life and in the Workplace and founder of Beyond Common Coaching and Training Company. I love helping business owners get clarity and focus in their life in business by using their strengths, to achieve Beyond Common results. 

Today I will share some tips on how you can look your best when you are working from home or conducting business over Zoom Video Conferencing. Or from wherever in the world you are conducting Zoom meetings, webinars, and conferences. 

Because so much of my business involves the creation of videos and having my presentations recorded on Zoom or video, many people have asked me for suggestions about how to look their best while "Zooming."  I've developed a series of recommendations you should think about before your next Zoom call that I'd like to share with you!

Kindly consider these suggestions. 

First, let's take a look at how your computer is set up.  Make sure your seating arrangement works so the window light is in front of you and that you are facing the source of light. You may place lamps somewhere in your room so you are not dark.  This way you will be visible to your audience but you want to avoid any lighting directly behind you. That does not look good on camera. If you need to add a right light or another source of light put it directly in front of you. Then you will shine and light up on camera.

Also, avoid excessively busy backgrounds behind you, which distract other meeting attendees.  Finally, make sure you have the camera at the approximate height of your eye, to give the impression of good eye contact with the host or your colleagues.

The Wall Street Journal suggests following your morning routine as though you’re attending an in-person meeting. Take a shower and get dressed in an outfit that you’d wear for work, like a nice blouse, polo shirt, dress shirt, or blazer. You can even throw on a cute dress to feel your best! If you are needing a pick me up. Getting dressed is really something that you should do for you. It makes you feel better about yourself and more confident in what you are doing.

Avoid the temptation to stay in your pajamas all day—as comfortable as they are, they won’t look professional for your Zoom call and could give the impression that what you have to say isn't important or that you do not value other people’s time.  And while you don’t have to get completely dressed up,  you should look professional from the waist-up, where people will see you.  https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-look-professionalfrom-the-waist-up-at-leastwhile-coronavirus-keeps-many-working-from-homehow-to-look-your-best-on-a-video-work-call-11585483202

I know these can be kind of funny but do what you have time for. If you only have time to look your best on top do it. If you have time to fully dress for success do it. It's totally up to you. Just experiment until you find what works to help you personally look and feel your best throughout the day.

I know personally I feel best when I dress as if I am meeting with others in person. In turn this helps me have so much more confidence on video as I coach and train other business owners. you just have to figure out what works best for you.

Practicing good skincare is also important before you appear on camera.  According to a recent report by the BBC, the computer screen tends to highlight things like oil on your face. In this report, she recommends blotting your face before you go live. Be on the lookout for uneven skin tone or chapped lips, too, https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200407-zoom-five-tips-to-look-your-best-on-video-calls

Zoom has many built-in features to improve video and picture quality, as well as enhance video with Virtual Backgrounds and filters. These settings allow for a better meeting and webinar experience, as well as allow hosts and participants to add some flair to their video, while providing several ways to filter your appearance or touch up your skin tone, https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/115002595343-Touch-Up-My-Appearance

Finally, the New York Times reporters, who often appear on Zoom, suggest adjusting your settings so the Zoom interface shows you a preview video before sending you into a call. If you're not happy with how you look, take a few seconds to make sure your outfit looks good and you don’t have food or lipstick on your teeth. If you’re unhappy with your outfit, you can take a minute or 2 to make the necessary adjustments before you join the call, https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/use-zoom-like-a-pro/

Check out this article from flickstick about the The Top 7 Beauty Tips for Video Meetings 

Here are the top 5 most important things to do before you go live on Zoom.

1. Get Dressed
2. Do your hair & Makeup 
3. Arrive early just like an in-person meeting
4. Adjust your lighting 
5. Look people in the and connect just like in person

I hope you find this useful as you get ready for your next Zoom! 

For even more tips and tricks on how to look great on Zoom check out and subscribe to my youtube channel.

Thanks for reading our Blog.

With Gratitude,

Tracey Watts Cirino