It's Not Just Your Headshot That Needs Improving!

by Skip Cohen

It's Fast Food Friday, and here's the perfect blue plate special from the SCU Diner - Tips to help you look better on camera.

The pandemic has changed the way all of us do business these days. For the moment, live meetings in person are few and far between, but on Zoom and Skype, for example, they're taking place every day. 

But at the risk of sounding like this is a rant - I'm tired of nostril shots, backlit subjects, and talking to people whose heads are at the very bottom of the screen - not to mention horrible quality in their sound! So, let's clean things up, and when you're talking to a client or participating in a meeting, how about looking the part of a professional photographer?

​I sit on several different Boards, and Zoom has become a necessary evil for communicating. The truth is, it's only evil if you don't use it wisely. It has some real advantages – mostly in the logistics of getting people together. An excellent online meeting gives everyone a chance to attend and be a part of the discussions. It's also become a much more efficient use of time.

I don't claim to be an expert, but there are some basics I want to share, and let's upgrade the way we communicate! We're going to continue meeting online, even after the pandemic – so you might as well look your best! And for those of you who think I'm being too basic, you'd be surprised how many outstanding artists I've worked with lately didn't bother to pay attention to the simplest fixes!
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• Get a location without backlighting. When you've got something bright behind you, it fools the computer or your phone into thinking the scene is brighter than it really is. This is often why people are so dark in Zoom meetings – the computer is reading the light on the scene from behind the speaker. You deal with this all the time as photographers, but throw the challenge out the window on a Zoom call!
• Try and get your camera (computer or phone) on about the same plane and height as your face. Not only does it cut out on chin and nostril shots, but it gives the audience the ability for eye contact and more facial expression.
• Remember when talking, if you want to make eye contact, looking at your screen won't do it… you've got to look at the camera. If you're using your computer's built-in camera, then it's at the top.
• Mute your microphone when not talking.
• If you're using your phone and like to walk around on the call, it's incredibly distracting. You can always shut off video on a call and continue with audio-only.
• Earbuds or a headset cut down on feedback and give you more clarity. Most of you don't need to be using a headset unless you're presenting.
• If you're going to do this a lot, check out this short video from Jay P. Morgan.  

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• Try not to multi-task while on the call, when your camera is on. It’s distracting to people even though it’s so easy to talk and do something else while addressing people online.
• In the top right corner of your zoom screen you can choose the view you want – gallery view gives you everybody on the call, which most people like the most. I'm always surprised how many people still don't know how to set up the view they'd like.
• If you haven’t done it already, in the upper lefthand corner of Zoom you can click on preferences and set your camera up in advance to experiment and see if you like the way it’s set up. If you want to add a custom background, all you need is a photograph of whatever you want and select “virtual background” from the Zoom menu. You can set the same preferences in Skype, etc.

​And last but certainly not least, Larry Becker's new book will help you a lot. If you're going to be on camera on a regular basis it's loaded with advice from one of the industry's very best. It's not just time with online meetings, and conversations with clients, but also for that personal marketing video you should all be working on for your revised about page. Larry's tips are perfect to build a stronger impression and establish more trust with your clients.

Larry started working on this book long before the word pandemic was ever in our vocabulary. You'll find it really helpful for building a stronger relationship with your camera! You're used to being behind it all the time - now it's time work on what you're doing in front of it!

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