fashion | intentional living

How To Look Your Best On A Zoom Meeting

With all these virtual gatherings we’ve been having, has anyone wondered how to look your best on a Zoom meeting? Keep reading to see my favorite tips to keep you looking beautiful on camera.

How is everyone doing this week? My girls started a new school and It has included a lot of firsts including wearing a uniform and attending school online in their rooms at their desks. How strange is this to everyone and who would have predicted this? I keep thinking if someone were to tell me 5 years ago, we would have a World Pandemic and kids would be going to school from their homes – I would not have believed them. The girls and I have been in Zoom meetings (and Google Meet) all week. I have started to think, how can we all look a little better on Zoom? Who hasn’t been on a Zoom and thought oh no, what is happening in that person’s background – is that their unmade bed?

Look Your Best On A Zoom Meeting

It’s ironic really since I spent my corporate career selling Conferencing and Web Conferencing, which was essentially Zoom. I worked at home for 15 plus years and I got it down. I have to say working at home can be a slippery slope, fashion wise that is. It is easy to think I will just throw on workout gear or sweats and that’s that, but that won’t help you look your best on a Zoom meeting.

After 15 years of working at home, I am a firm believer of getting ready every day. I know I just lost half of you. You are thinking the benefit of remote work is not having to get ready. I agree to an extent, if you work from home on a rare occasion, go for it, stay in your cozies all day and enjoy every minute of it. If you work from home day in and day out, I firmly believe you will benefit from getting ready. You will feel & look more professional when you put forth effort to look your best on a Zoom meeting. You will also be able to run out the door to run errands, head to the store or whatever without having to put in a ton of effort to look presentable.

Here I am looking awful after working out and not putting any effort and then ready after 5 minute hair and makeup.

Don’t get me wrong, I start out most days in my workout clothes. That is because I work out then I get ready for the day. I don’t go overboard but I definitely put a bit of effort into my appearance. I want to feel like I am ready for whatever the day has in store for me. These days we have to include how to look your best on a Zoom meeting.

That leads me back to how do you look Zoom ready? It’s quite easy if you take a few steps to prepare. I know a few of you are thinking, it doesn’t matter what I look like on Zoom. Like me for who I am and who cares that my background is messy, or I look like I just woke up. But would you have people over to your dirty house without tidying up first? Would you attend an important meeting with your hair half brushed? I don’t think so.

When I thought of writing this post, I did a bit of research to see what the experts are saying. There are several common themes that I have found to be true myself.

Remember Lighting When Trying To Look Your Best On A Zoom Meeting

#1 The top one was lighting. Looking your best includes great lighting. It is best to either sit towards a window or have a light shining directly on your face. You might want to purchase a ring light to really give your meeting a polished look.

Don’t Air Your Dirty Laundry

#2 Clean up your background. Prior to launching your meeting make sure whatever you see in the background is tidy. That includes paperwork on your desk, clothes on the floor or just any items in disarray. If your background is messy, it takes away from you and it makes you look bad. Who wants that?

Here I am with poor lighting and then much better lightening. Closing the door would add extra polish to my meeting.

Position Yourself And Your Equipment Properly

#3 Good positioning. Make sure you are sitting up straight and not slumping over.  If you tilt your computer (if on a laptop) slightly towards yourself that will make you look even better.   Also be sure to look engaged and if you must check email or get up briefly be sure to mute yourself and turn off your video.   That is completely acceptable.  Good positioning includes elevating your laptop on a little computer stand or some books.  This will put you in a position that is eyelevel with your camera and the angles will make you look oh so much better.

Fashion Forward, Even When Trying To Look Your Best On A Zoom Meeting!

#4 Last but not least, Fashion.  What should you wear on a Zoom meeting?   First and foremost, make sure it is appropriate and you feel great.  Bright colors are always nice.  You can throw on a tank with a little blazer, cardigan or jacket and looked pulled together in minutes.

Be sure to add a bit of makeup – lipstick and mascara are a great start.  I always add foundation, blush and a bit of bronzer since that is what I feel comfortable in.  I find I love bright lipstick when I am on a Zoom meeting.   If you are in the work from home camp and think I can wear whatever I want, then don’t hesitate to throw on sweats on the bottom (after all no one will know right?).  I think adding a few accessories helps add personality and creates a finished look that is very professional.   A nice little necklace or earrings will add a perfect touch.

Now that you have your lighting perfect, your background is all cleaned up, you have positioned your camera just right and you have a fashionable outfit you are ready to take on the world of Zoom meetings.   You will look fantastic, feel great and be able to focus on your meeting.   You will no longer be distracted by yourself since you will know you look Zoom ready.  Let me know what tips you use to make yourself ready for online meetings.   I would love to hear how you are all doing it.

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