Even though video conferencing has made the business world better, it can be tough to get it right. This is mostly the case when your main intention is partaking in a video interview. One common mistake that beginners will always make is failing to set up proper lighting when in a virtual meeting. Well, this is certainly going to affect the meeting since the people on the other end cannot be able to see you clearly.
For the video meeting to be effective, you must be engaging. However, this will never come to pass if no one is able to see you. It is for this reason that you should always prioritize good lighting if the webcam images and videos are to be remarkable. Fortunately, there are numerous measures you can put in place for your video call to look great.
In this article, we will take you through some of the lighting scenarios you need to put into consideration during your next virtual meeting.
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Table of Contents
Look Presentable
It goes without a saying that you should always dress to impress before going live on your webcam. Regardless of whether you want to have a one on one meeting, run a webinar, or even host a video conference, it is important to look the part. Things should not stop there since you must also be visible on your webcam. Keep in mind proper lighting is of no essence if you do not look your best.
For you to look presentable in front of your webcam, you need to make sure the background is not only clean but also appropriate. In addition, avoid engaging in busy patterns since it is definitely going to decode poorly on video.
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Always Light from the Front
This is by far the biggest thing to have in mind before interacting with your loved ones or hold meetings via video. After all, webcams tend to automatically regulate and record the brightest light source in your room. When placing the light behind you, the video quality will certainly be distorted since you are no longer the point of focus. Never face the windows or any other light source if you are to make things easy for the person on the other end of a webcam.
Furthermore, balance the lighting of your webcam by placing multiple light sources at different angles. Placing one light source in front or above you is only going to result in dark shadows on your background or face, thus impacting negatively on the video quality. Even if you own the best lighting equipment, you can never have a remarkable experience if the source of light is too bright.
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Prioritize the Lighting Position
With webcam lighting, you do not have to confine yourself to one option simply because your friend or colleague is doing the same. Instead, try as much as possible to leverage the different options of placing your source of light. For instance, you can have one light source that only focuses on the subject with two other soft lights for balancing out the lighting effectively.
Shun away from placing the light source directly above you, as it is only going to result in dark and diverting shadows. This is definitely going to draw the attention of clients from your face when partaking in an anonymous text chat in webcamming sites. So, go with straight-on lighting especially when you are relying on natural light from the windows in filling out the shadows.
Just as is the case with lighting directly from above, placing the light source below you can also end up casting some shadows. Worse, you will end up looking more of a movie villain thus giving your viewers a hard time given that they have to figure out what you are trying to pass across. Unless your main intention is looking more of a movie villain, you should never opt for front-facing lighting.
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Invest in the Best Lighting Equipment
The best lighting equipment will always come in quite handy whenever you want to get the most out of your webcam. This does not mean you should break the bank simply because you are in dire need of professional lighting equipment. Instead, go with something that makes it easy for you to find the perfect light fill and balance and you will indeed look sharp in front of your webcam.
Some of the most notable lighting equipment you can consider investing your hard-earned money include ring lights, key lights, light diffusers, or even ‘daylight’ light bulbs. If your main intention is decreasing the lighting strength then it would be better to opt for light diffusers.
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Test Your Webcam Lighting Setup
Before going live, it is always important to test your webcam lighting setup and see whether it delivers the results you expect. Fortunately, the internet is full of free tools you can use in adjusting the setup of your webcam light until the image or video is fascinating. To avoid going through the same process over again during your next video conversation, you should find and stick to one webcam lighting setup that makes you look your best.
The Bottom Line
It is quite evident that proper lighting is of great importance regardless of whether you want to hold virtual meetings or make a living using your webcam. Not prioritizing the lighting makes it hard for your clients or loved ones to see much of anything. Simply make use of the above-mentioned tips and you will never have any issues when going live.
You should also ensure the sound is of good quality since they also want to hear what you are trying to pass across. This will mean investing in an external mic or getting rid of any source of noise be it animals or electrical devices. Through this action, you are set to have an easy time in front of your webcam.