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Original poster

How do you look human on Teams or Zoom?

46 replies

Fluffycloudland77 · 30/12/2022 11:22

I look awful.

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 30/12/2022 11:23

One of them - Teams maybe? - has a soft focus filter. I'm a big fan of that. Natural light helps too.

Elisheva · 30/12/2022 11:25

Sort out the lighting. Try a ring light, they can make a huge difference!

mummymummymummummum · 30/12/2022 11:25

Same. I assume it's mostly bad lighting (I'm facing a bright window). Wearing makeup helps, but I CBA. Nowhere else to set up a desk in my house.

I do notice every single meeting though 😫

Itsthewhitehat · 30/12/2022 11:29

Lighting. Some make up. Camera angle. And camera distance. Don’t sit too close.

Original poster
Fluffycloudland77 · 30/12/2022 11:29

I have a small ring light, I'll try that and soft focus sounds awesome.

Dh died and I need a job to pay the mortgage so I want to get a job sooner rather than later. I gave up work to look after him.

OP posts:
BarbaraWoodlouse · 30/12/2022 11:30

Like all cameras angles and lighting make a huge difference. Are you using an inbuilt camera or external webcam?

Original poster
Fluffycloudland77 · 30/12/2022 11:34

I'm using the inbuilt camera.

OP posts:
Grabbing2023ByTheBalls · 30/12/2022 11:35

No suggestions on how to look better but I'm very sorry for you loss Flowers and I wish you the best of luck in finding a job!

IamSamantha · 30/12/2022 11:38

Makeup and lighting. Someday I just can't be helped but the same would be the case face to face 🤣

Juicylychee · 30/12/2022 11:38

Lipstick makes a huge difference

Ban · 30/12/2022 11:48

Sorry for your loss OP.

With all due respect why do you care what you look like? Everybody looks shocking on Teams and I'm not sure anyone judges what you look like.

I'm always surprised when women have makeup on for team's meetings. Who cares? :)

People have much better things to think about than checking out how you look on teams.

NeverEnoughCake2 · 30/12/2022 11:49

For job interviews, and assuming you've got a laptop, put large books underneath the laptop until the internal camera's level with your face when the screen's at 90 degrees. Much more flattering than having the camera on an angle!

FloydPepper · 30/12/2022 11:51

Really sorry for your loss

for me, I find that you need to make sure there’s no bright light behind you, so never have a window in shot. Try and get light on your face, so yes to a ring light or some other lamp in front of you. Just make sure the background looks neat and tidy, and be sitting in a decent chair so you sit up. Perhaps make up (but I’m a bloke so we have it easier)

FloydPepper · 30/12/2022 11:52

NeverEnoughCake2 · 30/12/2022 11:49

For job interviews, and assuming you've got a laptop, put large books underneath the laptop until the internal camera's level with your face when the screen's at 90 degrees. Much more flattering than having the camera on an angle!

Oh and this is a good shout.

also, for interview habe a glass of water and a notepad handy. You can jot down things as they occur to you while they are talking.

JuneOsborne · 30/12/2022 11:56

It sounds like you've been through the mill. I'm sorry to hear about your DH.

Zoom actually has some nifty features where you can give your self make up. Mine is always set to stronger brows.

But, yeah, you need to get the height of the laptop right so your camera is in the right position and the right light makes a massive difference. There's are a few YouTube videos about this that might help.

skgnome · 30/12/2022 11:56

Make sure the camera is at least at eye level - books under the laptop
try to get light on your face, ring light would be ideal, but any lift behind the camera will help
check your angles and don’t put the camera too close

Original poster
Fluffycloudland77 · 30/12/2022 12:00

Got books and make-up...I just need to look employable & after this year I am not looking my best.

I photograph badly too for good measure 😂

OP posts:
Shannith · 30/12/2022 14:16

Sorry for your loss. Some tips

Definitely ring light and soft focus
Make sure the screen is raised so you are facing it full on rather than looking down in it - I put some big books under my laptop. Or a cushion.
Think kind of stage makeup if that makes sense - absolutely no need to do a full face or anything but some eyeliner or lipstick defines things a bit. I whack and I mean whack a bit of foundation, blusher or bronzer and eyeliner on (no need to be perfect at all - it takes a min)

Wear a top in a colour that is your most flattering bright colour. For me it's a bright ish blue. This really perks up the image Can wear pjs on the bottom.

I'd set up a zoom call for just you and spend a bit of time trying out some quick fixes in front of it until you fee confident. E.g. hair up or down, pair of earrings, necklace.

Then you can have a failsafe zoom "uniform" that you can put on with minimum effort/time.

megletthesecond · 30/12/2022 14:19

Lighting in front of you. Either window or ring light.

LittleDisaster · 30/12/2022 14:22

Ban · 30/12/2022 11:48

Sorry for your loss OP.

With all due respect why do you care what you look like? Everybody looks shocking on Teams and I'm not sure anyone judges what you look like.

I'm always surprised when women have makeup on for team's meetings. Who cares? :)

People have much better things to think about than checking out how you look on teams.

On that basis why would you wear make up of dress nicely for work, or to go anywhere really.

OP someone told me a piece of sellotape over the camera lens on the laptop gives a soft focus appearance

Piggleton · 30/12/2022 14:25

You need a daylight lamp facing you. It knocks out the shadows on your face

clodaghrogers · 30/12/2022 14:30

Some great tips so far, OP. I also suggest flipping video to mirror view so you look like how you would expect; it is then less distracting. We are often discombobulated when we see ourselves on Teams/Zoom as we normally see ourselves in mirrors.

I recommend a collared top as it adds definition to our appearance.

Although I don't need to wear glasses, I have some for screen use and it adds some balance to the face.
Earrings help too.
My condelences and I wish you well for 2023.

LlynTegid · 30/12/2022 14:31

Sorry for your loss, the blurred background may help. Or even turning the camera off (oh dear it's not working).

Nimbostratus100 · 30/12/2022 14:33

A decent quality camera makes a huge difference

mindutopia · 30/12/2022 14:42

Good lighting (I use a ring light and a warm desk lamp plus natural light) and blurring the background. It seems to take the edge off how dishevelled I look. 😂

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