Now we've been doing a while - what works for zoom?

[SnowWouldHelp]

I was just reflecting a lot of us have been remote working for nearly a year now. If you are doing a lot of online meetings, have you changed your standard workwear? And what styles/items have you noticed work well (for you or other people)?

Spend money on getting lighting right- loads of advice on line.

Make up needs careful consideration- my under eye correction efforts look fine IRL but I get a reverse panda eye on Zoom.

The zoom camera is more flattering than Teams :grin:

Remember to take off your DHs old fleece that’s covered in guinea pig hairs before answering calls. It’s my house jumper I put on if I’m cold, over my proper clothes 😄

Mmm I need this thread.

Someone sent me a screenshot of a call I was on before Christmas and I had a sudden realization that people see me ‘big’ rather than the tiny picture in the corner that I see of myself (I know, I’m a bit slow).

I’ve also been doing some work with an agency and all the women come on the call looking casually polished and I look like a troll.

This is what I have learnt:

Get anti-glare coating on your glasses so they don't reflect your screen
Tops can be more casual, but will need some sort of collar or high neckline so they don't look like pyjamas
Some stripes will interfere with the picture to create a swimmy/headache-inducing effect
You can probably go bolder on lipstick than you would in real life
Earrings can't really be seen so you don't need to bother too much

Good discussion OP

For me:

Tinted moisturiser to even out skin tone
Always define your eyes(even if just eyeliner and mascara)
Wear my hair down (up dos can’t be seen so not worth it)
Jewellery (earrings and necklaces) make me look more polished
Blouses/tops in slighter bolder colours - light ones can make me look more washed out on camera
Lighting - as PP said, it’s all about the correct lighting
Favourite perfume - sounds silly but if I smell nice it makes me feel more confident and professional.

Black looks awful!! Well on me anyway and lighter colours seem to look better - even white/beige which I wouldn't have considered wearing to work previously.

Agree with pp - I always wear jewellery and perfume in online meetings. People do notice jewellery which has surprised me - had some comments on mine from colleagues!

I probably wear a bit more make up than I used to and spend longer on my hair in the mornings as I think it's noticeable when people have just shoved unwashed hair into a ponytail.

I now spend all day, every day WFH in Teams meetings. I really dislike looking at my face but I've just had to come to terms with it because I now have to see it constantly! Like another pp, I must admit it took a while to realise I'm bigger on everyone else's screens than on mine

Wear bold colours and anything with a collar looks better.

Agree with hair down as up-dos won't be noticed. Yes to jewellery.

Lipstick is about the only make up that really shows, so go bold with that.

No advice but I’m horrified by how old I look! You know how on Teams if someone is doc sharing and then they flick back to Teams and you see yourself ‘big’ as other people do....honestly the lines round my eyes are all of sudden horrific. Plus my roots need doing which obviously won’t be happening any time soon.

Currently lying under a retinol mask thing while browsing the internet for other wonder products. Any tips on not looking about 80 most welcome! (Am early 40s)

Oh but my one tip is go bold on earrings, looks like you’ve made the effort.

Echoing what a previous poster said, lighting is everything. But also not being a harsh critic. Sometimes I've caught myself when I'm being 'normal' as opposed to self-conscious posing (as with a photo), and I've been surprisingly reassured.

Good old Lisa Eldridge has done a “make up for Zoom” tutorial

Zoom filter helps alot.

Sit with light in front of you or buy a ring light thing

earrings, lipstick, eyebrows, some blusher, I always blow dry and brush my hair.

It doesn't matter what you wear really.

Smile quite a lot -resting bitchy face isn't a good look .

I don't really understand photographs and mirrors and stuff, but I think that the audience on a zoom call sees you in reverse to how you see yourself?

Best tip I read on another thread, stick some sellotape over the camera. It works like a subtle filter.

This is great for those that use Teams as it doesn’t have a filter, unlike Zoom!

Interesting, I didn't know anything about filters! I've noticed that things I thought suited me in person really don't on zoom. I think it's partly to do with colours not getting balanced out elsewhere in your clothes. And up dos look odd on me as the camera is always front on.

Narrow stripes go fuzzy and give other people a headache.

Sitting at funny angles to the camera looks odd.

V-necks need care otherwise the camera angle can look straight down your top.

@MsConstrue There is an option on zoom that allows you to choose whether you see what others on the call see or whether you see a mirror image of yourself. As I understand it, the other callers see the 'correct' image (ie the non mirror one). I only realised this recently while fiddling around with different options - I'd not realised I was seeing my mirror image and found it very odd when I switched to the correct one.

I agree about the lighting point but I've not found the right set up despite having done this for nearly a year. I look ok in the morning (with light from a north facing window on my front right hand side) but I look terrible by mid-afternoon.

Loads more make up than usual.

Brighter tops.

No roll necks if you have big boobs.

Definitely earrings and good perfume - makes you feel more confident. Also agree about smiling - I had no idea how jowly my static face is

Video calls seem to need more distinct makeup. I use eyeliner, mascara and more lip colour.

Ear rings, brighter coloured clothes - red cardigan with a patterned grey dress looks best.

I may try this on my next one:

[quote WobblyLondoner]@MsConstrue There is an option on zoom that allows you to choose whether you see what others on the call see or whether you see a mirror image of yourself. As I understand it, the other callers see the 'correct' image (ie the non mirror one). I only realised this recently while fiddling around with different options - I'd not realised I was seeing my mirror image and found it very odd when I switched to the correct one.

I agree about the lighting point but I've not found the right set up despite having done this for nearly a year. I look ok in the morning (with light from a north facing window on my front right hand side) but I look terrible by mid-afternoon.
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Thanks @WobblyLondoner I didn't know that! I'll experiment tomorrow on one of my 7 virtual meetings
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Does it work for Teams as well do you know?

@MsConstrue I don't know, I've not got to grips with teams - nearly all my meetings are on zoom so when there is a teams one I end up taking ages to unmute etc

I actually feel I have become more stylish over lockdown because I have a bit more leeway re getting ready, and don't need to think about commuting and getting wet or anything. I wear makeup every day now, and add lipstick a few times a day. Never used to. I just bought a powder for a midday touch up too.

High necks or collars and I often wear jackets as detail is interesting, plain is boring. I am actually thinking about repierceing my ears.. at home?

There is an option on Zoom called Touch up my Appearance.

It’s fantastic and makes me look ten years younger, totally recommend.

I have done the reverse. Started off making an effort, now I don't care. My hair is clean, I look tidy, and no longer care about make up etc. I am not depressed, I just feel liberated. Sometimes I put make up on if I am in the mood, but rare now.

Main thing is make up.

I like a bit of under eye concealer, mascara and fill in my brows as a minimum when I'm on a zoom call. Some blusher and lipstick (not too bright) really makes a difference.

If I feel I need it I will use some concealer on blemishes but foundation is not a necessity.

I'll wear contacts rather than glasses if I have a few zoom calls that day.

Clothes wise I keep it simple with plain t shirts (often black or navy or white) with jeans or sometimes even jogging bottoms on my lower half as no one can see!

Lighting is important. Room needs to be well lit ideally with light in front of you and bot just behind eg I have a bright light but also face a window.

You can play around with how close or far you are from the camera.

Also powder or something to mattify if you are looking shiny.