How to Look Good on Video Calls: Lighting & Camera Tips
Key Takeaways
Simple fixes to look professional on Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet. Lighting, camera angle, and background tips that cost almost nothing.
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You've been on a call with that person, as supported by research from the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The one who looks like they're broadcasting from a cave. Harsh shadows. Grainy webcam. Pile of laundry in the background.
Microsoft's Work Trend Index found that 85% of leaders say the shift to hybrid work has made it challenging to have confidence that employees are productive.
Don't be that person.
Looking professional on video calls isn't about expensive equipment, as reported in Harvard Business Review's remote work research. It's about 3 things: lighting, camera angle, and background. Get those right and you'll look better than 90% of people on your next Zoom call.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that workers exposed to natural light during the day slept 46 minutes more per night than those without windows.
What should you know about 3 rules?
Rule 1: Light Your Face, Not Your Room
The single biggest improvement you can make — and it's free.
Face a window. That's it. Natural light from in front of you (not behind you, not from the side) is the most flattering light source that exists. If your desk faces a wall, turn it around.
No window? Use a desk lamp.
Never have a window behind you. Your camera will expose for the bright window and turn your face into a silhouette.
Rule 2: Camera at Eye Level
Your laptop camera is below your face. That means everyone on the call is looking up your nostrils, based on recommendations from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Fix: Put your laptop on a stack of books or a laptop stand () so the camera is at eye level. Or better: get an external webcam and mount it on top of your monitor.
Look at the camera, not the screen. This is hard but makes a huge difference. When you look at the camera lens, it looks like eye contact to the other person.
Rule 3: Clean Background
You don't need a perfectly styled bookshelf. You just need not-distracting.
Best backgrounds (ranked):
Avoid: Bed visible, open closet, cluttered shelves, kitchen sink, bright window behind you.
What should you know about equipment Upgrades (If You Want Them)?
Webcam Tier List
Lighting Tier List
Audio Tier List
The way you sound matters more than the way you look.
What should you know about 2-minute setup checklist?
Why does quick Wins Summary matter when working from home?
Hilly Shore Labs
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