Do you have camera fatigue!

Should you make more or less of an effort with how you look on a zoom meeting than you would face to face?

Over the past few months we've all been on zoom more times than we have had 'hot dinners', and you, like me may have had to endure watching some of those 'awkward moments'.🤪

As we approach 4 months in lockdown, we perhaps need a reminder that each time we are on a zoom,  our public image, our personal brand is reinforced or damaged in some slight way.

If you, like me, started off with good intentions, to look as professional and smart on zoom meetings just as I did previously, in physical meetings,  but now the extended length of time has taken its toll and looking as good, has become less of a priority...

Its easy to think "I'll stay in the  joggers, and  just do a quick top change, no makeup, scrape back the hair, everyone else is being casual so it doesn't matter"  - maybe it's time to rethink.

It is difficult to get a happy balance. Our public and private persona's are clashing or getting merged,  we are at home with kid's, dogs, mess, the postman, but maintaining a level of professionalism is paramount!

I find, as I'm sure you do too, being in virtual meetings where someone is fiddling with hair, adjusting their clothes or being distracted can be quite annoying, but more than that it is tiring.

Tiring  to look at others constantly but mainly tiring seeing myself looking back at me, way more than I've ever been used to.  When in physical meetings I would try not to sit opposite a mirror as it's too distracting, this is what is happening, virtually, all the time.

Turning your camera off isn't really an option, everyone thinks you're only pretending to be there, or are having a really long loo break! 

I have, as you have probably found, that it far harder to dress for 'camera networking' than live networking  - I am used to dressing my body as a whole,  finding balance with that look is second nature. Now, having to find a balance between just my head and shoulders is a completely different ball game! Clothes that look good normally, look a bit odd when it's just head and shoulders, have any of you found that?

I thought maybe a few pointers around the subject of 'being on zoom' would be helpful.

Lets start at the top!

HAIR

OMG for a hairdresser - I wish!

The good news is that nobody has been able to pop to the hairdresses so unless you live with one, the chances are it's outgrown it's style and your colour may leave a bit to be desired.

I have noticed that some people are just scrapping it back into a pony tail, which is convenient if you normally wear it like that but the risk is that you actually look nothing like your normal selve, my advice is...

Continue wearing it in your normal way, people who are getting to know you will need  to still recognise you at a later date. Stay as true to you as you can!

Face

Ladies, Make up - even if you don't normally wear any, try some and ladies, definitely lipstick. Zoom is like telly and so the makeup needs to be exaggerated the brightest lipstick looks nowhere near as bright on film as it does in real life, subtle doesn't hit the spot.

Gentlemen, Shave - a day or two's growth may look trendy in life but not so much on screen where it can look as if you forgot to wash!

Home beauty treatments - being in the house and stuck at home can play havoc with your skin, be aware how its seen on the screen. Home facials are even more important at the moment.

On zoom  'touch up my video' is a great little secret

• On the bottom left hand of your screen there is the stop video icon

• To it's right is an arrow, press this,

• Drop down menu,

• Choose video settings,

• My video and choose

• 'Touch up', this is also where you can make your video

• 'Mirror' you so that others see you the right way around

The colours you wear and the back ground you choose is going to have a big effect on how you look!

• Choose colours that you know suit you

• Choose colours in your clothes that compliment or at least, don't clash with your background.

Clothes

• Avoid  white -  unless you have really pearly teeth as they will come over more yellow!

• Wear smarter than  your normal casual, but you don't have to go formal. Casual clothes will look even more casual on the screen- a good smart casual is the key.

• A good neck line can help with the balance of your head and your shoulders. you don't want any neck line to be too fussy!

• Any pattern shouldn't be too busy

• Suit your clothes to your colouring, what are your favourites, what do you know you look good in.

• Jewellry - less, not noisy bangles and jangles don't help others audio!

Office

• Put your laptop higher, at least so that the camera is eye level but above it can help make all those double chins and shadows disappear magically - experiment!

• Stage the scene behind you,  if it's cluttered it can be tiring to look at  but don't go for a just plain wall, as that's boring to look at.

• Plan what's going to be shown behind you...

• Make it personal, to reflect you and your business - pick things to do with your business and personality.

• Back drop -  this can be just your office, lately lots of people are choosing to use zooms own virtual backdrops, which allow you to be in Barbados one day , the office the next and  then Sydney Opera House at the weekend - great but... done badly they can look horrendous, you can like you are in a  sci fi film -  you need to use plain wall and sit relatively still to be able to carry them off - again practice and ask for feedback. 

Lighting

The make and break of a good video picture!

• Use natural light if you can as well as artificial.

• Your central light  will probably  need to be on, but don't position it just overhead, make sure its  in front of you by about a meter

• Use a halo light, this can just be a round make up mirror with a light! or you can by them quite cheaply on Amazon.

• Use portable lights from around the house and experiment.

Remember, this is your Personal Brand, make it as memorable as you can - In a good way 😂

Worried that your personal brand isn't all it should be, why not contact me for a complimentary chat -

Love

Sally x

Sally Inkster Finding Brand YOU!

What is a personal Brand?

''It's who you are, your values and beliefs and the ENERGY you bring to all you do''