Whether your video call platform is Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Skype, or FaceTime — the basics of presenting well on video are the same. Here are five straightforward ways to look and feel more professional without investing in a studio setup.
1. Dress Up (At Least From the Waist Up)
What you wear matters, even on a screen. Neat, professional clothing signals that you take the meeting seriously. Some options that work well on video:
- A polo shirt, especially one with your company logo
- A patterned blouse or shirt (patterns look more “alive” on camera than plain colours)
- A neat shirt and tie
- Your work uniform, if you have one
Trackpants below the frame? Completely acceptable. Just make sure you don’t accidentally stand up.
2. Tidy Your Background — But Give It Some Personality
A blank white wall looks almost as bad as a messy kitchen. Add some life to your background: a bookshelf, a plant, a piece of artwork, or some thoughtfully arranged items that reflect your brand or personality.
Avoid kitchens (they tend to look cluttered and have poor lighting) and busy, distracting backgrounds. If you must use a virtual background, choose something professional — your logo or a clean branded image rather than a beach or cartoon.
3. Minimise Distractions
Find a quiet spot, away from background noise, foot traffic, and interruptions. Before the call:
- Turn your phone to silent
- Close windows if there’s street noise
- Let people in your household know you’re in a meeting
- Remove anything that moves in the background (ceiling fans included)
If an unexpected interruption happens, handle it calmly. A brief “excuse me” is far more professional than a panicked reaction.
4. Get Your Lighting Right
Lighting is everything on video — and most people get it wrong.
Avoid: bright windows or light sources behind you (creates a silhouette effect). Harsh overhead lighting directly above you (creates unflattering shadows under your eyes).
Try: A light source in front of you, positioned roughly at eye level. A bright monitor displaying a white document or screen works surprisingly well as a fill light. Natural light from a window to your side (not behind you) is also good — just be aware of how shadows fall.
Test your lighting before an important call by joining early and switching to “Gallery View” to see how you appear.
5. Mind the Eating and Drinking
A glass of water is absolutely fine — and recommended for long calls. Just drink from a proper glass or cup rather than a water bottle (it looks more considered on camera).
Eating on camera should generally be avoided. Food sounds — particularly crunchy foods — are amplified on video in a way they aren’t in a room. Save eating for between calls or informal catch-ups with people who won’t mind.
Video meetings have become a normal part of business — but most people haven’t taken the time to optimise their setup. A few small improvements to your environment, lighting, and presentation make a surprisingly big difference to how you’re perceived. Test your setup before the next important call, and you’ll feel the difference immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What matters most on a video call?
Lighting, then audio, then everything else. A cheap camera in good light looks fine; an expensive one in a dark room does not. Face a window or put a lamp behind your screen.
Do I need to buy equipment for video calls?
Not usually. A laptop camera in decent light with a quiet room is enough for client calls. If you buy one thing, make it a headset or microphone — poor audio tires people far faster than a soft image.
Should I use a virtual background?
A tidy real background is better. Virtual backgrounds glitch around hair and hands, which is distracting, and a real room with something personal in it reads as more genuine.
Where should the camera be?
At eye level. A laptop on the desk points up at you, which flatters nobody. Raise it on books until the lens sits level with your eyes and look at the camera when making a point.
