Zoom Confidence: 5 Ways to Look & Sound Your Best on Video Calls | Ravi Jaipaul | Skillshare
Search

Playback Speed


  • 0.5x
  • 1x (Normal)
  • 1.25x
  • 1.5x
  • 2x

Zoom Confidence: 5 Ways to Look & Sound Your Best on Video Calls

teacher avatar Ravi Jaipaul, Founder of Yoke Wellness, Optimist

Watch this class and thousands more

Get unlimited access to every class
Taught by industry leaders & working professionals
Topics include illustration, design, photography, and more

Watch this class and thousands more

Get unlimited access to every class
Taught by industry leaders & working professionals
Topics include illustration, design, photography, and more

Lessons in This Class

    • 1.

      Look Your Best On Zoom

      1:54

    • 2.

      Lighting Is Everything

      2:24

    • 3.

      The Camera Angle To Make You Shine

      2:43

    • 4.

      A Background That Brings Out Your Best

      1:58

    • 5.

      Make Your Audio Awesome

      3:17

    • 6.

      Bonus: Hack Zoom To Look and Sound Great

      1:23

    • 7.

      Class Project

      1:50

    • 8.

      You're An Expert Now!

      1:05

  • --
  • Beginner level
  • Intermediate level
  • Advanced level
  • All levels

Community Generated

The level is determined by a majority opinion of students who have reviewed this class. The teacher's recommendation is shown until at least 5 student responses are collected.

24

Students

--

Projects

About This Class

Are you tired of looking like a hot mess on your Zoom calls? Do you want to upgrade from "blurry potato" to "high-def hottie"?

Look no further, because this course is here to transform you into the ultimate video call vixen (or stud).

In this course, you will learn how to look your best on Zoom calls, and how to present yourself in a professional and appealing way. You will learn how to optimize your lighting, camera angle, background, audio, and appearance, and how to use these factors to create a positive and effective video call experience.

This course is designed for anyone who uses Zoom for business, education, or personal communication, and who wants to improve their appearance and performance on video calls. Whether you are a marketing professional, a teacher, a freelancer, or a job seeker, this course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to look and sound your best on Zoom.

Here are some of the top concepts you will learn in this course:

  • How to use lighting to enhance your appearance on screen
  • How to position your camera for the best angle and perspective
  • How to select a background that is professional and uncluttered
  • How to choose and use a microphone for clear and accurate audio
  • How to use virtual backgrounds and green screens to create custom backgrounds
  • How to dress and groom appropriately for video calls
  • How to test and refine your video call setup for maximum effectiveness

By the end of this course, you will have the tools and strategies you need to look and sound your best on Zoom, and to feel

confident and comfortable on camera. You will be able to create a professional and engaging video call experience that helps you to connect with your audience and achieve your goals.

Whether you are looking to improve your professional image, enhance your communication skills, or simply feel more comfortable on video calls, this course is for you. With step-by-step instructions, practical tips, and real-world examples, you will learn how to look and sound your best on Zoom, and how to make the most of every video call opportunity.

Meet Your Teacher

Teacher Profile Image

Ravi Jaipaul

Founder of Yoke Wellness, Optimist

Teacher

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. It is that we are powerful beyond measure."

This is my favourite quote because unlocking people's potential is something I believe in is a great way to give back. 

From:

Managing a hospital as a nurse in a refugee camp in South Sudan with Doctors without Borders To motivational public speaking and lecturing To being a sustainable business creator...

My career reflects who I am: a passionate lover of life who is guided by the ethos of 'Giving. Something. Back.' 

I am passionate about learning about our lives, and teaching what I know to help others. I've been an Airbnb Superhost, Founder of a Start-Up and currently live and breathe Yoke WellnessI

Life is worth living,&... See full profile

Level: All Levels

Class Ratings

Expectations Met?
    Exceeded!
  • 0%
  • Yes
  • 0%
  • Somewhat
  • 0%
  • Not really
  • 0%

Why Join Skillshare?

Take award-winning Skillshare Original Classes

Each class has short lessons, hands-on projects

Your membership supports Skillshare teachers

Learn From Anywhere

Take classes on the go with the Skillshare app. Stream or download to watch on the plane, the subway, or wherever you learn best.

Transcripts

1. Look Your Best On Zoom: Are you tired of looking like a hot mess on your Zoom calls? Do you want to upgrade from blurry potato to high-def haughty? Look no further because this course is here to transform you into the ultimate video called Nixon or step. Hi. I'm grabbing dipole, founder of yolk wellness with Zoom calls started out. I went from clueless, included. When people kept asking me what changed. I figure I should tell the world with this course. In this course, you'll learn how to lay out the screen, find your best angle, perfect background. Sound like a pro. You'll also learn how to dress for success. How to use virtual backgrounds to hide your message or your roommates. Plus, we've got plenty of jokes to keep you entertained. Because let's be real. Doesn't love a good joke. So why take this class? Well, let's face it. Video calls are here to stay. And you might as well look good while you're on. Whether you're a salesperson trying to close the deal, a teacher trying to engage your students. We're just trying to impress your family and friends. This course give you the skills you need to look and sound your best on Zu. Who is this class for? Basically anyone who uses Zoom or any other video call platform. It wants to improve their appearance and performance. Whether you're a corporate ladder climber, stay at home parent or college student trying to impress your professor. This course has something for you. So don't wait any longer during the course. Start looking and sounding like the video called pro, you were meant to be. I'll see you inside. 2. Lighting Is Everything: Welcome to the course and depart one lighting. One of the most important aspects of looking good on Zoom is lighting. Proper lighting can help you appear more vibrant, alert, and professional. Well, poor lighting makes you appear tire Dl, even unapproachable. Here's some tips for getting the lighting right for your Zoom calls. One, find a well-lit room. Natural light is always the best option. So try to set up your Zoom station near a window with plenty of sunlight. Makes sure the light's coming from the front or the side rather than from behind you. This will help you to avoid backlighting, which creates harsh shadows on your face. It makes you appear dark and shadows. Number to use a desk lamp. If you don't have access to natural light or if the lighting in your rooms not ideal. Consider using a desk lamp to light your face. Look for a lamp with warm white light and a wide adjustable be. Avoid harsh cold tone lights. As they wash out your skin to unmake you look pale and sickly. Number three, adjust the lighting level. Experiment with brightness and intensity of your lighting to find the best balance for using calls, you want to avoid both too much into little light. Too much light creates harsh, unflattering shadows. While too little light can make you appear dark and hard to see. You can adjust the lighting by moving your lab closer or further away. Or if you have a lamp with a dimmer switch, use that number for a void reflections and glares. Make sure there's no shiny surfaces near your Zoom station that can reflect light back into the camera. This includes windows, mirrors, and shiny tablecloths or desks. If you need to use a shiny surface, that's just a glass or metal desk trying to angle it away from the camera to minimize the reflections of glare. Number five, experiment with different lighting setups. Don't be afraid to try different lighting setups and angles to see what works best for you. You might need to adjust your light and depending on the time of the day, the weather or the needs of the Zoom call. The key is to be flexible and open to experimentation. By following these tips, you should be able to achieve the best possible lighting for Zoom call and present yourself in the most professional and appealing way possible. 3. The Camera Angle To Make You Shine: Welcome to this lesson on camera angles. One of the most important aspects, looking good on Zoom is the angle of your camera. Proper camera angle can help you appear more confident, approachable, and professional. While a poor camera angle, it makes it appear uncomfortable, unbalanced, even disrespected. Here's some tips for getting the camera angle right under Zoom call. Number one. Position your camera at eye level. Ideally it should be positioned at or slightly even above eye level. Help you avoid appearing too high or too low on the screen, which can be distracting, disorienting for your viewers. If you're using a laptop or desktop with a built-in camera, simply adjust the height of your monitor or the angle of your laptop to achieve the right camera Henkel pro tip, throw some books underneath. If you're using an external webcam or smartphone, then you might need to use a stand or a tripod to get the right height number to center your face in the frame. Make sure your face is centered in the frame with equal space on either side. Avoid cutting off the top of your head or the bottom of your chin because this can make you appear unbalanced or incomplete. You should also leave some room around your head and your shoulders to allow for natural movement and to prevent your face from peering too large or too small on the screen. Avoid tilting the camera. Try to keep the camera level and avoid tilting it up or down. A tilted angle can create the illusion of triple chins distorted proportion making you appear shorter or taller than you really are, can also create uncomfortable shadows and angles, which can be distracting for your viewers. If you need to adjust the camera angle, do it slowly and smoothly to avoid jarring movements or sudden changes in perspective. Number four, use a wide angle lens. If you're using a smartphone or a webcam with a fixed lens, consider using a wide angle lens to capture more of your ceramics. A wide angle lens will help you include more content, contexts in depth in your frame. This can make you appear more grounded and connected to your environment. Just be aware that a wide angle lens can also store your features, making your face appear wider, your nose longer than it really is. So just make sure it works for you. Then lastly, experiment with different camera angles. Don't be afraid to try different angles, different perspectives. To see what works best for you. You need to adjust this based on the size, middle layer of the room, the lighting conditions. The key is to be flexible and open to experimentation. 4. A Background That Brings Out Your Best: Welcome to this section on background. The most important aspects of looking good on Zoom. It's the background behind you. A well-chosen background can help you appear more professional, organized, and focused. While a poorly chosen background can distract from your message and even undermine your credibility. Here's some tips for selecting the right background and your Zoom calls. Number one, choose a neutral, uncluttered background. Avoid busy patterns or distractions that may take away from your face or your message. Solid colors such as white, gray, or beige are usually the best options. There's simple, neutral, and easy on the eyes. You can also use subtle textures or gradients, just as long as they're not too busy or distracting. Remember to avoid personal or controversial items. Be mindful of what's visible in your background and avoid displaying personal or controversial items that might offend or distract your viewers. Could include political posters, religious icons, weapons, anything that might be perceived as inappropriate or offensive. Number three, use a virtual background if you don't have a suitable physical background or if you want to add some variety to your Zoom calls, consider using your virtual background. Most of them clients come with a built-in virtual background feature that allows you to choose a pre-designed image or upload your own. Just be aware of virtual backgrounds can be resource intensive. It may not work on all devices or internet connections. And number four, experiment with different background. This photo right here changes all the time. Don't be afraid to try different backgrounds, environments to see what works best for you. You might need to adjust your background depending on the subject of recall, the time of day and specific needs of your audience. The key is to be flexible and again, open to experimentation. 5. Make Your Audio Awesome: Welcome to part four, where we're talking about audio. One of the most important aspects of looking good on Zoom. It's the quality of your audio. Good audio can help you appear more clear, confidence and professional. I'll poor audio can make you appear hard to understand, unprepared, or even disinterested. There's nothing worse than a Zoom call where someone's like, what was that? I can't hear you. Can you say that again? Here's some tips for improving the audio and your Zoom call. One, use a good microphone. The most important factor in the quality of your audio is the microphone we're using. A good microphone will capture your voice clearly and accurately with minimal background noise or distortion. There are many options available, ranging from simple desktop Nike to professional grade microphones, like this one, which is a blue microphone. Some laptops and smartphones also come in with built-in microphones have worked really well for Zoom calls. Just be aware that built-in microphones are often of lower quality. It may not capture your voice is clearly has a dedicated MC number to choose the right mic type. The type of microphone you choose will depend on your needs and budget. Some common options. Desktop microphones. These are small, compact microphones that are designed to sit on your desk or work surface. They're easy to use and often come in with built-in stands or clip on mounts. They're great choice for casual Zoom calls or meetings as they're portable and easy to set up. Headset microphones. These are your typical headsets that fit over your ears, which you wear in your head. These are a good choice for Zoom calls where you might need to move around or type. They allow you to use your hands freely. They're also useful for reducing background noise as they're positioned close to your mouth. Lastly, lavalier microphones. These are small clip on bikes that you can attach to your clothing. These mikes are good choice for Zoom calls when you need to move around or be mobile. As they allow you to be hands-free. They're also useful for reducing background noise as they're positioning cluster mouth, find a quiet location. Tried to find a location for using callbacks as quiet as possible. Avoid coffee shops, airports are busy streets, as these just interfere with your audio and make it seamless professional. If you're in a noisy environment, try to move to a quieter your location, or use a headset or headphones to reduce the background noise. Speaking of which, use headphones, consider using headphones or AirPods to listen to your Zoom call, especially if you're in a noisy environments. This will help you hear the call more clearly, prevent feedback and echo on your end, and also see more professional. Lastly, test your audio before the call. If you're using a new style of audio, always best to test before the call starts to ensure everything is working properly. Most Zoom clients have a built-in audio test feature that allows you to check your microphone and speaker setting. Use this feature to make sure your microphone is working into adjust the volume and clarity of your audio. 6. Bonus: Hack Zoom To Look and Sound Great: Welcome to this session on Zoom settings. Did you know that Zoom has settings that will automatically make things better for you? Our first setting we're going to look at is enabling touch up my appearance. This setting is available in the video tab of the settings menu. And it uses artificial intelligence ai to smooth out your skin tone and reduce blemishes or imperfections. This can be especially useful if you're using a webcam with a lower resolution, or if you have a lot of movement during your call, just be aware of this setting may also soften or blur your features, so use it sparingly number to the virtual background. This feature is available in the video tab of the settings menu, and it allows you to replace your physical background with a virtual one. This is great if you have a cluttered or distracted background or if you just want to add some variety. Lastly, adjust your camera settings on Zoom. Most zoom features allow you to adjust the camera settings such as brightness, contrast, and saturation. These settings are vital to help you fine tune the parents if your video and can be especially useful if you're using a webcam with limited controls. Just be aware that overprocessing your video can make it look fake or artificial, suggests use these sparingly. 7. Class Project: Yes, class project time. For your class project, I want you to create a personalized video calls setup that enhances your appearance and professionalism on Zoom. All the tips and tricks that you've learned during this course follow the following steps to complete your class project. One, adapt lighting, camera angle, background, audio and appearance based on what you learned in this course. To research and gather the necessary equipment and materials, maybe you need a desk lamp, a webcam stand, a plain white sheet, a microphone, headphones, or a green screen. Number three, set up the video call according to the guidelines and tips covered in the course. This might involve adjusting your lighting, positioning your camera, selecting a suitable background, testing the audio, and choosing the right clothing or grooming. Number for tests and refine the video calls setup is needed. This might involve asking for feedback from friends and colleagues are recording and reviewing the video call to see what works and what can be improved. Number five, use your video calls setup in real life for we'll zoom call and reflect on your performance and appearance. Take notes on what went well, what could be improved, and what you learned from the experience and upload that document to the class project page. By following these steps, you'll be able to create a personalized video calls setup that enhances your appearance and professionalism. I look forward to reviewing your class project and what you learned from this experience. I can't wait to see what you've created. 8. You're An Expert Now!: Congratulations on completing this course. You now are certified video call probe and you are ready to light up the screen with your dazzling appearance, killer audio. But Joe, Jess, take my word for it. Give yourself a test drive on your next Zoom call. Trust us, your colleagues, clients or classmates will be impressed and maybe a little bit jealous. If things don't go quite as planned. Don't worry. We've all been there. Just remember, laugh it off and try again. After all, laughter is the best medicine, right? Thank you for joining me on this journey to video called greatness. I hope you had as much fun as I did. Remember. Keep practicing, experimenting, and having fun. And you'll be a video call pro in no time. See you on the screen. And I look forward to seeing your submitted class projects suit.