New Product Launch! Executive Video Conference Call Consultation and Set-Up Package
Ah, the joy of video conference calls! Does your heart fill with joy and confidence at every opportunity you get to showcase your professional awesomeness in a video call? Do you have a set-up that supports your showing up clearly and professionally?
At
this point all indications are that video calls are not going anywhere,
with some companies planning to hold off on bringing employees back to
their offices until 2021, or possibly ever. A
lot of people are not comfortable with video calls. There are a
number of reasons for this, not the least of which may be the feeling
that it's like having photo day (the horror!), over and over again.
And not only do you have to show up on camera yourself, but people may
see your home, your private space, and depending on your particular
circumstances maybe a big part of it, or a small but messy or ill-lit or
unattractive or distracting part if it. Not a great set of
circumstances to reinforce your confidence.
It
can be an uncomfortable proposition and I know for some the solution is
to turn off the camera. But turning yourself "off" is not going to
serve you in the short or long run. That said, we are way past the point where just showing up on video is enough. People
may not say anything about their teams' and colleagues' poor set-ups, but I know from experience that they are noticing, they are (in some cases)
distracted, and they are (in some cases) not impressed. Recently a high
level executive told me in person that some of her team looked terrible
on their calls. And I've heard stories of executives showing up in sweats. So truly, people do notice. Looking bad on
video calls is not what you want to be noticed for, but you do want to be noticed! Think "executive presence" (but not the guy in sweats!).
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| Video
conference call background #1. The stand is included and is to be
positioned right behind your chair. The single stand makes for a tiny
footprint, perfect for small spaces. (Photo updated My 2021) |
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| Still from video capture showing me in front of photo fabric video conference call backdrop #1. The image for this backdrop was shot in an office downtown and modified for use as both a digital portrait background, and later a video conference photo fabric background. (Photo updated May 2021) |
One of the biggest challenges, and the source of much of what is distracting about people's set-ups, is the background. Initially I became obsessed with virtual backgrounds...finding them, designing them, using them, and helping other people use them, until I came to the frustrating realization that they seemed, really, only to work well on Zoom,
and even there it helped to have a green screen. So the many users on
other platforms were out of luck, to varying extents. Fast forward and I finally realized
that I already had a simple solution for everyone to look good on any
platform -- actual physical backdrops which I have been specially
designing for portrait shoots for years. All that was needed was a
redesign to make them image-appropriate for individual business people, and work in their personal spaces.
These backgrounds simplify the set-up part of the equation in an easily accessible way for non-photographers, so professionals can set up quickly, easily and consistently, never have to clean up their space again just for a video call, and feel comfortable and confident about showing up on video (whether on video calls or filming messaging videos for their teams).
These backgrounds simplify the set-up part of the equation in an easily accessible way for non-photographers, so professionals can set up quickly, easily and consistently, never have to clean up their space again just for a video call, and feel comfortable and confident about showing up on video (whether on video calls or filming messaging videos for their teams).
Expertly
designed and created these small, home-office friendly backgrounds (mounted on a small
single stand that’s included) are specifically designed for
one person to sit in front of, to hide the room, and create the illusion of a
nice, tidy room space. They are designed so that the image frames your
head and shoulders, and there are few elements in the "room", just enough to
suggest a nice, tidy, home-based (in most cases) space. Even the art on
the walls in these images has been modified or created to be innocuous and not
distracting. (This, I'll just mention, is in direct contrast to many of the virtual backgrounds
on offer out there, which are often highly distracting and filled with
eye catching art and furniture...exactly what we don't want as they take
the focus off you and onto the background).
Working from home often means space is at a premium so the kit is really small. The super small 3.5 x 5 foot backgrounds are printed on anti-wrinkle jersey fabric*, and the single stand is 5 feet wide (fixed width, adjustable height). This means it will fit into a small space, and the single stand means the footprint (ie. space required on the floor) is tiny. And once you set it up (or I set it up), you can easily move it aside to be popped back behind you whenever you have a call. If you do want to put it away the backdrop can be rolled up and stowed, and the stand is collapsible. *As of spring 2021 the jersey fabric is no longer available and has been replaced with an opaque black rubber backed fabric which does not wrinkle easily, and does not allow light to shine through.
Whether you are using your actual environment in your home or office, or you choose to use a virtual or physical backdrop here are a few tips to make sure the focus is on you (in fact, these are the guidelines I follow for my photo fabric background designs). Unfortunately some spaces are never going to look good on video because they are just not conducive; for example there's a door right behind your head or stuff you just can't put anywhere else, in which case a backdrop really may be the best option. But here's the list:
- Keep it simple. Remove clutter.
- If there are shelves behind you, remove objects that may appear to be "growing out of your head".
- Keep background plants off to the sides, not poking out from behind your head.
- Remember that most web cams have wide angle lenses so you need to tidy up all the way to the edges of the room.
- If you do use a photograph (for a virtual background) make sure it's royalty free, and if it has a lot going on it it, try cropping it to remove some of the more distracting elements and blurring it a bit.
- And this is not a background thing, but it's the reason I include a small lamp in the kit...make sure there is light on your face!
- The focus should be on YOU!
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| Rough mock-ups of 6 specially designed video conference call photo fabric background options. (Please check back for new, additional options.) Please note that colours and crops are approximate; backdrops will appear more tightly cropped when used in real life (as web cams won't see edge to edge), camera and body position will affect the view, and body/head/hair shapes may obscure more/less of the image areas. |
Of course it's not just the backgrounds, but the lighting, camera type and position, microphone, wardrobe etc., etc. that affect the way we show up. (I have lots to say about those things as well, just not here or now.) But if you have a nice background and a flattering light you will be a long way towards showing up brilliantly!
The basic package includes:
- 3.5 x 5 foot horizontal fabric backdrop that hangs from a single stand. 6 images to choose from so far. New designs will be added to over time.
- Small collapsible stand 5 feet wide (fixed), adjustable height
- A small daylight balanced, flattering and flexible desk lamp, the exact model of which may change based on availability. (What's available and priced right changes all the time. Key features will always be daylight balance, tall enough to be able to shine from above your computer screen, and soft bulb for flattering light.)
I would love to include a web cam and flexible camera mount in the kit, but due to the same circumstances that have us needing to do video calls in the first place, availability has been severely impacted and the webcams I would want to supply are still not available as of my writing this. So I can't promise web cams just yet.
And last but not least I will mention the two options in terms of the consultation part of the package: Option 1 includes initial video call consultation followed by an in-person set-up (in and around Toronto), while Option 2 would involve the virtual consultation only. I can say that from experience it has been found to be very helpful for me to physically visit the space as no two set-ups are the same, and there will be tips and advice on how to get the best results in your space that I'll be better able to offer if I am there and can see the specifics of a space. I also know from feedback that it can be helpful for me to set up the stand and mount the backdrop (as simple as the process is).
And last but not least I will mention the two options in terms of the consultation part of the package: Option 1 includes initial video call consultation followed by an in-person set-up (in and around Toronto), while Option 2 would involve the virtual consultation only. I can say that from experience it has been found to be very helpful for me to physically visit the space as no two set-ups are the same, and there will be tips and advice on how to get the best results in your space that I'll be better able to offer if I am there and can see the specifics of a space. I also know from feedback that it can be helpful for me to set up the stand and mount the backdrop (as simple as the process is).
I can't wait to help you elevate and align your video presence with your personal brand. Harness the power of looking good to feel good! It could not be easier. I look forward to working with you!
Please note: I do not have e-commerce enabled so to buy a kit please e-mail me. Thank-you!
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