Why does your background matter on video calls?
With the rise of remote work and virtual meetings, more people are making video calls for work and personal conversations. The backdrop you choose for your video chats matters more than you might think. Your surroundings can affect people’s perceptions of you and set the tone for your virtual interactions. Carefully choosing an appropriate background is essential for presenting your best self on camera.
The ideal video call backdrop depends on the context of the meeting. For formal business video conferences, a neat home office communicates professionalism. Fun backdrops for casual catch-ups with friends show off your personality. No matter the situation, you want a background free of visual distractions so the focus stays on you. Taking the time to curate your backdrop helps ensure your video presence makes a great impression.
Key factors to consider for your video call backdrop
When selecting a video call backdrop, keep these key criteria in mind:
Tidiness – Cluttered or messy backgrounds are distracting and unprofessional. Keep your backdrop free of piles of stuff, unmade beds, overflowing laundry baskets, and anything else that looks disorganized.
Neutrality – Avoid backgrounds with bright colors, busy patterns, or distracting decor. They compete for attention. Stick to plain, light-colored walls for a neutral backdrop.
Relevance – For formal contexts, choose a backdrop related to your profession. A home office, library, or desk shows you’re serious.
Personality – In informal settings, fun backdrops showcase your style. Just ensure they’re still neat and appropriate.
Framing – Position your camera so your head and shoulders properly fill the frame. Don’t be too far away or cut off.
Lighting – Proper lighting prevents you from appearing too dim or blown-out. Face a window or use artificial lighting.
Privacy – Double check that personal items like family photos aren’t visible to protect your privacy.
Keeping backdrops simple, tidy, and relevant makes your video presence much more engaging.
What are the best backgrounds for different video call situations?
The ideal video call backdrop depends significantly on the context of your meeting and who you’re talking to.
Professional video calls
When meeting colleagues, clients, managers, or other business contacts via video chat, presentation matters. You want to come across as credible and competent. The following backdrops are safe bets for professional video calls:
– Home office: Paneled wall, bookcase, desk, or computer background in your dedicated work space conveys you’re serious about your job.
– Wall with decor: A neatly decorated living room or office wall demonstrates stability. Just avoid clutter and personal photos.
– Solid wall: A blank, solid-colored wall allows the focus to stay completely on you. It also provides privacy.
– Bookshelf background: Neatly arranged bookshelves portray intelligence. Make sure titles are appropriate.
– Desk: A spare desk or table-top with some work materials shows you’re ready to collaborate.
– Indoor plant: Greenery makes a pleasing, peaceful backdrop. Position the plant(s) off to the side rather than directly behind you.
These tidy, professional backdrops inspire confidence in video meetings. They demonstrate you’re responsible and ready for business.
Casual video calls
When catching up with friends, family members, or other personal contacts, feel free to get creative. Casual backdrops allow you to express yourself. Consider these options for fun video call backgrounds:
– Living room: A brightly painted wall or shelving with memorabilia provides personality.
– Kitchen: A counter, island, or banquette seat makes a warm, inviting backdrop.
– Outdoor patio: Well-lit outdoor spaces project a relaxed vibe. Just check your wifi connection.
– Game room: Show off your pinball machine, pool table, or arcade games to share your interests.
– Home library: Floor-to-ceiling bookcases display your expansive collection.
– Backyard: A blooming garden, grill station, or string lights say you love hosting.
– Kids’ art: Family-friendly backdrops covered in your children’s colorful creations show off your nurturing side.
Get creative with fun backdrops that provide talking points and insight into who you are.
Video call background ideas to avoid
While you have lots of options for great video call backdrops, some locations are best avoided. Steer clear of backgrounds that are:
– Messy bedroom: Never film in front of an unmade bed or piles of clothes.
– Bathroom: Toilets, tubs, and counters come across as unprofessional.
– Kitchen counters: People don’t want a view of your dirty dishes and cluttered countertops.
– Inside vehicles: The motion can be distracting and connection spotty.
– Distracting patterns: Busy prints compete for attention. Stick to solids.
– Sensitive info: Double check for whiteboards, documents, or screens displaying confidential material.
Keep these no-go backdrops in mind. You want your surroundings to complement your video presence, not complicate it.
How can you improve the look of your video call background?
Achieving the optimal backdrop for video calls often requires a little setup. Here are great ways to enhance your background’s appearance:
Declutter – Do a quick tidy of your space. Clear away piles, trash, clutter, debris, and laundry.
Conceal – Close doors to hide messy rooms or undesirable views. Draw blinds over windows if needed.
Organize bookshelves – Face book bindings outwards and arrange items neatly.
Style desk – Depersonalize and neatly arrange workspace materials.
Adjust lighting – Use natural light facing windows or position artificial lamps.
Add greenery – Houseplants are visually appealing and boost air quality.
Display art or photos – Wall decor lends personality if styled elegantly.
Upgrade equipment – Invest in an external webcam, ring light, microphone, or tripod.
Check camera framing – Do a test call to ensure you’re nicely centered on camera.
Dedicate a little time before meetings customizing your backdrop. The right improvements enhance how you come across on video.
What equipment can improve your video call background?
Beyond just carefully selecting and styling your backdrop, certain equipment purchases can massively upgrade your video call setup. Useful gear to consider includes:
External webcam – Built-in webcams have limited video resolution. An external webcam offers sharper video quality for a more professional appearance. Look for at least 1080p resolution.
Webcam tripod – Tripods allow you to raise your webcam to eye level for optimal camera framing. Flexible ones can bend and twist to get the perfect angle.
Ring light – Ring lights evenly illuminate your face to prevent shadows and glare. They give you a flattering, studio-quality look.
Clip-on microphone – Wear a lapel mic near your face to ensure crystal clear audio quality on both ends of the call.
Green screen – Virtual backgrounds are handy if your physical backdrop has issues. But smooth green screens look more realistic than digitally imposing the background.
Phone tripod – Adjustable tripods secure your phone at eye level for better mobile video calls. Look for flexible, compact options.
Upgrading your video call gear enhances both your backdrop’s appearance and people’s perceptions of you.
Do virtual backgrounds work well for video calls?
Many video conferencing apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Skype let you impose virtual backgrounds rather than showing your actual surroundings. When managed properly, virtual backgrounds can work well for video calls. Here are a few pros of using them:
– Conceal a messy environment: Virtual backgrounds are useful if you don’t have time to clean or relocate before a call.
– Display creativity: You can use whimsical backgrounds or animated effects if fitting for the conversation.
– Maintain privacy: Virtual backgrounds prevent displaying your actual location.
– Project professionalism: Some apps offer polished office and conference room backdrops.
However, virtual backgrounds also have some downsides to be aware of:
– They can appear artificial: If not completely smooth and high-res, digital backdrops may seem obviously fake.
– Glitchy edges give it away: Any messy edges around your silhouette make it obvious you’re using a virtual background. Proper lighting minimizes this.
– Mobility limitations: Moving around causes your virtual background to glitch and look unrealistic. You have to sit fairly still.
If you use a virtual backdrop, select one appropriate for the call and position yourself neatly in frame facing proper lighting to make it as convincing as possible.
How can you find the perfect video call backdrop?
Finding a consistently perfect backdrop for all your video calls takes experimentation and effort. Follow these steps:
1. Consider context – Determine the formality of the call and relationship to the attendees. Is a professional, personal, or creative backdrop most fitting?
2. Scout locations – Search your home for a suitable backdrop based on your needs. Look for backdrops with pleasing aesthetics and no distractions.
3. Assess technical factors – Check for proper lighting, wifi coverage, camera framing, microphone pickup, and visibility of any confidential information.
4. Style background – Tidy and organize the backdrop. Add decor elements if appropriate, and adjust furniture placement to optimize camera angle.
5. Test backdrop – Conduct sample video calls with potential backdrops and ask trusted contacts for feedback on which is most presentable.
6. Refine backdrop – Tweak your backdrop selection based on feedback. Upgrade any needed equipment and lighting.
7. Save backdrop for future calls – Note camera placement and lighting for easily recreating your perfect backdrop for subsequent calls. Add backdrops to virtual background libraries if useful.
With strategic testing and tweaking, you’ll find a video call backdrop that showcases you in the best possible light during virtual meetings. Put in the effort so your backdrop enhances rather than harms your professional video presence.
Conclusion
Your surroundings speak volumes in video calls. A cluttered or inappropriate backdrop distracts from your message, while a tidy professional or personal backdrop reinforces it. Carefully consider context, aesthetics, and technical factors when selecting your video call environment. Dedicate time to removing clutter, adjusting lighting, upgrading equipment, and styling your frame. With strategic testing and refining, you can discover the perfect backdrop to display your best self on video calls for work and your personal life alike.