1. Put your laptop at eye level
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Place your laptop on a stack of books or a stand so the camera is at the same height as your eyes.
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This avoids the “looking down at you” angle and makes you look more natural and confident.
2. Choose a calm background
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Keep it simple – for example, a few bookshelves, plants, or a tidy part of the room.
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Avoid windows behind you – they make you look like a dark silhouette.
3. Sit as far from the background as possible
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The more distance, the better – aim for several metres if you can.
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This creates depth and makes you stand out more, especially if your camera can blur the background, but be careful it doesn’t look unnaturally blurry.
4. Use a headset or earphones with a microphone
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It makes your voice clearer and removes echo.
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Built-in laptop microphones pick up more background noise.
5. Get good lighting
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Face a window or lamp so light falls on your face.
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Avoid strong light from behind or above – it creates shadows.
6. Sit in a quiet space
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Close windows and doors to block outside noise.
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Let people in your home know you’re in a meeting.
7. Check before you join
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Test your video and sound before the call.
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Make sure your camera lens is clean (a quick wipe with a soft cloth helps!).
Examples
Messy background
Window in background
Too much space over his head (headroom)
Camera placed too low
Messy background
Window in background
Person too close to the camera
Virtual background doesent look professional
Background too blurry
Bad framing
Background has good distance
Camera placed at eye level
No vindows in background
Great framing
Perfect headroom (space over his head)
Good eye contact
Calm background, no disturbing objects