Learn to stage your video chats like a professional
Lighting and camera placement will help you look your best
Video chats and at home recordings are giving us a backstage pass into the intimate settings of people’s homes.
Whether staging a setup or going au natural with whatever is already in your space, you should be mindful of what you may be projecting. During “SNL’s Live From Home” episode, Weekend Update’s Colin Jost was ripped to shreds on Twitter for having a guitar propped up on his couch, clearly staged behind him. The Global Citizen and World Health Organization’s “One World: Together at Home” benefit concert, showed us at-home performances by various artists. Without a prop stylist, managers or producers on-site, celebs were left to their own devices to create a scene. Of note was Common, who was in a room filled with natural light, yet had a candle purposefully lit on his mantel, and singer-songwriter Charlie Puth, 28, performed from his bedroom complete with his unmade bed, covered in unfolded clothes.
Christian Dare, a Torontobased home and style expert, tells the Star that the biggest faux pas people make when it comes to staging their video chats is when they don’t think about it at all. “After spending so much time at home, I think many of us have learned to ignore the unmade bed or the kid’s toys all over the floor. But trust me, your colleagues and friends will notice,” Dare said. “Try to look at the space with fresh eyes. Any embarrassing book titles on the bookshelf behind you?”
You want to be mindful of your setting, but you don’t want to overthink it. “Simply put, you want to show the best version of your home: good lighting, organized, and a little style. You can show a little personality, just no more than you would at the office. And please don’t show off all your awards and accolades – no one likes a show off,” Dare said. We’re looking at you, David Foster.
He says when in doubt, keep it simple. “A clean, light coloured wall works great for a background. It’s much better than a cluttered bookshelf where your boss starts noticing all your selfhelp books and collection of comic books,” Dare said.
Not sure what’s the best spot in your home to set up shop? Dare says if you have a spare room or home office already, use that space. This way, he says, you can keep it separate from your daily home life and don’t need to set it up every time a video call is planned.
If not, he suggests opting for a corner in your living room. Or if you have an open concept home, it’s great to set up on the kitchen island but face the camera towards your living room as the background (not the kitchen cabinets).
If you have empty walls and don’t have much to work with at your home, you can still do a few things to create a vibe. Dare says that good lighting will always save the day. He suggests placing lights (you can use desk or table lights or even floor lamps) behind your laptop so the light illuminates on your face.
He also suggests borrowing wall art from another room or downloading some great art from a site like Society6 that you can print out at home. “Hang them in a simple grid (perhaps two rows of four pieces) using some double side tape or sticky tack,” Dare said. “Add some throw pillows or a blanket to your couch. Perhaps, even a few books and an accessory or vase to your side table.”
Now stand in the same position as your camera and look over the space. “Does it look good? Can you tweak it? Think about what personality you are showing to the world,” Dare said.
He encourages subtly changing your setting depending on who you’re talking to, and to always think about your audience. “It should be different for work calls vs. family or friends calls. I think friends appreciate seeing the real you at home on the video calls – not the edited best version of you, you show off for work calls,” Dare said.
Dare also suggests avoiding a room that has too much echo. “Adding an area rug or other soft furnishings can help muffle the sound.” Also avoid high traffic areas such as the kitchen, if you have a busy household. And beware of hunching over your laptop “No one looks good this way. A proper chair where you can sit back (shoulders back) and provides correct posture will make you look good,” Dare said. And lastly, make sure your camera is raised. “We all look best when the camera (or your laptop) is placed at eye level. So add some books under it to capture your best angles (this avoids looking like we have multiple chins). Keep it high and angle the camera down toward you,” Dare said.
Ryan Emberley is a celebrity photographer who lives in Toronto. Most recently, he snapped amfAR’s New York City gala.. He tells the Star, “The scenes (during live at home performances) are an amazing window. And unless their publicist has been quarantined with them, it’s largely authentic – authentically them or authentically inauthentic, like with Colin,” said Emberley. “I actually think trying too hard is worse than not trying at all, in these cases. The guitar in the background? Oh man, how did that get there!”
Emberley says lighting is the biggest concern and easiest fix. “No top-down lighting (don’t set your scene directly under a pot-light). It makes everyone look old and tired. Try to use natural light where possible, but make sure you’re facing out towards the light (so you’re not backlit),” Emberley said.