We’re spending more and more of our working life online nowadays, and we want to put our best self forward. Let’s face it: when we meet people on screen there are unique challenges. How can you make a good impression on video? One of the most frequently asked questions I get about presenting online is what to wear for a video presentation. Here are three tips to help you get camera ready.
Tip #1: Think About Color
I love black. I wear it all the time. It’s like my uniform. The thing to know is that black absorbs light. A little bit of black in your online outfit is fine. But if you wear head-to-toe black on video, you risk disappearing into the background.
On the other hand, wearing white reflects the light. Light bounces off white, which can create a glow that can overwhelm your video. This creates too much light and can distract from your face, which really should be the focal point of your video.
The most important thing you can do to shine online is wear something you’re comfortable in.
Blues, greens, purples and pinks work really well on video, especially shades of these colors in a warmer direction. Think teal, cobalt or coral.
Finally, consider your background. You don’t want to disappear into it. If your background is lighter you want contrast, so consider wearing a darker color. If your background is darker, wear a lighter color. It’s that simple.
Tip #2: Avoid Too Many Visual Distractions
The key with online presentations is to draw the viewer’s eye towards your face. So, you want clean lines. Pillowy accents in your outfit can distract from what we’re meant to be looking at, which is your face.
Avoid loose necklines that can move around when you’re presenting. This can be distracting for your audience—not to mention distracting for yourself.
Tip #3: Put Away the Prints
Thin stripes and polka dots can cause a ringing quality to your video, which can be distracting for your audience. This happens less with better quality video, but why take a chance? Put away those prints for another day!
Finally, this isn’t a tip, it’s the most important thing you can do to shine online: be comfortable. Wear something you’re comfortable in. You’re presenting you as much as your message. You need to be yourself. Your personality…you’re already wearing it. Let it out!
How do you decide what to wear for a video presentation? What helps you feel your best when presenting online? We’d love to hear from you! Check out more tips here.