HOW TO ZOOM EFFECTIVELY
1. App Downloads and Requirements
Zoom is available as a desktop app from https://zoom.us/download for your laptop. Your browser will automatically recognize if you are using a PC/MAC. You will have to create a login with zoom
Alternatively Zoom is available from the iOS store and for Android. It is free. It is preferential for you to be on a laptop (If you are hosting you will not be able to record your meeting from your ipad/iphone) and a number of video options are not available.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
A useful and more in-depth guide to zoom is available here.
2. Internet Speed Test.
If you get the chance, please check your internet speed before starting participation in your Zoom using https://www.speedtest.net or the Ookla Speedtest app on your iPhone/iPad. Your upload speed is the most important (…and significantly usually the speed which is most throttled by web providers!
3. Framing and Lighting
Please make sure you are in a good bright place for your Zoom! Natural light is the most flattering light source and dark areas will suffer from greater noise and breakup than those that are vivid and bright!
Please think about the background you are broadcasting from – if the location is your home, then please think about what is (…or isn’t behind you). If you are in a location away from home, try to think about whether your background adds or detracts from what you are saying. If you are a doctor broadcasting from a hospital, try to find a background which makes it clear where you are talking from!
If you are using your phone (not preferred): Please make sure if you are using your phone that you come onto the Zoom horizontally and not vertically. That means turning your phone 90 degrees so that the long edge is on the bottom!
IF YOU CAN, THEN PLEASE REST YOUR PHONE ON A SUITABLY STABLE SURFACE, SO THAT THE PHONE DOESN’T MOVE DURING YOUR Zoom!!
- Headroom – Please try to make sure that you leave enough headroom in your frame so that your head doesn’t touch the top of the screen! Please leave about 10% of your frame as ‘headroom’ and make sure you are sitting in the centre of the frame!
Below are two examples. On the left is an example of a frame which has a good amount of ‘headroom’ and on the right an example with insufficient ‘headroom’!
- Eyeline – Nobody looks great being filmed from below their nose! Prop your laptop up on a pile of something like books so that the camera is at the same level as your eyes. That will give you the best perspective and make you look your best!
I thank my AAJA colleague, Shako for inspiring me to use her tutorial for every Zoom conversation I record.
