9 Easy Peasy Tips for Non-Cringy Conference Calls
How to Stop Cringing through your FaceTime, Zoom, Google Hangouts and Skype Team Calls
Whether you are working from home and chatting with your colleagues, doing professional client meetings, or just meeting up in Houseparty with friends, I have a few simple and easy tips to help you look and feel your best on screen for little or no cost.
You might be wondering with all that is going on in the world right now, is looking your best on camera really so important? Well, I think it is and, especially for work, if you look and feel your best you will feel confident and perform at your best.
Just a few small tweaks can give you that confidence and you will no longer be distracted by that little awkward thumbnail in the corner with your face on.
Light: The most important thing is light. Natural light is always best so try to schedule your calls during the day and have the window in front of you (behind the camera). Switch off room lights as they can create a colour cast which is that awful yellow glow lights give.
Evening Calls: If there is no natural light available, you can use small LED lights or buy a cheap desktop ‘ring light’ from Amazon for around £20.
If you are working from a desktop PC, a free alternative is to turn up the screen brightness to full and make your desktop background white then shrink the video call window and place it in the middle of your screen. This will act like a big white light right in front of you!
Plain white desktop picture with brightness up
Normal desktop picture
Filters/Make-up: There are filters on video apps but they can make you look fake, blurry or like a potato! It’s more professional and honest to just look naturally well-lit and like yourself. If you don’t want to look tired, make-up is recommended. You can wear more make-up on camera than you usually would for a meeting as it doesn’t show up as much as in real life; blusher or bronzer are good as they give a warm and healthy look.
I’m no expert on make-up, so I spoke to Jenny Ross, a professional make-up artist. She said: “A touch of concealer under the eyes and on the lid will waken up the eye if it’s been a long day, then just some mascara to open up the eyes. Lip balms are great for just adding a soft sheen to the lips without it looking like you’ve gone overboard with makeup but still need some hydration on your lips. Warm up the face with bronzer on the cheeks and forehead. Powder any shiny bits if you are using lighting in the evening. A tiny bit of pressed or loose powder will do for the nose, cheeks, and forehead.”
Wardrobe: Wear what you would normally wear to meet your client, colleagues, employer or friends. Unfussy collars, block colours and large print work well. Small patterns or checks can make the camera go fuzzy so it’s best to avoid those. When the warmer weather starts, be sure to avoid strapless tops as you run the risk of looking naked on camera!
Camera Position: If you are using a laptop, pop it on a stand or use some books as you will find the angle unflattering. I’m sure you don’t want clients looking up your nose! Desktop PCs usually have a good camera position. If you are using a mobile phone, try and prop it up at slightly above eye-level height. A small mobile tripod or clamp can help since hand-holding causes camera movement which can be distracting to the viewer and will get tiresome for your arm very quickly.
Orientation: Phone users tend to use portrait orientation and PC or laptop users tend to use landscape orientation. Look at what the others on your call screen are using, and if you are on a phone when everyone is on a desktop, think about turning the phone to the side to fit in with the rest. Most people will be new to this so don’t worry about changing it up; practice makes perfect.
Distance: Think about how far away you would usually sit from a client or friend. Too close to the camera feels over-familiar and uncomfortable but too far away is distracting and can affect your audio.
Background: Your background will depend on where in the room you are positioned for the best light. Declutter your background as much as possible; less is more. Make sure nothing is moving behind you (like a fan) and close doors to deter pets and children from entering and running around behind you.
One last thought; make sure you are not too far away from your internet router. After all this set up, the last thing you would want is for the call to drop out.
That’s it! 9 top tips for non-cringe video calls. Please let me know in the comments below which of these tips has helped you the most. Enjoy your chats!
Written by Sarah
Craig Connor, Social Media Influencer and Model
Craig popped up to Berwick today to update his modelling portfolio. Craig is a social media influencer and is represented by @buzz_talent_ and managed by @my.influencers.
We needed to get a range of shots for his portfolio; full length, mid-length, some different expressions and in various locations, including the studio.
I’m really excited to see how far he goes, follow @craigconnor on Instagram to follow along with me!
Interview with Madelaine: Pinny Princess
Madelaine contacted us with a very specific 'look' that she needed for headshots on her new updated website Pinny Princess. It's nice to do something different; I don't usually shoot in black and white for starters!
If you are on Instagram, you may have already heard of Pinny Princess with an impressive 20k+ following. Alongside working from her home workshop near Morpeth, she is also super mum to her two young boys and manages to effortlessly bring glamour and style to the farm.
Can you tell us about yourself and what inspired you to work in Northumberland?
I'm Madelaine from Pinny Princess, I was born and bred in Northumberland. I am greatly passionate about the area and love working here. I try my hardest to build a creative and flexible environment in our rural home for my kids, as my parents did for me.
Which part of your job do you feel most passionate about?
I feel the most passionate about my loyal customer base. I still pinch myself every day when someone from around the globe purchases something from Pinny Princess in little old Northumberland.
What tips would you give to someone starting out in your industry?
I would say focus on your ideal customer!
What is the best feedback you have ever had?
Great customer service. I pride myself as a small business to be as friendly as possible.
Who do you admire most in the world and why?
My mother. She has brought me up with the mindset that I can achieve anything I want, even with huge obstacles.
Do you have a favourite quote that you turn to for inspiration?
"Life's not fair"
My dad always said this to me so it has stuck with me and always grounds me!
What is the biggest challenge you face in business?
Being dyslexic is always a challenge. I am great with numbers but reading and spelling are difficult on a daily basis.
How will you use your headshots or how do you feel they will benefit your business?
I will be using them on my new website & social media platforms, I have never had them done before, so I am hoping they will create a professional look.
Headshot for Alistair Birkett, Farmer and Minister
It was lovely to welcome Alistair Birkett into the studio recently for a professional headshot session. Alistair, who lives in Norham, wears two hats — he’s both a farmer and a minister, working as Pastoral Support Director for Rural Ministries.
He dropped in on the off chance of fitting in a quick session for the “About” page of the Rural Ministries website. We decided on a relaxed, approachable look that would work across all of his roles — something professional enough for his church and community work, but natural and down-to-earth for his agricultural business and social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter.
It’s always great to create portraits that feel authentic and versatile — the kind of images people can use confidently in both their personal and professional worlds.
Birthday Celebration: A Wee Family Photo Shoot in the Scottish Borders
The Dodds Family from Ireland came over to Allanton in the Borders for a lovely wee relaxing break. Martin got in touch a few months before to arrange a family photo session at the holiday cottage as part of his wife’s birthday celebrations.
“Our decision to use Sarah from Pictorial Photography proved to be an excellent choice - we were holidaying near Berwick upon Tweed when we wanted our family photoshoot and booking the photo session was very easy, it involved just a phone call.
I was especially pleased that Sarah was able to take the photographs at our holiday cottage which meant that we were all much more relaxed. There were eight adults in our family group and we all enjoyed the experience.
I was delighted by with the final results and the quality of the photographs themselves. I will treasure these memories of a happy family occasion for a long time.
”
Two Women in Yellow Frocks Making Pretty Pictures
Pictorial Window Illustrating by Katie Chappell to celebrate Stage 3 OVO Energy Tour of Britain coming to Berwick!
Berwick is hosting the start of stage three of the 2019 OVO Energy Tour of Britain on Monday 9th September. The cycle race will start from the centre of Berwick on Tweed and will cross the Old Bridge as the race heads away along the Tweed Valley and onto Ford and Wooler. The route will race along the Northumberland Coast, past Bamburgh and Warkworth castles, showcasing our beautiful area through worldwide television coverage.
The people of Berwick are planning on hosting the warmest of welcomes to spectators and cyclists by decorating all the shop windows and displaying fabulous brightly painted bicycles at local visitor hotspots and roundabouts in the Northumberland colours of yellow and red.
https://www.culturecreative.co.uk/casestudies/tour-of-britain-northumberland
After wracking my brains on how Pictorial Photography could take part and coming up will all sorts of crazy ideas, my sister (a super talented illustrator, Katie Chappell) suggested that she could simply paint the window, amazing!
Katie created a digital design for me over the top of a photograph of the window, the design showed exactly what the window would look like before she even started (you can see a printout of the mock-up in the picture below). Once I was happy with the proposal, she came in to paint it, the whole process took around 5/6 hours and it was fascinating to watch, people were stopping in the street to watch and coming over to see it all happening, we set up some time-lapse videos and I took some photographs so you can see the progress happening.
We had the best day together, the matching dresses were totally unintentional, I hope you like our little windy photoshoot in front of the storefront display at the end haha!
Check out Katie’s website for more information on storefront illustration and window illustration https://www.katiechappell.com/liveillustration
https://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/
Please let me know your thoughts on yellow dresses, bike races and window painting in the comments below, I’m here for the chat.
Product photography session in the studio for prop hire business Get Knotted
Product photography in the studio on a plain grey background to show the quality and detail of some of Get Knotted's prop hire items for their website and blog.
Get-Knotted is a wedding and prop hire company based in Earlston, Scottish Borders. They offer floristry, styling and have a fantastic working relationship with many of the bigger wedding venues in the borders and Northumberland.
“It is always great to work with Sarah. We have collaborated on many projects and she is always great fun, massively talented and patient. I recommend her not only for wedding photography but also commercial work.”
Landscape Magazine Commission: Northumberland’s Dramatic Coastline
I was commissioned by Landscape Magazine for the third time. I’m so excited to have my work published in Landscape again; I love this magazine!
Working with journalist Angie Aspinall, I created images to illustrate her article ‘Where Sea Meets Shore’. The article was published in the June 2019 edition and spanned 13 pages of the magazine so a lot of images were needed.
I met some great folk with my camera and enjoyed a day around the dramatic Northumberland coast.
Firstly I met Mary, who set up Barter Books in Alnwick. https://www.barterbooks.co.uk/
Then Trevor, the head gardener at Alnwick Gardens. https://www.alnwickgarden.com/
Across in Craster, I found Neil Robson of the famous Craster Kippers. https://www.kipper.co.uk/
Neil happens to be based right along the street from Mick Oxley in his stunning art gallery. https://www.mickoxley.com/
Julia Linstead exhibits her glasswork in Mick’s gallery but I photographed her separately in her own studio. https://julialinsteadglass.com/
I then travelled to Seahouses and met up with William Shiel for a quick shoot in the harbour. https://www.farne-islands.com/
After that, I visited the Grace Darling museum to meet Marleen the heritage development manager. https://rnli.org/grace-darling-museum/
Last, but certainly not least, I went to Bamburgh Castle to photograph Karen, the events and marketing manager. https://www.bamburghcastle.com/
What a day! Enjoy more photography from the day below!
Elevate Your Child's Acting Career with Stunning Headshots
Recently, children from drama classes ‘Scripts to Stage’ in Berwick have been selected and signed up to an agent; so I have started taking portfolio head and full body shots which bring out their individual looks. These images will appear in Spotlight magazine, which lands on casting directors’ desks all over the world. It is a very exciting opportunity for them and I hope the photographs will make them shine from the rest. Fingers crossed for some great acting and extras parts!
Fish Shack: Regional and Seasonal Feature Photography for Landscape Magazine
Photographs from a recent day out to Amble shooting the Fish Shack for Landscape magazine’s regional and seasonal pages.
Chef Martin was a great host and really helpful. As this was for the April issue we had to make sure there was no snow in the images. There wasn’t any snow, just a lot of frost! He was tasked with clearing the windows of frost but the only problem was that the pipes had frozen (a hazard of the location) so no coffee or customers! We made do to get the pictures we needed and I pulled a few people in from the Harbour for ‘customer shots’ they were quite glad to be able to cosy up by the stove.
“On the Northumberland coast, a café made from upturned boats serves food fresh from the sea”
Professional Headshots for Adam Douglas Legal LLP Alnwick and Berwick
I recently photographed new professional headshots for the team at Adam Douglas Legal LLP, across their Alnwick and Berwick-upon-Tweed offices. It was such a pleasure to work with a group who were not only professional but also genuinely warm and welcoming — which comes through beautifully in their portraits.
The aim of the shoot was to create a set of images for the firm’s updated ‘Our Team’ page, showing the approachable, modern face of this long-established legal practice. I was also struck by the brilliant representation within their team — particularly the high number of women in leadership roles. It’s always refreshing to see such balance in a traditionally formal industry.
You can see the final portraits on their Adam Douglas Legal website, designed by the talented Sue Rudge Design www.suerudgedesign.com
Written by Sarah
Interview with Anne Gray from The Heather Trust
Can you tell us about yourself and what inspired you to live and work in the Scottish Borders?
I am the Director of The Heather Trust which is a small charity operating across Great Britain that promotes good practice in moorland management. I’m lucky to be able to work from home. Apart from a spell of about 9 years in Edinburgh in my late teens and 20s, I’ve always lived in the Borders and can’t imagine being anywhere else.
Which part of your job do you feel most passionate about?
Promoting land management practices that allow people to make a living and that are also good for nature, carbon storage, and water management is really important to me. The challenge to do better for the environment is vitally important and something everyone needs to embrace. I hope I’m doing something to help.
What tips would you give to someone starting out in your industry?
You need a solid grounding in environmental science and policy, but you also need to spend time with farmers, gamekeepers, and everyone else that makes a living from the land. Their experience and perspective is worth listening to.
Who do you admire most in the world and why?
I admire people who keep going for their goals no matter what gets thrown their way. Some people just seem to be made of very strong stuff. Most recently the young motor racing driver Billy Monger who lost his legs in a horrific crash and is making a comeback to pursue his dream of becoming an F1 champion seems to personify that. His whole attitude to recovery has blown me away.
Do you have a favourite quote that you turn to for inspiration?
Theodore Roosevelt said: “A nation that destroys its soils, destroys itself” and there is nothing surer I’m afraid. Soil, water, and climate are our life support system and we really will hit the buffers if we don’t get a better handle on keeping them in good health.
What is the biggest challenge you face in running a charity?
Maintaining funding to let us do what we do is a constant challenge.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
I’m not sure any day is typical. Some days I’m in my office at home all day catching up on paperwork, reading the latest science or policy document, or producing a Heather Trust response to the latest government position. Some days I am out at meetings and others I spend the whole day outside with a moor owner or manager. The variety is great!
How will you use your headshots and how do you feel they will benefit your business?
They will be used on our website, in our annual report and to illustrate articles I write for other magazines and publications. People seem to remember images better than words, so if you want people to take notice of what you write, good accompanying images seem to be the thing that will make your words memorable. I hope so anyway.
What are your future plans?
For now, to keep doing what I am doing and ensure The Heather Trust goes from strength to strength.
Corporate, Clean, White Head Shots for Vrio Europe
Vrio Europe is a business transport solution company with a UK office here in Berwick. Vrio staff in other countries had already been to a photographer for their headshots so my brief was to match that corporate ‘high key’ white background style so that Michelle and Jack matched in seamlessly with the rest of the team on their website and they didn’t have to travel to Spain for their photographs!
Beautifully Styled Family Photo Session at Home, Park, and Beach
Lisa chose 3 locations for her beautiful family to have their photography session. We started in the garden at the family home so to include the gorgeous dog, then we went inside for a few shots. Next, we headed to a local park which was down by the stream and we ended the day at Coldingham beach. It was a good idea to end there because of all the sand!
After looking through our What To Wear guide, Lisa had 3 outfit ideas picked out. I helped her match them up with the locations before we set off. I would usually advise against 3 changes as little ones can become impatient but these two little girls were absolute troopers.
Even though it was a really misty weekend (like pea soup), I think my favourite shots were taken at the beach at the end of the day!
Which kind of location would you choose for your own family session?
Let me know by email where you would go; town, your home, the garden, a river or stream, the park, beach, the woods or somewhere else!?
Capturing Precious Memories: A Delightful Photoshoot of Four Cousins at Berwick-upon-Tweed Beach and Pier
Today, I want to share a delightful photoshoot experience I had recently. It involved four adorable cousins, a beautiful seaside location in Berwick upon Tweed, and the desire of their loving grandmother, Linda, to showcase the unique connection shared by her lovely grandchildren. She wanted photos that didn’t just reflect their individual personalities but also portray their shared love for each other. As a photographer, it was a privilege to be entrusted with the responsibility of capturing these irreplaceable moments.
The sandy beach and iconic pier offered us a picturesque setting with stunning views of the North Sea. It was a brilliant opportunity to capture the cousins' relationship and their carefree spirits.
Later we gathered on the grass near the beach, the cousins’ vibrant clothes contrasting beautifully with their surroundings to make each of them stand out in their own way. These final shots really show the essence of the relationship of each sibling group individually and all together as a family.
Linda's photo session was an unforgettable experience for her family. Witnessing the love and fun shared between her grandchildren was incredibly heartwarming and the resulting photographs captured their special bond, ready to be proudly displayed as a wall gallery in Linda's home.
Why not take a look at my family location photography page? Just click the button below.