Video calls on your phone: how to look and sound better
· Callumbra
You don't need a professional camera to look good on a video call. Almost everything depends on where you put your phone, where the light comes from and how your voice sounds. With these tweaks, the difference shows in seconds.
Lighting: in front, never behind
- Face a window or a lamp: the light should fall on your face.
- Avoid having a window behind you: the camera leaves you dark and backlit.
- At night, a lamp behind your phone (not directly overhead) works really well.
Angle: at eye level
Rest your phone on some books or a stand so the camera is at eye level. An angle from below flatters nobody, and holding it in your hand makes the image shake.
Background
A tidy, simple background keeps the attention on the conversation. Check that no documents, your address or photos you don't want to show are visible.
Audio
- Headphones with a mic greatly improve how you sound and prevent echo.
- Find a spot without background noise (TV, street, washing machine).
- Don't cover your phone's microphone with your hand or case.
Connection
If the image freezes, move closer to the router or switch to mobile data if the Wi-Fi is overloaded. Closing other apps that use the internet also helps.
Try it
Callumbra works from your phone's browser, with nothing to download: you can have 1-on-1 video calls with new people and put these tricks into practice. It's 18+ only.