Wardrobe and Set Guide

Mastering Virtual Presence: A Comprehensive Guide to Professional Attire and Video Standards for Zoom Calls and Client-Facing Recordings 

Maintaining a professional appearance and setting is crucial for engaging and impactful communication whether it is a Weekly Campaign Call or recording a Creative Direction video in Studio. 

This guide outlines MarketScale's standards for wardrobe, set guidelines, lighting, camera, audio, and attire that ensure your virtual presence is both polished and effective.

Wardrobe and Attire Guidelines: 

Professional Appearance: Dress in professional attire that is well-fitted, clean, and appropriate for business settings. 

Solid Colors: The key objective of the studio is to facilitate convenient on-camera recording at any given moment. Therefore, it's important to adhere to established best practices for achieving an appealing visual appearance on video. When preparing for a video shoot, we strongly advise participants to choose clothing options that feature solid colors or subtle patterns. Additionally, it's crucial to dissuade clients from opting for tightly spaced patterns, as these can result in the unwanted occurrence of a moiré pattern when captured on camera. 

Grooming: Maintain well-groomed hair, and consider makeup and grooming practices that enhance your appearance on camera. 

Additional Makeup Tips for Women: Do keep makeup natural looking and avoid looks that will look heavy such as an intense smoky eye, and dark lipstick shade. The camera picks up more than you think and favors neutral shades/pallets. Pink lipstick shades and a red that suits your skin tone shows up nicely under the lights. Overall be sure to use matte and neutral hues. Also, avoid high-shine that is commonly found in blushes, lip glosses, and eye shadow. Accentuates your features so that they do not become lost or washed out when captured on camera. 

Set and Background Guidelines: 

Neat and Tidy Background: Choose a background that is free from clutter and well-organized. Eliminate distractions that could divert viewers' attention away from you. Ensure their focus remains on you rather than wandering around the room. 

Lighting Standards: 

Front-Facing Light: Place your main light source in front of you for even illumination. This reduces shadows and highlights facial features.  

Avoid Backlighting: We NEVER want to be sitting in front of bright windows that will cause us to be silhouetted and hard to see.  

Supplementary Lighting: An essential aspect of your setup involves incorporating an additional light that seamlessly integrates into your home studio arrangement. This can be as straightforward as a light positioned on a stand behind your computer monitor. It's important to have the flexibility to easily diffuse the light or adjust its intensity as needed. 

Camera Guidelines: 

Eye-Level Camera: When configuring a multi-screen setup, it's advisable to steer clear of having the sole webcam situated on your non-primary screen. In cases where your primary display lacks a built-in webcam, consider positioning a camera at the top of your screen at eye level. This arrangement provides a natural and engaging perspective. Ensure you avoid angles that result in a downward or upward appearance. 

Framing: Position yourself at the center of the frame, leaving ample space above your head and shoulders. Maintain a comfortable distance from the camera to achieve a balanced composition. A common camera error we frequently observe is individuals framing themselves too tightly, resulting in their lower thirds aligning with their chin. A constructive approach to rectify this tendency is to offer visual guidance by demonstrating proper framing. 

Audio Standards: 

Clear Sound: Use an external microphone for improved audio quality. Minimize background noise and choose a quiet environment.  

Video Recordings: Your home setup should incorporate a basic podcast microphone positioned on a stand in front of you. External microphones notably enhance audio quality compared to using the internal microphone on your device. Ensure this setup is readily available whenever you wish to swiftly record content for your clients. 

Recording in Studio: 

Preparation: Outline content and rehearse before recording. Smooth delivery reduces the need for extensive editing. 

Engaging Presentation: Maintain eye contact with the camera, convey enthusiasm, and connect with viewers. 

Brevity: Keep recordings focused and concise, maintaining viewer engagement. Break complex subjects into manageable segments.  

Adhering to MarketScale's standards for attire, background guidelines, lighting, camera, and audio guarantees a display of professionalism during your Zoom calls and client-facing recordings. By upholding these guidelines, you will effectively present yourself, fostering a constructive and impactful virtual presence that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.