Until last week I’d never used the video conferencing software Zoom. I’d had the odd Skype meeting, but I always prefer to meet face to face and where possible visit my clients at their premises as I get a better feel for their company.
For my first couple of video conference calls, I just used the background of my office behind me. I felt this looked a bit unprofessional and considered using a roller banner to disguise it.
I then discovered the virtual background setting within the settings of Zoom and began to experiment. The default backgrounds include San Francisco Bay, a beach, and what I assume is the view of earth from the ISS.
I wanted to use a branded background, so I tried the textured geometric background I use on my marketing material. This looked quite good, but then I decided to try a few more.
Each week I attend the Cambridge B2B networking group, and we meet at the Holiday in Cambridge. I decided to download a few photos of the hotel so that I can use them as backgrounds for our next meeting, which we have been holding via Zoom the last couple of weeks. I found an external shot of the hotel, one of the reception area, one where we sit and meet and my favourite area – the breakfast buffet. I was reasonably happy with this, but the background of my office would occasionally appear, and I looked a bit blurry around the edges.
I then spotted a setting labelled ‘I have a green screen’, and I remembered that I do indeed have a green screen that I use for product photography for websites. My green screen came as part of a package that includes studio lighting. You can purchase the studio equipment from Amazon.
With having a bit more time than usual on my hands recently, I decided to build a full studio complete with lighting around me. Rather than the microphone and webcam on my iMac, I’m trying out a Logitech 1080p HD webcam for improved picture quality and a Rode NT-USB professional microphone complete with filter for improved sound quality.
Tonight will be a first for me. I’m having a virtual drink with some friends via Zoom, so I’ve also downloaded a background of a pub to make the experience feel a little more realistic.
There is a hint of green around the edge of me but no more than a lot of the interviews on BBC Breakfast. For months I thought that Moneybox presenter, Paul Lewis had a green tinge in his hair. Unfortunately, this isn’t an issue I’ll encounter.
