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If you have a Web video interview coming up, be sure to wear a shirt with tight stripes or something with lots of patterns. It’s also always a good idea to wear green--it looks great against the green screen.
Not buying it? Hopefully not. People often do make these mistakes, however, and unfortunately, dressing this way does not only look unprofessional, it also takes away from your message.
What looks good in person does not always look good on camera, especially on the Web. In high definition, a striped shirt or patterned tie may look good, but as Mike Bako, account and marketing manager, D S Simon Productions explains, if you take that interview “and post it on YouTube to help promote yourself then you have to be mindful that on a smaller video player that is not HD, you will see more pixilating and distracting movement.”
If you have a Web video interview coming up, the following tips, courtesy of Bako, should help you decipher whether your outfit should go on the “what not to wear” or “say yes to the dress” list.
Less Is More:
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No Tight Stripes or Patterns: Tight stripes and patterns tend to pixilate on the Web. If you want to wear stripes, wide stripes come out much better in a Web video.
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No Gaudy Accessories: Extravagant and flashy accessories reflect the light of the camera and become the most prominent thing on the screen. Viewers end up spending more time staring at the gigantic watch or tie clip than listening to the serious issues being discussed.
Be Careful with Color:
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Black: In person black is slimming, but in a video it eliminates any definition and makes you look blocky. If you are sitting in a black chair, wearing a black shirt, it is going to look like the entire chair is your body.
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White: Like gaudy jewelry, white clothes can grab all of the attention away from you and your message. Unless you’re modeling a brand, you never want your clothes to be the most prominent thing on camera.
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Red: Women love to wear red on camera, but red tends to bleed and give a little bit of ghosting, especially on the Internet.
*For both women and men, navy blue, light grey and charcoal grey are best for Web videos.
Tricks of the Trade:
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Improve Wardrobe and Take Off Pounds: One thing that will make you look better, regardless of what you’re wearing, is if you sit on the edge of your chair and lean forward 15 degrees. This makes your face become the most prominent thing and prevents the camera from adding those lovely 10 pounds.
- See For Yourself: Save yourself the heartache; use your webcam at home to do a run-through. This way you can see what your audience sees and change it before it is too late. Would you rather find out that your shirt is transparent during your run-through or from a comment on YouTube?
Follow Danielle Aveta: @DanielleAveta