Are you showing up on video calls looking like the professional you are?

Why should you care?

Back when many of us were just getting used to the new reality of video calls I posted this framing guideline sheet to help ‘new users’ with some visual tips to optimize their set-ups (downloadable here: https://hollinrake.com/pdfs). Fast forward to the present: video calls have become a permanent part of our business lives. Maybe when we still thought they were kind of a temporary thing it didn’t seem as important to finesse our video presences. But now that we know the ‘truth’, I think it may be time for a reminder that what we thought was ‘good enough for now’ really isn’t. The bar is higher than evidence suggests many people think it is.

I could go on about this for an hour (and I do with my consulting clients), but suffice it to say, you will do yourself and the people you are conferencing with and/or presenting to a huge service by showing up as well as you can on video. For those who still aren’t sure what is working to their detriment this basic diagram sheet may help get you started or remind you what you’ve forgotten.

And then you just need a light on your face. From the front. On your face.

Let’s make sure we are not undermining ourselves by creating more barriers to connection than necessary with weird framing, distracting blurs and backgrounds, and shadow-hidden faces.

Here's a bit more on my blog on why the way you show up in video conference calls matters: https://khollinrakemakemepretty.blogspot.com/2026/08/professional-presence-on-video-calls.html

And, if it’s any help I made some short videos a while back on how to show up professionally on video calls. I may not look the same (many hair cuts later!), but much of the info is still relevant (https://hollinrake.com/videos).

Please call or email to book a coaching session with me.

kathryn@hollinrake.com