How to Instantly Improve Your On-Camera Presence - and Look Confident in Any Interview

Your Virtual Presence Shapes Your Success

How you present yourself to the world matters—both in person and on-screen. Whether you're preparing for an important interview, a virtual presentation, or a high-stakes meeting, looking confident on camera can shape how others perceive you. Your body language, framing, and presence influence how much authority and credibility you project.

Remote work and virtual meetings have become the norm. We’re now having Zoom calls for conversations that once would’ve been just an email. Google Meet, Zoom, and Webex are so routine that we often overlook crucial details - our background, camera framing, lighting, body language, and overall presence.

As a self-presentation and body language coach, I see professionals - otherwise confident and competent - making avoidable mistakes that diminish their presence and influence. Whether it’s a high-stakes presentation, an executive meeting, a media appearance, or a job interview, how you show up on screen determines how people perceive you—and ultimately, the opportunities that come your way.

Let’s go over the most common virtual presence mistakes - and how to fix them.

1. Your Room Is Not the Star of the Show

❌ Your Room Is Not the Star of the Show. Don’t do that.

It doesn’t matter how beautiful your home office is, how stylish your SMEG kettle looks, or how many decorative pillows you have arranged behind you - your audience should be focused on YOU, not your decor. A cluttered or overly personal background dilutes your professional image and shifts attention away from your message.

✅ Fix It: Keep your background clean, neutral, and intentional. A simple, well-lit wall or a professional setup with a few thoughtfully placed elements (like a bookshelf or artwork) enhances your credibility without being distracting.

2. The Blurry Background Myth

Relying on Zoom’s blur effect to “hide the mess” might seem like a quick fix, but let’s be real - it doesn’t actually solve the problem. A blurred pile of laundry is still a pile of laundry, and a hazy, artificial-looking backdrop doesn’t project a polished, high-level presence.

✅ Fix It: Instead of relying on blur, curate your real background. Take a few minutes to declutter your space, or use a portable backdrop for a consistently clean and professional look.

3. Pre-Recorded Virtual Backgrounds Gone Wrong

We’ve all seen it - the awkward cutouts, the disappearing hands, and the ghostly glitches when someone moves. Poor green screen effects make you look unpolished and unprepared, which is the last impression you want to leave in a professional setting.

✅ Fix It: If you must use a virtual background, invest in proper lighting and a green screen to avoid pixelation and glitches. Otherwise, a well-maintained real background will always be the better choice.

4. Too White, Too Dark, Too Plain

A stark white wall can make you look washed out and lifeless, while a dark or overly plain background can feel dull and uninspiring. You want a setup that enhances your presence and authority without overwhelming the screen.

✅ Fix It: Choose a balanced, professional backdrop. Soft, neutral colors with a touch of visual depth (like a framed piece of art, a plant, or well-organized bookshelves) signal confidence and refinement.

5. The Backlighting Disaster

Sitting in front of a bright window might seem like a good idea - natural light is great, right? Wrong. Backlighting makes you appear as a shadow, erasing your facial expressions and making it hard for others to engage with you.

✅ Fix It: Always face your light source. Position yourself in front of a window or use a soft, diffused lamp to illuminate your face evenly. Good lighting instantly makes you look more polished and professional.

❌ Too Close, Too Far, Too Awkward. Don’t Be a Floating Head

6. Too Close, Too Far, Too Awkward

Ever been on a call where someone’s face is way too close, making it feel uncomfortably intimate? Or so far away that they look disconnected and disengaged? Your framing matters just as much as your words.

✅ Fix It: Position your camera at eye level, about an arm’s length away. Frame yourself so your head and shoulders are visible, allowing natural hand gestures without cutting off parts of your face. A well-composed shot instantly elevates your executive presence.

7. And So Much More…

Your on-camera presence is about more than just your background. It’s about how you own the space, appear confident in an interview, and project confidence through body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.

If you’re preparing for a high-stakes interview, media appearance, board presentation, or personal branding photoshoot, your self-presentation is a direct reflection of your professionalism and leadership presence.

Want to Elevate Your On-Camera Presence & Maximize Your Impact?

I help high-achieving professionals, businesswomen, solopreneurs, and creatives refine their body language, self-presentation, and confidence to show up powerfully and professionally in any setting - whether on-camera or in person.

Let’s ensure you’re making the right impression every single time.

Whether you're preparing for a job interview, an important presentation, or a high-stakes meeting, I can help you refine your self-presentation to maximize your impact. My presentation training for women focuses on practical, real-world body language techniques to help you show up with confidence—on camera or in person. Book a private coaching session today!

📅 Book a Private Coaching Session Today → Schedule a Call

Bohdana Davila, VP, Global People Services. The testimonial highlights her experience working with Kate on mastering her presence in a business environment, particularly improving her online appearance on camera.

"I have known Kate for many years—she is a great professional, easy to work with, and communicate. I love learning from people who have succeeded in what they teach, and this is the case.

As an executive leader, Kate is a great resource to help me master presence in a business environment. We worked on my online appearance on camera—from tech setup to interior, outfit, hair, and gestures.

It’s amazing how fast I achieved a difference—just in a 1-hour session! Finally, I can express myself on camera just as well—if not better—than in person.

Kate also followed up before an important call with useful tips and encouragement—Thank you!"