Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
I Finally Fixed My Terrible Video Call Lighting and Coworkers Noticed Immediately
35
items You know that moment when you catch your own face on Zoom and wonder who let a ghost into the meeting? Fluorescent overhead lighting, weird shadows under your eyes, looking exhausted even after a full night of sleep. This list is for anyone who works...
Sections
5
Ring Lights and Key Lights That Actually Flatter Your Face
Webcams That Don't Make You Look Like a Potato
Backgrounds and Backdrops That Look Professional Not Fake
Desk Setup Tweaks That Improve How You Look on Camera
Grooming and On-Camera Tricks I Learned the Hard Way
Ring Lights and Key Lights That Actually Flatter Your Face
Started with a cheap clip-on light that made me look like I was being interrogated. These are the ones that finally gave me that ‘wow you look rested’ effect on calls.
Grab this if you take client calls and need to look polished without a whole studio. My boss asked if I got a facial. Nope, just better light.
Lume Cube Broadcast Lighting Kit with Panel GO Bi-Color
Use this behind your laptop for that even, no-shadow glow. Before this I had raccoon eyes on every single Zoom. My wife said I looked ten years younger the first time I turned it on.
Neewer RL-18 Ring Light Kit, 18" 55W 5600K Professional
Switch to this if you do any recording or presenting. It fills the whole room without that harsh spotlight feel. Perfect for anyone whose home office is basically a dim closet.
GVM 80W Video Light
Keep this on your desk if you hate bulky equipment. It's slim, connects to wifi, and you adjust brightness from your phone. Bought it right before a big presentation and looked like a professional broadcaster.
Key Light Air MK.2
Snag this as a starter if you're not ready to spend big. Clips right onto your desk and the warm tone setting is genuinely flattering. For anyone who just wants to stop looking like a zombie on Teams calls.
UBeesize 10" LED Selfie Ring Light with Tripod Stand
Try this when you need something that handles both daylight and tungsten tones. My apartment has weird mixed lighting and this matched everything perfectly so I don't look orange or blue.
Viltrox VL-200T Bi-Color LED Light with LCD Display
Pair these on either side of your monitor for balanced lighting. They run off USB so no extra outlets needed. Wish I had these during my first year of remote work instead of sitting in front of a window squinting.
Neewer Dimmable 5600K USB LED Video Light with Pro
Webcams That Don't Make You Look Like a Potato
The built-in laptop camera adds fifteen years to your face. Swapped mine out and the difference was so dramatic my team thought I was using a filter.
Get this if you want a huge upgrade for under fifty bucks. The autofocus actually works and skin tones look natural. Went from pixelated mess to sharp and clear overnight.
Logitech C920x Pro HD Webcam with Auto Focus
Use this for serious meetings where you need to look crisp. The 4K is overkill for Zoom but the low-light correction alone is worth it. For anyone whose office has zero natural light.
Logitech MX Brio Ultra HD 4K Webcam, 1080p at 60 FPS
Snag this if you want great quality without the Logitech price tag. The built-in noise reduction mic is decent too. Bought it for my partner who was using a 2015 laptop camera and she couldn't believe the difference.
Customer reviews for Anker PowerConf C200 2K Webcam
Try this one if your lighting changes throughout the day. It adapts automatically so you don't look washed out at noon and then invisible by 4pm. Saved me from constant fiddling.
Customer reviews for Razer Kiyo Streaming Webcam
Grab this combo if desk space is tight and you want light plus camera in one unit. The ring light around the lens is subtle but does the job. Perfect for studio apartments.
NexiGo N960E Streaming Webcam
Keep this one if you already have good lighting and want the sharpest image possible. The 4K Sony sensor picks up detail without making your pores look like craters.
Dell UltraSharp WB7022 4K UHD Web Cam
Toss your old webcam if you move around during calls. This one tracks your face automatically so you stay centered. Presenters and teachers, this will change how you show up on screen.
OBSBOT, Tiny 2 AI-Powered PTZ 4K Webcam
Backgrounds and Backdrops That Look Professional Not Fake
Green screen blur was making me look like a weather forecaster having a bad day. These physical backdrops solved the problem without any glitchy edges around my hair.
Use this if you want a virtual background that doesn't clip through your ears. Pulls up from the floor and retracts in seconds. Way better than taping a sheet to your wall like I did for six months.
Elgato Green Screen Collapsible Chroma Key Panel
Swap your messy bookshelf for this neutral grey background. Looks clean on camera and hides wrinkles well. For anyone who doesn't want coworkers judging their apartment decor.
Kate 5x7ft Silver Grey Background White Grey Backdrop
Grab the full kit if you want something that looks like a real studio. The white muslin is great for interviews and headshots too. Set it up once and leave it.
Neewer 10ft x 6.6ft Adjustable Photo Studio Backdrop
Try this if you rent and can't drill into walls. Lightweight, adjustable, and folds flat behind a door. Moved twice since buying it and it survived both trips.
EMART 8.5x5ft T-Shape Backdrop Stand Kit
Bring some warmth to your background without rearranging furniture. The wood panel look reads really well on camera and people always think it's a real accent wall.
Photo Backdrop 5x7 ft Blue Wood Grain Photography
Keep this for when you want to look dramatic on a presentation. Black background, good lighting, and suddenly you look like you're giving a TED talk from your spare bedroom.
Julius Studio 10 x 12 feet Black Backdrop
Use this mounted behind you as a clean white backdrop that rolls up when you're done. Doubles as an actual projector screen for movie nights. Two problems solved with one purchase.
Pyle Projector Screens for Home Theater & Outdoor Use
Desk Setup Tweaks That Improve How You Look on Camera
Learned the hard way that camera angle matters as much as lighting. Nobody looks good shot from below with a laptop on their lap. These small fixes made a noticeable difference.
Get your laptop camera up to eye level immediately. The nose-hair angle from a flat desk is not doing you any favors. Bought this after seeing myself from below on a recorded meeting and cringing.
Rain Design mStand Laptop Stand - Black
Use this to position your monitors at face height so you're not hunching and looking down. Better posture on camera means you look more confident. My neck pain disappeared too.
Vivo, Dual Monitor Desk Mount, Fits Screens up to 30"
Pair this with an external webcam to free up desk space. Your laptop tucks away vertically and suddenly your desk looks intentional, not chaotic. For anyone drowning in cables and clutter.
Twelve South BookArc for MacBook
Keep your phone at eye level for mobile meetings. Holding your phone or propping it against a coffee mug gives off chaos energy. This little stand costs almost nothing and fixes it.
Lamicall Cell Phone Stand for Desk - Adjustable ...
Toss these on the wall behind you for better audio AND a cleaner background. They absorb echo so you stop sounding like you're calling from a bathroom. Coworkers complimented both the look and the sound.
Felt Right
Snag this if overhead lighting creates glare on your glasses. It lights your face from above the monitor without reflecting. Every glasses-wearer on video calls needs to know about this.
BenQ Screenbar Monitor Light
Wrap your cables before your next call because visible cord spaghetti behind you screams ‘I just set this up five minutes ago.’ Takes ten minutes and looks way more professional.
Cable Management Sleeve, 4 Pack, 20 Inch Cord
Grooming and On-Camera Tricks I Learned the Hard Way
Good lighting exposed every flaw I didn't know I had. Shiny forehead, dry lips, uneven skin tone. These small fixes took me from ‘well-lit but rough’ to actually looking good.
Spritz this before any important call. Killed the forehead shine that ring lights love to amplify. Works for all skin types and you won't look or feel like you're wearing makeup.
NYX Professional Makeup Matte Finish Setting Spray
Dab this on before calls because HD cameras show every crack in dry lips. Looks natural on screen and doesn't leave a weird glossy sheen. Stock up before winter hits.
Burt's Bees® 100% Natural Moisturizing Lip Balm
Use this twenty minutes before turning on your camera. Hydrated skin catches light better than dry flaky skin. Learned this after my ring light made every dry patch on my face look like the Sahara.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, Rich Face and Body
Roll this across your T-zone between meetings. No powder, no product, just instant matte skin. Fits in a desk drawer and lasts months. For anyone whose face gets oily by noon.
Revlon Oil-Absorbing Volcanic Face Roller
Wear this even indoors if your desk gets window light. It doubles as a primer that makes skin look smooth on camera. Protects your face AND makes you look better. Win-win.
Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50
Keep this on your desk for quick refreshes between calls. Wipe your face, reapply moisturizer, and you look awake again at 3pm. Saved me during back-to-back meeting days.
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Water Waterproof
Try a tiny amount on your forehead and cheeks before all-day meetings. Blurs pores under ring light without looking cakey. Nobody will know you're wearing anything, you'll just look weirdly smooth and rested.
Poreless Putty Primer – Grip, Blur & Perfect