It has been a HOT MINUTE since I’ve shown you my office setup.
Not only am I in a whole new location…
But I’ve got new tech, new gear, new faves and new must-haves to make working from home on a computer all day everyday… WAY MORE ENJOYABLE.
PLUS, I’m sharing all of my EASY and CHEAP tips to help you instantly elevate how you show up on Zoom Calls – so you can look more professional and like you actually have your shit together… even if you secretly don’t.
Hey, Posse! What’s up? It’s Alex.
Something I get asked about quite a bit is my office and tech setup…
I always think it’s funny that people want to hear this stuff from me, because it’s not like an expert.
But it HAS been a while since I’ve given you a little tour of my home office…
So here it is!
BUT – keep in mind that I’ve been working from home for over 16 YEARS.
AND I also record YouTube videos inside my office – which means my tech needs are WAY more intense than someone who just wants to look professional on a Zoom call.
I’ve had lots of time to slowly build and cultivate this space into what it is today.
It didn’t happen overnight and you certainly don’t have to go out and BUY the stuff I have in order to create a functional office.
In fact, my first office and studio was my kitchen table. So if you’re just starting out on your work from home…
Or you’ve been working from home for a while but really want to stop showing up to Zoom calls with your dirty kitchen countertops or bed in the background…
(Hey, we’ve all been there!)
Then I’ve got 4 EASY and CHEAP steps that will help you instantly appear WAY more professional on Zoom calls….
Because let’s be honest, now in 2025, zoom calls are a big part of your personal brand and how you show up online…
And you want to make a great impression, especially when you’re speaking to clients, being interviewed on a podcast or networking with potential referrers!
But before we get into it – if you’re new to the crew – welcome!
On my website, you’ll find hundreds of tutorials covering all things modern marketing, copywriting, freelancing, and entrepreneurship!
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Tip # 1: Lighting
I truly believe that having great lighting is ALMOST all you need to look professional on calls.
Ugly yellow overhead lighting with a ceiling fan running is NOT the vibe.
Natural lighting is always going to be better than artificial, plus it’s free!
So if you can take your Zoom Calls in front of a window – do it! Now while natural lighting is GREAT…
It can also be a little intense and create harsh shadows if it’s a super bright & sunny day, so the EASIEST hack is to hang a white sheet over the window.
Something thin that will diffuse the light and help you avoid overexposure without completely blocking out the light altogether.
I used a sheet as my lighting setup for the first few months of my YouTube channel if you can believe it — nothing but a white sheet over a window. Or you can use a softbox lighting kit like this one.
Now if you don’t have access to natural light, I highly recommend a little ring light.
Something like this lighting kit which attaches straight to your laptop and is super light and portable that you can move anywhere.
There are so many affordable lighting options out there and it can make SUCH a big difference that you really shouldn’t skip this step.
Just make sure that if you wear glasses, you’re not getting a crazy reflection because that can be realllllly distracting and blow your good light cover.
Alright, the next tips…
Tip # 2. Clean Background
Alright, I’m just going to say it… I hate virtual backgrounds.
I mean, I totally understand why people use them – because they don’t want people to see all the dirty dishes on the kitchen counter or their kids smacking each other in the background.
And YES – I agree that a virtual background is better than meeting with a potential client with your dirty laundry literally hanging out behind you…
I’ve seen some that are OK BUT most virtual backgrounds are pretty glitchy and cheesy and I don’t know. They just scream unprofessional to me. Is it just me?
Like, everyone knows your living room doesn’t look like this… and that you’re not dialing in from the middle of a mountain lake, in a spaceship or floating above the Golden Gate Bridge.
I know they can be fun and they’re totally fine for internal calls but, in my opinion, if you want to appear professional on client calls or sales calls then you NEED to be sitting in front of a CLEAN and professional background.
Now I’m not saying you need to go out and invest hundreds of dollars to create some epic wall of bookshelves to go behind you…
Or have a WILD wall like I do –– this is a YouTube studio and WAY more extra than what you need for a professional Zoom call…
Simply, tidy up the room behind you…
Blur your background a bit, which is a simple setting on Zoom.
Or better yet, just sit in front of a plain wall with a plant or something.
This is so much better than a bed behind you…
Honestly, the only time that’s ok is if you’re in a hotel room.
According to researchers at Durham University in the U.K. Zoom backgrounds highly impact others’ perception of you.
The researchers asked 167 participants to rate the trustworthiness of 72 different pictures of men and women with various different Zoom backgrounds: home, blurred home, bookcase, plants, blank, and “novelty” (basically a cheesy virtual Zoom background image).
Here are the key findings:
- The researchers found backgrounds with books or plants scored the highest for trustworthiness, followed by a blurred background and a blank wall.
- The regular living room and a novelty background did the least well.
Now, if a clean background behind you just isn’t an option, even if it’s slightly blurred…
Then going with a virtual background is totally fine…
BUT I would highly recommend investing in something like this. It’s a portable green screen that attaches right to your chair.
And it’s awesome because, with this, you solve the “glitchy” issue and your virtual background will stay stationary. You simply turn on the “green screen” setting in Zoom and upload your virtual background.
MUCH BETTER!
And when you’re not on calls, you can just fold this green screen right up and put it away.
And did you know that you can upload your OWN IMAGE for the virtual background?
You don’t have to use the terrible ones Zoom provides!
You can just google “virtual zoom background images free” and a whole bunch of options will pop up.
But pick something simple and not distracting, like profesh bookshelves or a
Cozy library…
Or better yet…. A clean wall. Maybe with a plant if you want to get wild lol.
So many options you can choose from that will look way better than the cheesy ones Zoom provides!
Alright, my next tip should be obvious…
Tip # 3. Audio Check
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been on calls where a person’s terrible audio or extremely loud background noise has completely ruined a call.
Look, I GET that working at a busy cafe as a freelancer is a “vibe”.
But if you’re going to be on a call with a client or potential client – you want to put your best foot forward and appear professional…
Sitting in a busy and noisy cafe is not the place to be…
You should always be in a quiet spot that has little to no interruptions.
Your mic should muted when you’re not speaking…
Honestly, just those tips alone can make a world of difference…
But if you really want to be extra and up your Zoom Call game, get yourself a wired microphone…
Or if you don’t want to deal with the wires, a good Bluetooth mic.
Again, this doesn’t have to be EXPENSIVE or fancy stuff in order to be effective.
Amazon has so many options for under $50!
Alright, and the last tip is a free one…
Tip #4: Camera Angle
It is just not flattering to have a camera angled up at your double chin… I mean, no one wants to see those boogers!
And the top-down camera angles are just as weird, making you look like some sort of adult baby, and no one wants to look at the top of your head.
Or — THE WORST — is when you use multiple monitors and your camera is connected to a different monitor than where your eyes are and the entire call your client is staring at the side of your face.
You want your camera to be EYE LEVEL. Directly in front of you.
This tip is soooo simple and not only does it make you look INSTANTLY more professional… but it allows you to connect better with whomever you’re speaking to because you are looking at them.
Sure – you could buy a laptop stand to elevate your camera, and they aren’t very expensive…
Which honestly is also a BACK SAVER when you’ve spent almost 2 decades working online like me.
But you could save your money and do it the old-fashioned way…
By stacking up a bunch of books until your camera is at eye level.
And that’s really ALL you need to show up looking suppppppper professional you guys…
Good lighting, a clean background, audio under control, and a decent camera at eye level. (Like this Canon Camera!)
ALL of these things can be FREE if you get creative…
Shout out to this Mom who figured IT OUT for a CNN Interview! Haha. She’s got the window in front of her, a somewhat clean background (I’d remove the blank on the futon), laptop at eye level…. BOOM nailed it.
And even if you bought all the things I shared, you’d still be spending just about $100.
In my opinion, that’s an investment that’s WELL WORTH IT.
Especially when you’re taking calls with clients and potential customers – where you really want to put your best foot forward.
Copy Posse Office Gear (Amazon Affiliate Links) 👇
If you’re interested in checking out any of the items I talked about, click the links here:
💡Lighting:
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Aputure MC Pro Camera Light: https://amzn.to/3XhhGL0
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🎙️Audio:
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RØDECaster Pro II Mixer: https://amzn.to/4besrnd
Shure SM7B Microphone: https://amzn.to/4iikmjL
Shure by Gator Articulating Desktop Mic Boom Arm: https://amzn.to/41xuKhS
👩🏻💻Desk:
Aluminum Laptop Stand: https://amzn.to/4igNdok
Height Adjustable Electric Standing Desk: https://amzn.to/4hV944Z
Under Desk Cable Management Tray: https://amzn.to/41wdeuf
Green Screen Chair: https://amzn.to/3D9ir20
🖇️Other:
Foldable Walking Pad: https://amzn.to/43erOrI
Bose QuietComfort 45 Bluetooth Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones: https://amzn.to/41gXha5
I hope you found this helpful. Comment below and let me know what you want next!
Until next time, I’m Alex. Ciao for now!
