Messages (Yosemite): Start a video chat
If you start a video chat with someone using iMessage, you start a video call in FaceTime, which is a separate app. For information about FaceTime video calls, see FaceTime Help.
If you start a video chat with someone using AIM, Jabber, Google Talk, or Bonjour, you’ll video chat in Messages.
Start a FaceTime call
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Send a message to the person you want to video chat with.
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Click Details, then click the Video button
to immediately start a FaceTime call. To start a FaceTime call with a different email address or phone number listed in your friend’s contact card, hold down the Video button
.
Start a video chat from your buddy list
To start a video chat with someone in a buddy list, click the Video Chat button 
next to that person’s name. If there is no Video Chat button next to someone’s name, you can’t video chat with him or her. If you don’t have your buddy list open, or you want to start a video chat with someone you’re having a conversation with, follow the steps below.
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Send a message to the person you want to video chat with.
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Click the Video Chat button, then choose Video.
Messages asks the person you’re chatting with if he or she wants to video chat with you.
Things you can do during a video chat
Use backdrops and video effects: Click Effects, then select a backdrop or an effect.
If you select a backdrop, a message asks you to step out of the frame. After a moment, the new background appears, and you can step back in.
To add your own backdrop, click the arrows until you see frames labeled “User Backdrop,” then drag a QuickTime movie or an image into one of the frames.
Send a file: Drag the file over the video chat window.
Take a snapshot of the video chat: Choose Video > Take Snapshot.
Mute or unmute your side of the video chat: Click the Microphone button.
Pause or resume your side of the video chat: Choose Video > Pause Video.
Pausing a video chat also mutes it.
Stop the video chat: Close the video chat window.
Join a video chat
When you’re invited to a video chat, a small window appears notifying you of who invited you.
Click the window, and accept, decline, or reply to the invitation.
If you reply, the video chat is also rejected.
Change how the video chat window looks
Resize the video chat window: Drag any window corner.
Resize the preview image: Place your pointer over an inside corner of your preview image, then drag.
Move the preview image: Drag the preview image to a different corner.
Enable or disable video chat
When you disable video chat, you can’t start video chats, but you can receive video chat requests. If audio chat is enabled, the person you video chat with can hear you but can’t see you. If audio chat is disabled, the person you video chat with can’t see or hear you.
Choose Video > Video Chat Enabled.
When video chat is enabled, there’s a checkmark next to the menu item.
When someone joins a video chat but doesn’t have a camera, he or she is represented by his or her buddy picture and a sound level meter.