How to feel more confident in front of the camera

Something I hear a lot when my clients book me is that “just so you know I’m not that comfortable with being in front of the camera”. That’s when I usually tell them that neither am I, but there are ways to make the whole experience that much more fun and comfortable. This is why I decided to put together a list of a few things that I think are helpful to prep you for your shoot.

Should I smile? Where shall I look? Do I look silly? What do I do with my hands?

- Preparation is key, always! For branding shoots my common process is to build a moodboard that my clients are encouraged to add their ideas to! Whether a full branding shoot or just a few headshots pick out your outfits and try out poses in advance and make note of any that you love! You don’t have to have all the poses nailed for the shoot, but it helps to have a few to fall back on when in doubt. Of course, your photographer is always there to guide you with angles, but it never hurts to come prepared ;)

- Communication (Pre and during the shoot) – be honest, if you feel like you don’t like something about the pose or the way you look in the image, tell your photographer! It’s a team effort and at the end of the day the way we feel about ourselves is completely subjective. So capturing a technically great photograph doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll love yourself in that image. That’s why telling your photographer about what you like and don’t like is absolutely essential for a successful photo shoot! We all have little quirks about the way we look which might not be obvious to others :)

- Wear what’s comfortable – you know that feeling when you put on your favourite outfit in the morning and you instantly feel good. I recommend that for your shoot, rather than experimenting with outfits, to feel confident and comfortable stick with what you know and love. At least for your first shoots!

- Get out of your head and don’t overthink it – capturing natural looking images happens when you feel comfortable! So don’t be afraid to chat away or move your hands. Basically don’t feel obliged to pose like a statue when you’re freaking out in your head!

- Music – for indoor shoots, and heck why not outdoor ones, having your favourite playlist on can be such a mood and confidence booster. Plus it makes the whole experience just that much more fun!

Last but not least, have fun with it - your photographer doesn’t bite! They’re there to make it a fun and comfortable experience. And if you’re having a great time on your shoot it’ll show in your photos!