One of the most asked questions I get from clients is about how to not feel awkward in front of the camera.
“I don’t look good in photos”. “I hate having my photo taken”. “I’m not photogenic”. These are common phrases many photographers hear from their clients. If you’ve ever had any of these thoughts, you’re in the right place because this post is for you!
HOW TO NOT FEEL AWKWARD DURING YOUR SESSION
First of all, feeling awkward is normal!
Something to remember when you’re in front of the camera – you are not alone in this feeling. Unless you’re a professional model, everyone can feel uneasy or nervous in front of a camera (even me!).
After working with hundreds of clients, they all look amazing in their photos – not because they’re experienced models, but because they ultimately were able to let their own personalities come out! Remember, feeling awkward is a temporary thing. Throughout the session, your photographer will focus on making the experience interactive and fun, and you’ll find that you’ll end up relaxing and focus less on it being a “photo shoot”!
There will be some awkward photos at the beginning, it’s guaranteed, however, they never see the light of day!
Your photographer can find ways to bring your true and natural self out in front of the camera – and the best way is to not think about the camera at all! Focus on natural interactions with the other person if this is an engagement session. Just yourself in the photos? Focus on how you present yourself – if it’s a business shoot, think of it as interacting with the potential clients who may be looking at these photos. Or if it’s senior portraits, how you present yourself to friends.
FINDING SOMEONE YOU TRUST
When choosing your photographer, it’s important to select someone who can make you feel confident in both their vision and yourself. So remember you are in good hands because you hand-selected your photographer!
Trust your judgment, but also the expertise of your photographer. They’ll find your good angles and help to bring out natural expressions. But also don’t be afraid to speak up if you have a specific angle that makes you feel more confident.
Most importantly, have fun
No matter the occasion, you want your photos to feel genuine. So it’s important to feel like yourself during your photo shoot. Let yourself go, the more fun you have, the more confident you feel, the nicer the photos will be.
BE YOURSELF AND FORGET THE CAMERA
It’s completely normal to feel nervous, but I hope these tips help you to feel more comfortable at your next photoshoot!
Read more tips around conquering camera shyness on this blog by Loom.
