13 tips to relax and feel more comfortable in front of camera during photo session
Magdalena Smolarska
After all:
I’m not photogenic…
I am shy…
I feel uncomfortable with self-promotion…
I feel uncomfortable in front of the camera…
I am worried I am not able to express myself during the photo session
I am introverted… I am very sensitive soul.
I feel anxiety about sharing your views or work… scared of being judged and criticised…
I don’t know how to pose and what to do with hands during session
I am very self-conscious about how I look.
I feel like everyone else is so much further ahead and better…
I feel like I am not good enough…
I am not beautiful…
I feel you. I hear you. I see you.
Believe me, it doesn’t surprise me!
Like many of you, I also get shy in front of the camera – and yes, a professional female portrait photographer is saying it herself!
But we wouldn’t be ourselves if we didn’t take chances and just go for it, would we? And such beautiful experiences are resulting from it.
I have been in your shoes.
We all have moments where we lack confidence, courage and feel insecure in our life, at work and relationships. Similarly, to you I am very harsh with myself, my inner critic is active, aiming for perfectionism in everything I do .
Here is how I work with my clients:
“13 tips to relax and feel more comfortable in front of camera during professional brand photo session”.
1.Take time to relax before the photo session
I always invite my clients to make sure they drink plenty of water and have “beauty sleep” the day before the photoshoot.
As well, I invite them to allocate some time before the photoshoot to focus on relaxation:
meditation
breath work
long bath
yoga
walk in nature
listen their favourite podcast or music….
2. Breathe! Take a deep breath during the photoshoot or filming and exhale slowly.
As cheesy as it sounds, it really works.
A simple breathing technique can do magic.
Trust me.
I see so many of my clients holding their breath during the photo session and one of my roles is to gently remind them to pause and take a deep breath.
By taking a deep breath you relax not only your nervous system but also all muscles around your face, neck and shoulders. It helps to be more grounded, centred and present.
3. What’s on your mind will be reflected on the branding image.
Let’s pause here a little bit and talk about the mind set during the photoshoot.
Stepping in front of the camera with a big zoom lens might feel for some of us (certainly for me) feeling a little bit exposed, uncomfortable and vulnerable.
“Is my hair OK?”
“Do I look good in this pose”
“Shall I smile or not”
Those are common thoughts, worries and questions I hear from many women at the beginning of portrait photo sessions.
I completely understand why. We all want to look and feel good in front of camera.
So, I can certainly put myself in your shoes. I truly believe that my role here, as a portrait photographer, is to help you distinguish your own unique beauty and inner values.
We photographers have a very good eye for details, and it’s my role to spot things if they don’t look right.
So rather than worrying about details, let’s envision the beautiful images we are going to create together.
I help my clients to focus on the feelings, emotions and energy we want to convey in our images.
Whether it’s trust, bliss, welcoming, motivating, energetic…I remind my clients to focus their thoughts on those feelings and emotions during the photo session.
4.Drink water. Stay hydrated during the day. Breathe!
A gentle reminder…. Between shoots: drink water and take a deep breath.
5.Choose outfits you feel comfortable in - it’s reflection of who you are and your brand.
There is nothing worse than wearing an outfit which is too tight, to lose or “ not your style” at all.
How we feel on the day of the photo session might be impacted by what you are wearing.
I always suggest my clients to wear what makes them feel comfortable, relaxed and authentic.
Less is more.
During the photoshoot, we will be moving around and walking so the more comfortable the fabric, the better.
Anything tailored, clean and wrinkle free is a great start. I recommend my clients to avoid big, multicolour and busy pattern outfits and choose outfits which reflects their brand colours.
6.Tell me your story while I am taking portrait pictures of you.
What helps to break the negative thought pattern in our mind is a conversation. I am always interested to hear my clients story during the photoshoot.
This technique works magic.
As soon as my client shares what she is passionate about, what she loves doing, what she wants to achieve, that’s the moment I see sparkles in the eyes, face beaming with positive energy and a beautiful smile.
Yes – to me portrait photography is all about telling a story about YOU and each one of us.
Capturing each unique personality and beauty.
It is not about making up an unreal story but about sharing emotions and feeling confident about it. It is the moment where you can express yourself, your passion, your brand, your style, YOU!
7. You do not have to look directly into camera. All candid, natural and authentic looking images are taken when you least expect it.
At the beginning of the portrait photo session with my clients, I tend to say: “do not look straight into camera”.
While I am setting up my manual camera settings, I give time to my clients to get use to my camera and me behind it. I offer as much time as it’s needed for my clients to feel comfortable before they look straight into the camera.
When I look through my lens I get to see and feel more about the person than I could have ever seen before!
Hence, I always strive to portray something special and extraordinary in the most authentic way without staging or false poses.
True, real-life portrait images are my favourite!
My portrait photography style is 100% natural, authentic, emotive, fun, lifestyle, engaging, candid and relaxed!
8. Keep moving your body, use props, change positions during session.
The biggest misconception of the photoshoot is that you have to be like a statue, not moving or breathing.
Wrong!
It’s the opposite.
To capture authentic, natural looking brand portrait images:
I invite my clients to move their body, hands, look away, look down to your side, engage with their props (laptop, journal, phone).
I invite my clients to act, like I am not there with my camera.
I invite my clients to act, like there are working, creating, reading, walking rather than just posing.
I invite my clients to experiment and express themselves during time together.
Lifestyle and environmental photography offers the freedom to explore and experiment. The aim is to capture who you are, your story, you unique style, your life, your passion, you.
The secret is: be yourself.
Unapologetically YOU.
9. There is a delete button in my camera!
Professional Personal Brand Portrait Photo sessions are a great opportunity for you to truly express who you are.
A great opportunity to play, experiments and have fun.
We take many shots and we delete many.
There is always a delete button.
Just so you know….
10. Choose photoshoot outdoor as location, in nature.
Being in front of the camera can be intimating for many people and as a Portrait Photographer I find shooting in a natural environment to be extremely helpful and supportive for everyone including myself.
It is undeniable that nature has tremendous relaxing and inspiring effects on us and I can see my clients dropping into their natural peace during the outdoor photo session.
Nature invites us to connect to the beauty of the earth and to our own beauty.
Nature also brings grounding qualities and enables us to fully express ourselves.
It gives us a deeper sense of freedom and wellbeing that is clearly reflected on the photos I take during the outdoor sessions.
Also, an outdoor photo session offers more intimacy.
There are not many people around likely to stare at you while your portrait is being taken which is a bonus!
11. Choose the right time of the day of your photo session.
It’s so important to arrange a photoshoot around your energy level.
If you are morning person then you are best to schedule photoshoot that time.
And vice-versa.
As a natural light portrait photographer, my favourite time of day to shoot outdoors is during the two hours after sunrise and the two hours before sunset. I just love the golden hour with its warm oranges, fiery reds, intense pinks and its soft light just a few minutes before sunset.
12. The best pictures are the one taken at the end of the photo session.
“There is no rush, we have time” you will hear it a lot during session with me.
At the beginning of the photo session we try, we try really really really hard to look good.
And I patiently wait.
The best pictures are the ones taken at the end of the photo session when you fully let go and surrender to the situation.
That’s the moment when the magic happens.
13. Choose a professional photographer with a sensitive and caring approach
I can’t stress enough the importance of taking the time to choose the right person who will photograph you.
Please take time to connect with him/her before the photo session so you can build connection and trust before the big day.
Yes, the style and technical skills of photographer are important but that’s not everything.
Sensitivity, calmness, softness, gentleness are important too.
Look for a photographer who is not only pressing the button but a photographer who is able to:
hold a space for you while you express yourself, share your emotions from fear, worries, shame to joy.
Do you feel uncomfortable in front of camera?
I feel you, I hear you, I see you…. I have been there too…
Together we can tell your story through images which feel truly authentic and soulful. We can use branding portrait photos & promo videos to make a deeper connection with your audience.
“To me, business isn’t about wearing suits or pleasing stockholders. It’s about being true to yourself, your ideas and focusing on the essentials” Richard Branson.
A gentle, joyful and authentic way of capturing the real you, your passion, your brand,
Tell me your STORY, who you are , what is your passion. I will capture it for you.
You might enjoy my other blog post on branding, visibility on social media:
Let me know if you found it useful and what else you wish to learn when it comes to visibility and/or branding photography & videography?
Share your feedback in comment section below.
Magdalena
UK Personal Brand Photographer & Videographer, based in central London & Brighton, Sussex
I’m Magdalena.
One of my clients called me their “creative visibility coach” and I think that sums it up.
I work with clients to craft a story through the images we produce together. An intriguing story that will make you visible. It’s a lot more than pointing the camera and pressing a button. That’s why I only work with conscious, heart-centred women like myself.
I’m an introvert and an empath. I excel at capturing emotions on camera. This happens because I take the time to truly understand my clients and their story before we shoot. Harmony, integrity and togetherness are my core values.
Now is the time to share your gift. Let’s go on journey together.
International Personal Brand Portrait Photographer and Videographerbased inLondon & Brighton, Sussex, UKfor soulful and purpose driven women.