As a photographer, I always want to make my client feel comfortable. Being in front of the camera can be extremely intimidating, especially if you are more on the introverted side or you’re dressed in lingerie (like for a boudoir shoot). It can feel scary. That is why I have found these tips to help you see yourself as a work of art and beauty and learn how to be comfortable in front of the camera.
Let’s explore them together!
Get to know your photographer ahead of time
Luckily we live in a day-and-age where everything is right at our fingertips and we can look anyone up. Just like you would cyberstalk a first date before going out, you also want to cyberstalk your photographer, and I mean this in the most normal, healthy sense possible. Take a look at their portfolio, get a feel for who they are and the kind of shoots they do. If they have an Instagram, start there, poke around their website and even Facebook or Google search them and see what others have said. Finally, write down all the questions you want to ask them so when you meet for your planning session, you can get everything you want/need to be answered.
Prepare yourself
Photographer Sue Bryce says it best, “Smile with your eyes”. Here she goes into detail on how just a simple tweak in your mouth can immediately send a response up your face and shine through your eyes. Take a look!
This is a two-part step, one that deserves two in-depth tips. The first one is to prepare yourself by creating an inspiration board. That can be on Pinterest, screenshots on your phone, or cut-outs of magazines. But look at the poses you like, different facial gestures, body language. Know the kind of vibe you are going for and the attitude you want to be captured. Practice in the mirror, or practice taking photos of yourself.
Your eyes tell a story, you could be smiling without smiling at all.
Know your angles
Ah, yes. This is great to keep in mind, because of course as any photographer would, we help guide you and tell you how to move, etc. But if you already know which sides work best for you, that is half the battle, so when you are in the poses, you will already feel comfortable and confident. A great way to practice this on your own before the shoot is to practice in the mirror, take photos of yourself, and also look back at previous photos (selfies, photos taken of you, or taken in a group).
Another great tip, look at how you move. What is your body language? You want to learn how and where to put/move your hands and how to be loose and graceful in front of the camera. This will give you ease on your shoot day since you can already visualize how you may be looking. More great tips from other professionals can be found here.
Photographer Sue Bryce goes over techniques to relax your body and learn how to be comfortable with movement.
Watch to see how your body language plays a huge role in how you look and feel in front of the camera.
Be in the moment and HAVE FUN
Forget about the rest of the world and just be in the here and now. Be mindful of your thoughts because whatever you begin to focus your energy on mentally, will show on camera. Just have fun and enjoy this little getaway for a day where you get to be the star. Play the kind of music that gets you feeling good, and puts a smile on that beautiful face. Also know that you can talk to your photographer, if something is feeling uncomfortable, let them know and see how it can be adjusted.
Have Confidence
I’ve told you before ladies, this is the number one key to anything. Confidence. If this doesn’t come naturally to you, fake it till you make it honey, because trust me, it’s there. No matter what the angle, the look, the clothes, this is the number one thing that will shine the brightest. So if you need a pep-talk before shooting to boost your mood, go get it!
Because this is your moment.
Let’s Book a Session!