How to Feel Comfortable in Front of the Camera

Here is something most people are surprised to hear: nearly everyone I photograph starts the session feeling a little awkward. Confident people, shy people, people who model for a living. The camera makes us self-aware in a way very little else does.

The good news is that comfort isn't a personality trait you either have or don't. It's something we can build together, gently, in the first ten minutes. These are the things that help most.

Before the session

Tell me what worries you. Your smile, your arms, the way you stand, a scar you'd rather not see. There is nothing I haven't heard, and knowing ahead of time means I can quietly work around it without you ever having to think about it again.

Choose clothes you already love. A session is not the day to break in new shoes or wear something that needs constant adjusting. If you feel like yourself in it, it will show. (There's a whole guide to what to wear if you'd like more help.)

Pick a place that means something. A favourite park, your garden, the field at the end of your road. Familiar places lower our guard in a way unfamiliar studios rarely can.

You don't need to know how to pose. You only need to be willing to be yourself for an hour. The rest is my job.

During the session

We start slowly. The first few minutes are for walking, talking and letting you forget about the camera. I'm not looking for "the shot" yet. I'm learning how you move and what makes you laugh.

I give prompts, not poses. Instead of "tilt your chin twenty degrees", I'll ask you to walk towards me and tell me about your weekend, or whisper something ridiculous to your partner. Real expressions follow real moments.

Breathe out. It sounds almost too simple, but most stiff photographs come from held breath. A slow exhale softens the shoulders and the face at the same time. I'll remind you.

Movement is your friend. Walking, swaying, fixing a sleeve, brushing hair away from your face. Stillness is hard for most of us; small movements look natural because they are.

After the session

Give yourself grace when your gallery arrives. We are all our own harshest critics, and it takes a moment to see ourselves the way the people who love us already do. Look again tomorrow. Most people find their favourites change once the first wave of self-consciousness passes.

If you're still unsure about being photographed, send me a message. We can talk it through with no commitment at all — sometimes simply knowing what to expect is enough.