Confidence in front of the camera is something that a lot of people struggle with. If this is you, don’t worry, you are not alone.
Once that lens is turned in your direction, most people automatically tense up, get sweaty, start to fidget and basically forget how to be a human.
Having a camera lens pointed in your direction means you are captured in all your glorious self… Which is not an appealing thought for some. You may feel you’re not good looking enough, you’re too fat, too thin, too many chins, have an awkward smile. The list goes on.
We get it, having your photo taken is highly stressful for some. But sometimes, having your picture taken is unavoidable. And to make the process a lot easier and far more enjoyable for you, we’ve come up with the top 10 tips to build your confidence in front of the camera.
1. Dress Comfortably
One of the most important tips we can give is to dress comfortably. The more comfortable you are the more comfortable you are going to be in front of the camera. Choose your favourite outfit that you not only look good in but you enjoy wearing.
A common misconception with photography is you need to buy a new outfit for your photo session. This is not the case. As long as your outfit is in good condition and is not particularly loud, busy or overpowering, then wearing an old favourite is perfectly fine.
2. Allow Plenty of Time
All good photo shoots take time. But it’s not just the time in front of the lens that you need to consider. It’s also the time to prepare before your shoot and time to wind down after.
It’s always a good idea to allow yourself plenty of time before, during and after so you are not feeling rushed when you arrive and don’t have to rush off after. The more relaxed you are on photo day is going to help you be more confident and in control in front of the camera… So, allow yourself extra time.
3. Communicate
Communication is always a good step toward confidence. If you haven’t experienced a photo shoot before or you are not sure what the process is, then naturally this can raise your anxiety and reduce your confidence in the outcome.
Speaking to your photographer about your photo shoot and having them explain the process to you will help considerably to alleviate any worries you have about the session. Knowing what the steps are and communicating with your photographer at each step will help you build your confidence in front of the lens.
4. Ban Negative Self-Talk
Most of the time when we lack confidence we have run through scenarios in our head, thought about what could go wrong and talked negatively about ourselves and our abilities. For your photo shoot, ban yourself from doing this.
Don’t tell yourself that you’re going to look bad, smile awkwardly or embarrass yourself. Ban the negative self-talk all-together as it will only chip away at your confidence and manifest situations that are simply not going to happen.
Remind yourself how great you are and how amazing you are going to look in your photos. So amazing that you wish you had photos taken sooner!
5. Be Prepared
Being organised and prepared for your photoshoot will definitely boost your confidence in front of the camera. Knowing that you have prepared for the day, you have your favourite outfit on, your hair and makeup is looking great, and you are relaxed can make all the difference to your confidence.
6. Trust your Photographer
Even if you are not feeling particularly confident, your photographer is. They are confident in their ability to make you look good and present you with amazing photos that you are going to love.
When you let go of control and put your trust in your photographer, then you are allowing space for your confidence to grow. Your photographer is a professional. They know what they are doing and will be working with you to make sure you are at ease with the process. Trust this.
7. Look Beyond the Lens
Another great tip that we share with our clients is to look beyond the lens. Pretend it’s not even there. Look and interact with the photographer directly. This will help to make you feel and act more relaxed.
8. Don’t Force It
We never recommend you try and force confidence. It’s okay to admit you are not confident in front of the camera. You are definitely not alone with this and it’s better to acknowledge you’re struggling rather than trying to force it.
Again, a good photographer will work with you to capture shots that look as natural as possible without you having to force it. And again, this comes back to communicating effectively and trusting your photographer to present you at your very best.
9. Let Go of Expectations
One of the biggest confidence killers is having unrealistic expectations. We highly encourage you to let go of all expectations when entering your photo shoot and simply go with the flow.
Your photographer has likely briefed you on the process so you should be aware of what to expect in relation to the photography session. But if you’re expecting to look bad in your images, or you’re expecting not to know how to stand, pose or act in front of the camera, we say, let these expectations go.
Don’t overthink it. Just because you’ve never experienced a photo session before doesn’t mean you are going to be bad at it. Head into your session without any preconceived notions of how you expect the day to go and you will find that you will be more relaxed and confident.
10. Relax and Have Fun
Once you’ve let go of the expectations, as well as the negative self-talk, there will be nothing left for you to do other than to relax and have fun!
When you are relaxed and having fun there is a far greater chance of you exuding confidence in front of the camera. Guaranteed!
Ready to book your confidence-boosting photo shoot? Give our office a call today and let’s talk about the session you had in mind.
