How To Feel More Confident In Front Of The Camera

We all know how important images are for our business – especially images of ourselves as the face of our business. I hear from many business owners that the number 1 reason they avoid having headshots or a brand shoot is because they hate having their photo taken and they don’t feel confident in front of the camera. Is this you? I can certainly relate to feeling like this!

So, how do we help ourselves to feel more confident in front of the camera? Here are my top tips;

The Right Outfit

Clothes can have a huge impact about how confident we feel. Choosing comfortable, flattering clothes can give us a real boost and feel good factor. If you love shopping as much as I do, a new outfit can be a real pick me up and help to make you feel good and even excited about your shoot. Putting the outfit on and taking a few snaps before your shoot will give you an idea on what you look like in the outfit and what you might add or change before your shoot. Loose fitting dresses and tops might feel really comfy to wear, but may exaggerate our shape or size on the images.

Hair & Make-up

You don’t have necessarily get your hair & make-up professionally done (although it can be a right treat if you do!). A recent trip to the hairdressers or a new lippy can get you excited for your shoot. Spending a bit more time on your hair and make-up for your shoot can make you feel much more confident. A good hair day is definitely a feel good boost.

Planning With Your Photographer

Choosing the right photographer is definitely a huge factor in helping you to feel more confident in front of the camera. Choosing a photographer you are comfortable with can make all the difference to how you feel on the day. By planning in advance, you know what to expect and can have some input into the outcome from your shoot. With all of my shoots, we have a planning session on zoom and then collaborate on a mood board in pinterest which is a great way of sharing ideas and gathering inspiration. It is my job to help you feel at ease and to help you to enjoy your shoot, which helps you to feel more confident in front of the camera on shoot day.

Have Fun But Be Authentic

You will only feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera if you are being you and not trying to act in a certain way. For example, twirling round and jumping up and down is fun if it feels natural to you. Playing around with poses is great, but I always let you lead this and encourage what happens naturally, rather than asking you to do things you feel self conscious about doing. We play around with different actions and poses such as walking, sitting down. These often help you feel more confident and at ease.

Have A ‘Be Kind’ Mindset

We really do have a lot to answer for when it comes to how we make ourselves feel. We home in on the personal hang ups we have about ourselves- and often have a warped perception of how others see us and what they notice. When you see a picture of a friend you see positives- their smile, how happy they look, how lovely their hair might look, that they look like they are having fun. We don’t look at specific features, weight, wrinkles, clothes etc! We have to remember others do not see us as we see ourselves. Ultimately, the photos of us are not really for us- they are being taken to help us connect with others. Next time you look at a photo of yourself, turn the negatives around. Look at the positives and think about what a client might see when they look at your picture. Ultimately you are trying to form a connection through your images, showing you are friendly, approachable etc.

Last but not least, have some fun! Make the most of the opportunity to focus on you and your business to get some great images that you are excited about sharing.

headshot of woman in brand photoshoot

Headshot for Gulshen Bano from Strike Back Self Defence

Headshot of a woman leaning on a wall in Leamington spa

Headshot in jephson gardens, warwickshire

Confident to book the shoot but not quite sure what images you need? Sign up for your free guide- Top 5 photo ideas for your website.

Claire xo