You know that awful feeling when someone points a camera at you and suddenly you forget what to do with your face?
Your shoulders tense up. Your smile feels forced. You become painfully aware of your hands. And the more you think about looking natural, the less natural you feel.
Sound familiar?
I’ve photographed hundreds of people over the years, from business owners and professionals to actors and creatives. And one of the things I hear most often, usually within the first five minutes of meeting someone, is “I hate having my photo taken.”
Here’s something I’ve learnt. Most people aren’t naturally confident in front of a camera. And they don’t need to be.
Looking comfortable in photographs is a skill, and it’s one you can learn.
So, if you’ve been wondering how to be more confident in front of a camera, here are a few things that genuinely help.
1 – Stop trying to look good
I know. Strange advice from a professional photographer.
But one of the biggest mistakes people make is trying too hard to look a certain way.
They’ve got a particular smile in mind, or a pose they’ve seen someone else doing on Instagram. They’re so focused on getting it right that they forget to be themselves.
Instead, try shifting your attention away from how you look and towards how you feel.
Think about something that makes you happy. Talk to the person behind the camera. Let yourself react naturally rather than holding a fixed expression.
The best photographs usually happen when you stop thinking about the photograph.
2 – Give your hands something to do
“What should I do with my hands?”
If I had a pound for every time someone asked me that during a portrait session, I’d have a considerably more expensive camera collection.
Hands can feel awkward when you’re standing still, particularly if you’re not used to posing.
The solution is surprisingly simple. Give them a job.
Put one hand in your pocket. Rest your arms loosely across your body. Hold something relevant to your work. Adjust your jacket or gently bring your hands together.
You don’t need an elaborate pose. Just something that feels comfortable and gives your hands a natural place to be.
And don’t worry, a good photographer will help you with this.
3 – Keep moving
One of the quickest ways to look uncomfortable in a photograph is to stand completely still, holding the same smile for what feels like an eternity.
Movement changes everything.
Shift your weight from one foot to the other. Turn your shoulders slightly. Look away from the camera and then back towards it. Take a few steps.
These tiny movements help release tension and create more natural expressions.
When I’m photographing someone, I’ll often keep talking and shooting while they move between poses.
Sometimes the best photograph is the one taken between the poses, when they’re not expecting it.
4 – Remember to breathe
This sounds ridiculously obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people hold their breath when a camera appears.
Holding your breath creates tension in your face, neck and shoulders. None of which is particularly helpful when you’re trying to look relaxed.
Before the photograph, take a slow breath and let it out.
Drop your shoulders. Relax your jaw. Unclench your hands.
You don’t need to make a big performance of it. Just give your body permission to relax.
It’s a small change that can make a surprisingly big difference.
5 – Wear something that feels like you
A professional headshot doesn’t mean you suddenly need to dress like somebody else.
If you never wear a suit, turning up in one might make you feel uncomfortable before we’ve even picked up the camera.
Choose clothes that fit well, feel comfortable and reflect how you’d normally present yourself to clients, colleagues or the people you want to work with.
Avoid anything you’re constantly adjusting or worrying about.
Confidence comes much more easily when you’re comfortable in your own clothes.
6 – Stop worrying about your ‘bad side’
Almost everyone has an opinion about which side of their face looks better.
Some people have very strong opinions!
And while there are certainly angles and lighting setups that flatter different faces, the idea that you’ve got one good side and one bad side isn’t particularly helpful.
A skilled photographer will work with different angles, expressions and lighting to find what works for you.
You don’t need to figure all of that out beforehand.
That’s our job.
7 – Choose a photographer who makes you feel comfortable
This is probably the most important tip of all.
You can practise posing, rehearse your smile and spend hours choosing the perfect outfit. But if you feel uncomfortable with the person taking your photograph, it’ll probably show.
A good portrait session should feel like a conversation, not an exam.
You should have time to settle in, ask questions, see how the photographs are looking and experiment with different approaches.
I always tell people that they don’t need to know how to pose. I’ll guide them through the session, from where to stand and what to do with their hands to the smallest adjustments in posture and expression.
That’s part of what you’re paying a professional photographer for.
You don’t need to be photogenic. You just need to be yourself.
Here’s the thing I really want you to take away from all of this.
Being confident in front of a camera doesn’t mean becoming somebody who loves having their photograph taken.
It means feeling comfortable enough to let your personality show.
You don’t need a perfect smile, a model’s jawline or years of posing experience.
You just need a little guidance, some patience and a photographer who knows how to bring out the best in you.
If you’ve been putting off getting professional headshots because you hate having your photo taken, I’d love to help change that.
I photograph professionals, business owners and creatives at my studio in Cranleigh, Surrey, and on location across the Surrey Hills and beyond.
Have a look at my portrait photography sessions and prices and get in touch.
We’ll create photographs that look and feel like you, even if you arrive convinced you’re the least photogenic person in Surrey.
