Most people arrive at my studio with the same thought.
“I have no idea what I am doing.”
That’s completely normal.
It’s also not your job to know.
Before I picked up a camera professionally, I spent nearly two decades as a Chartered Financial Planner. Sitting across from people, talking about money, risk, and life decisions that actually mattered.
In that world, technical knowledge alone is never enough.
You need a good bedside manner. You need to put people at ease quickly. You need to read the room, listen properly, and guide without overwhelming.
That skill set never left.
It just transferred from the meeting room to the studio.
So when you step in front of my camera, you’re not left to figure it out alone. You’re guided. Gently, clearly, and constantly.
We’re usually chatting while we shoot. Adjusting light, tweaking camera settings, watching expressions, all at the same time. I’ve always been good at multitasking. I blame the ADHD.
Here are ten things you’re quite likely to hear me say during a shoot, and why they matter.
1 – “Turn your body slightly away from me.”
Standing square to the camera can feel natural, but it often looks flat, two dimensional.
A slight turn adds shape. It creates depth through the shoulders and torso, and instantly makes the image feel more considered.
It’s usually a small adjustment, but it makes a big difference.
2 – “Now bring your chin slightly forward and down.”
This one always gets an interesting reaction.
It feels odd when you do it, but it works.
Bringing the chin forward defines the jawline. Dropping it slightly keeps the eyes strong and engaged.
It’s one of the simplest ways to create a more confident, structured look.
3 – “Relax your shoulders.”
Tension shows up quickly in photos.
Shoulders creep up. Posture tightens. Everything starts to feel a little bit forced.
A small reminder to relax helps bring everything back down. The result looks more natural, more grounded.
4 – “Give me a slow breath in… and out.”
Breathing changes everything.
It softens expression. It releases tension. It brings you back into the moment.
Sometimes the best frame happens just after that exhale, when everything settles.
5 – “Look just past the camera.”
Eye contact is powerful, but it is not always the right choice for every frame.
Looking slightly off camera can feel more reflective, more thoughtful.
It adds variety to the set and often creates a different kind of presence.
6 – “Look off in this direction.”
A small shift in gaze can completely change the feel of an image.
This is less about precision and more about mood. It gives you something to focus on, which often relaxes the face and softens the expression.
It’s a simple prompt, but it opens up a different range of looks very quickly.
7 – “What do you normally do with your hands?”
Hands are where most people feel awkward.
So we give them something to do. Resting lightly, adjusting clothing, moving naturally.
Nothing forced. Just enough to stop that “what do I do now?” feeling.
8 – “Take a small step towards me.”
Movement brings life into the frame.
A slight step, a shift of weight, even a subtle lean changes how the body sits and how the light falls.
It also helps break that static, posed feeling.
9 – “Hold that… and now relax it slightly.”
Often, the magic is in between.
You move into a position, hold it for a moment, and then ease out of it just a touch.
That transition is where things start to feel real rather than posed.
It is a small shift, but it often creates the strongest frame.
10 – “That’s great. Keep going!”
This might be the most important one.
Because confidence builds momentum.
Once you feel like you are doing something right, everything relaxes. Expression becomes more natural. Movement feels easier.
My job isn’t just to direct you.
It’s to create an environment where you can settle into it and start to enjoy the process.
It Is Not About Posing Perfectly
You don’t need to remember any of this.
You don’t need to practise in the mirror or arrive with a plan.
All you need to do is show up.
The direction is there to support you. To guide you. To take away the pressure of “getting it right”.
Because the best portraits don’t come from perfect posing.
They come from small moments of connection, shaped gently in the right direction.
And that’s what we are aiming for, every time.
