Nervous about having your business photos taken?
This post is for you if…
Everyone you’ve seen in my online portfolio or on this blog has had these exact same concerns – including even myself at a recent photoshoot! So I know how y’all feel! But is that the end of the story or the beginning?
Instead of moving away from those uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, turn and look at them. Notice how they sound and what they are really telling you. Aren’t they just niggly doubts designed to protect you? Let’s take a few moments to reframe them!
I’m nervous about getting my photos done =I am nervous because I care about my business and I want to do my best!
I’ll look fat and I want to lose weight first =I love and accept myself how I am right now and others will too
I’ll feel fake and like a ‘try hard’ =I’ll have fun trying something new
I’d love to hear your reframing thoughts too, so leave me a comment with how you’ve changed the narrative in your brain to tackle new things.
We all hire experts for a reason. They might have years of experience to help guide us through journeys that are new to us or areas where we aren’t the expert.
It’s the same for photography for your business – hire experts who can help you look and feel your best. But hire someone who knows how to get the ultimate end result you are looking for because they’ve gotten it for others. I recommend that before you hire anyone – check out their portfolio. Is their work output similar to what you want to end up with for your business?
Then have a conversation with them. Do they make feel relaxed even just talking? Because this is going to help you on your big day when you aren’t feeling zen. As a brand and portrait photographer, it’s not only my job to know which poses and expressions are slimming, attractive and approachable, but it’s also my job to make you feel comfortable, relaxed and even happy.
Authenticity, empathy and joy are three of my strengths that I bring to the table in a shoot, besides my expertise. Taking pictures truly makes me happy and it comes through when we are together. I live and breathe making images. It’s not a serious task for me but a creative one and this is why I like to make it fun. I know that if we are having a good time, this will show up in the images, making you look professional but also really confident and exceptional.
Nearly all my clients have said afterward,
‘Gosh, I don’t know what I was worried about, that was actually a lot of fun.’
Once you’ve got a team behind you, you can relax a bit. It’s now the makeup and hairstylist’s job and the photographer’s job to make you look your best.
A lot of nervousness can be relieved once you know what to expect and learn what you need to succeed. During our planning session, we cover all the most common concerns and questions (such as how do you smile, how do you pose, what should you wear, what location, etc) as well as cover in-depth what you are ultimately wanting to get out of this investment? What are the images for, how will you use them, how many do you need? We create a fun, inspirational photo board to help guide us in what images you need and I may even look at your copywriting to determine the best visuals to go with the words.
On the day of the shoot, it’s time to manage your nervous energy as it builds. First, notice that when you are nervous your energycontracts. This is what leads to awkward photos, because what you feel on the inside shows through. So be mindful of how you are feeling on the inside when you are at your shoot. Are those doubts returning?
The best way to counteract this very natural feeling is toBreathe! A seasoned photographer will notice the tension in your body and will recommend some steps to alleviate them, like deep breaths or movement or music. If you aren’t with someone who’s noticed this, take a break, go to the bathroom perhaps, and catch your breath. Being in front of the camera is a lot like being on stage when those butterflies appear, it’s your body giving you the energy (and adrenaline) to expand into what’s required of you. Strangely, it causes us to pull our energy in. What you want to do instead is let it flow. Relax and fill yourself up with oxygen, from your toes to the top of your head, so you can feel good in this moment. That build-up of energy needs a release, so breathe it out!!
Some of my clients who are naturals at feeling at ease in front of a camera practise an additional mental adjustment. It’s similar to actors or other professionals who ‘switch gears’ to do their work. Besides breathing it out, these ‘on air’ naturals have a telephone booth moment kinda like Superman. Todd Herman talks about it in his bookThe Alter Ego Effect. It’s the moment when the teacher puts on their glasses. It’s a small signal to yourself that your persona is changing and you are channeling the energy and mindset you need to get the best result possible. Todd is an award-winning performance expert who reveals that creating a heroic alter ego is something you can activate when the pressure is on.Go check out his book if you want to learn how to do this, not just for photos, but for any task that requires a new you.
The more you get images done for your brand, the easier it becomes. It no longer feels like “it’s all about you” but is insteadabout the message, with you as the guide in between. Each shoot can capture a creative concept perfect for launching your next marketing campaign, your next course or new membership site. Pairing the words and images together for a powerful one-two punch that packs moreimpact, improving your reach and encourages more engagement.
Well, that’s up to you.
My advice is to step outside of your own limited beliefs and place yourself into the eyes of your audience. I can guarantee they will look past a stray hair and crooked necklace (they might even like that you don’t look too polished and perfect) and start to imagine themselves working with you. Through custom imagery created for your brand (called “brand photography”), potential clients and customers can get to know you easier online (after all this is why we take photos – for people who haven’t met us in person) and they will begin to like you if these images also portray your vibe and personality.
Brand photography helps you stand out in a sea of people online who do what you do. The more these photos represent your brand (and your point of difference) the more your ideal clients can find you.
If you don’t put yourself out there, then how can you market yourself and grow your business?
In case you haven’t heard it before (I do say it often) but your clients and audience like images. That’s because our brains can processimages up to 60,000 times fasterthan words.In fact, it can take a thousandwordsjust to describe what is in one picture. And,pictureshave the ability to convey abstract and complex information such as facial expressions.
So move past the nerves, past browsing through pexels.com and unsplash.com and looking at the same images everyone else uses, and hire a brand photographer! It’s an investment you won’t regret.
