by Sarah Wills
A Journey to Camera Confidence, Part 2
View the first blog in the series: The science behind why we hate having our photo taken
For a lot of us getting in front of the camera, especially for a professional photo shoot, can be a daunting prospect. You may worry about how you will look in the final photos or perhaps you feel self-conscious and awkward. It’s hard to ‘just act natural’ when you have a camera pointed at you! So what can we do to help us feel more relaxed and confident in front of the camera?
I had a chat with one of my lovely photographer friends Ginny Marsh. Not only is Ginny an amazing photographer (my camera confidence goal is to book in a boudoir shoot with her!!) but she is also a body confidence coach.
Ginny kindly agreed to be my guest blogger for the 2nd instalment of my Journey to Camera Confidence series! Below are her tips for feeling more camera confident!
Over to Ginny….
Hello, lovely! Are you one of those people who feel a little nervous when a camera is pointed at you? Do you struggle with feeling confident and comfortable in front of the lens? You may hate seeing yourself in photos and can only see all your flaws. If so, don’t worry; I’ve got you! You’re definitely not alone. Many people feel the same way, including most of my clients. I’ve also been in the same place you are – I was the most self-critical person when it came to seeing myself in photos, and I was a nightmare in front of the camera! I felt so awkward.
The good news is that I will tell you a few things you can do to boost your camera confidence and work towards feeling great in front of the camera, giving you much more relaxed natural photos! It works because I’ve done it myself, and now I like having my picture taken and seeing myself in photos. I worked on loving myself more and practiced until it got easier, so I know it can for you too.
Here are my 5 top tips to help you feel more camera confident:
1. Practice in front of the mirror
One of the best ways to boost your camera confidence is to practice posing and smiling in front of a mirror. This can help you get a better sense of what angles and poses work best for you, and you can experiment with different facial expressions until you find the ones that make you feel the most confident and comfortable. Please note: Beware of negative self-talk when looking at your reflection! Ignore anything you don’t like and focus on what you do like. What’s the kindest and most empowering thing you can say to yourself?
2. Wear clothes that make you feel good
When you’re wearing clothes that make you feel good, you’ll automatically feel more confident in front of the camera. Choose outfits that you love and that flatter your body shape, and make sure you feel comfortable in them too. This will help you feel more relaxed and at ease during your photo shoot. Do you love to wear jewellery? Consider even wearing some sexy underwear that makes you feel good – nobody else has to see it or know (unless it’s a boudoir shoot of course!)
3. Visualise your happy place
Shift your attention away from your insecurities and allow yourself to imagine that you are looking fabulous! Often, we tend to appreciate natural photographs of ourselves, especially those captured during happy occasions like weddings, when we’re feeling confident and carefree, without being too self-conscious about our appearance or the camera.
To achieve a natural and relaxed photo, you need to stop thinking about the camera and your appearance and, instead, concentrate on something else that fills you with joy and peace! You may have to use visualisation or meditation to achieve this. Close your eyes and have a little daydream for a moment.
Consider directing your thoughts towards topics that bring you joy, such as your hobbies, your favourite aspects of your life, your happy place, or your most cherished travel memory.
4. Practice deep breathing and positive affirmations
Before your photo shoot, take some time to practice deep breathing and positive affirmations to help calm your nerves and boost your confidence. Close your eyes, take a deep breath in, and exhale slowly. Repeat positive affirmations to yourself, such as “I am confident and beautiful”, “I am worthy of being photographed”, “I can do this and have fun”, or “I love and accept myself just as I am”.
5. Have FUN!
Finally, remember to have fun! Don’t take yourself too seriously, and enjoy the experience. Smile, laugh, and have a good time. When you’re relaxed and having fun, you’ll naturally feel more confident and this will show in your photos.
There you have it – my top 5 tips for boosting your camera confidence. Remember, it’s okay to feel a little nervous or self-conscious, but with a little bit of practice (it may even take a few photoshoots) and these tips, you’ll be feeling like a pro in no time. So, go ahead and book that photo shoot, strike a pose, and show the camera what you’ve got!
About Ginny
I’m Ginny Marsh – a portrait photographer at Gorgeous You Photography, and body confidence & wellbeing coach at Gorgeous You Coaching.
I’m all about feeling good and accepting (and loving) ourselves on a deeper level than just our appearance so that we can improve our relationships and be more help to others. It’s my mission to give women the gift of body confidence because I suffered with low self-esteem and low self-confidence most of my life.
In my spare time, I love to practice yoga and meditation, sing in the Rock Choir, and on a weekend you’ll usually find me walking in nature, exploring somewhere new, out in my kayak, or swimming. I also love a good dinner party and any excuse for tea and cake!
I also love hosting and going to retreats and festivals… I’m a trained cacao ceremony facilitator and love teaching people about cacao’s amazing health benefits and feel-good properties (it’s a yummy natural anti-depressant).
Download my free guide: How to get more Camera Confident in 5 Steps
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