A shot from a personal branding shoot.

 

Getting comfortable in front of the camera

You've been dreading this headshot photo shoot, but now it's time. You've done everything you need to prepare for your shoot.

You enter the studio nervously because you hate having your picture taken. It makes you feel awkward. You're afraid you'll look unprofessional. You're not sure what to do because you're way out of your comfort zone. And that's before you even get in front of the camera.

How in the world are we going to get good photos you wonder to yourself. The answer is what I call "the shift".

What is "the shift?"

The shift is what happens when the insecurities are forgotten, your heart rate comes back down, and you start to relax, allowing your true personality to show.

It happens when you forget about being in front of the camera because you're being given direction on things like where to stand or how to tilt your head.

It happens when we start working together as a team rather than as a photographer and subject.

I call it the shift because for most people it's very noticeable. I can see it when your brow releases the tension it's been holding, the smiles become genuine, and you begin to automatically repeat the direction I've been given.

How long does it take to get comfortable?

Generally speaking, for the vast majority of people, not very long. I started getting you comfortable before I even picked up a camera by taking a few minutes just to talk about the shoot. By building some rapport, you're naturally going to acclimate to being in a new environment with new people.

The time I spend tweaking the lighting also helps you get comfortable in front of the camera. Just being under the lights for a couple of minutes with nothing to do really helps ease the anxiety. I begin by taking a few test shots to make sure the light is perfect, but that pretty seamlessly switches to the actual shoot. By then I've had people tell me they didn't even know we had really started.

What are some things that can help me relax during the shoot?

As I mentioned earlier, just concentrating on my direction is usually enough to take your mind off things. It can be a lot, so you'll have to listen closely.

We also take breaks when necessary. I try to make sure we schedule enough time so that there's no time pressure for the shoot. This means we can pause for a second to get a deep breath or take five if we just want to rest.

One thing that I do for sessions is to shoot tethered into my computer so that we can see the images as they're being taken. I'll show you the images as we take them, so you'll be able to see how great you're doing.

What if I still feel self-conscience?

Sometimes that happens, but it's completely normal. Occasionally people need a little longer to get warmed up, especially if they have some insecurities about their appearance.

When that does happen, we'll just keep working. With enough time, I've never had anyone not be able to eventually relax.

So if you're dreading the thought of having to do a headshot, just remember that the shift into being comfortable in front of the camera will happen.

If you'd like more information about doing a headshot photo session, here some resources to help get your started.

Here's our introductory web page, how to prep for a headshot session, how often you should update your headshot, and a bit about personal branding.

To get more details, get in touch.