My 7 best tips for feeling confident on camera.
The number one thing I hear from clients and all the lovely people I chat to about photography is “but I hate being in front of the camera!” You know what? Me too, babe. I get it, I really do. You are not alone, you are not weird, and you are not less confident than the people you see with gorgeous, confident portraits- I promise you.
I’ve had a fair bit of practice helping people relax in front of the camera and I’ve pulled all my best tips together for you here. You’ve got this!
Kate Medlicott wears clothing and jewellery that complement her textiles and reflect her personality
1. Wear clothes that feel like you
It feels trite to start with a point about clothes, but what you wear can have a massive impact on how confident you feel on camera. My most important piece of advice is to wear clothes that feel like *YOU*. Don’t choose clothes based on what you think you should wear- choose clothes that make you feel like your best, most comfortable, confident self.
If you love bright colours, embrace that! They can be a great way to convey different moods and personas (relaxed, professional, celebratory etc). But if colour’s not your thing, don’t force it- you’ll look better in what you love. Stick to a colour palette that feels like you, and consider playing with texture instead. For example, you can wear all black but strike different notes through your shoot by switching up a structured jacket for a soft, textured knit- and still feel like you.
2. Preparation is key
The last thing you need on the day is to be stressing unnecessarily. Detailed planning ahead of the shoot, ensuring you’ve got your shot list, props and styling all considered and organised well ahead of time, will clear headspace for you on the day of the shoot itself. Sort your clothes out the day before- iron, steam, hang them up ready to go. Make sure your nails are presentable, whatever that looks like for you, and don’t experiment with new hairstyles the morning of the shoot- go with what you know works.
The Women’s Work Lab team in bright colours to reflect their uplifting message
3. Do an on-camera warm-up
Chat to your photographer about easing into the portrait shoot- I like to start with some warm-up shots of a client’s hands, some candid behind-the-scenes photos, and often take a few “test” shots (which sometimes turn out to be keepers!) where my client isn’t feeling the pressure to be “on”. It’s totally fine to ask for a few minutes to settle your nerves and build up to those look-down-the-lens shots, so work that into your shoot plan.
4. Visualise a connection
Ignore the camera lens for a second and imagine how you’d feel if a dear friend, one you haven’t seen in person for a long time, walked up to you in that moment. That feeling of warmth, excitement, connection? Grab hold of it and channel it as you pose- even when you relax your smile a bit for that “smile with your eyes” moment. Your eyes are where a portrait is made, and tapping into a positive emotion will shine through in the photos.
5. Get moving
If you feel stiff and awkward, you probably look stiff and awkward. Sorry. So- take a deep breath. Relax and shake out your arms, sway your hips, loosen your head. Lighten the mood and do a twirl on the spot. (You might roll your eyes but I give this prompt often on shoots and it is an absolute winner!)
Then, drop your shoulders and imagine a string pulling you up through your spine and up through the top of your head. Much better!
6. Find something to do with your hands
People often feel most awkward when they’re not sure what to do with their hands. Consider this ahead of time- is there a prop you can hold, like a notebook, cup of tea, tools of the trade? Incorporating these in a way that looks natural is ideal- chat to your photographer for ideas, or take a look at the examples below.
If you don’t have props or it’s not that kind of portrait, try loosely crossing your arms, placing one hand on your hip, tucking one in your pocket, or all of the above. Experiment and see what works best- keeping them moving will also keep you looking more relaxed and natural.
Use props to give your hands something to do and tell a bit more of your brand story- try and find a way to incorporate them in a natural way.
Find a way to incorporate natural props into your images to build story and give your hands something to do!
7. Work with someone you like
Finally, an obvious but overlooked point- work with a photographer you get on with. I offer no-obligation consultation calls for just this reason- I really want there to be a positive connection between us, so you’re comfortable and excited for our shoot. We’re all different personalities and no one gets on with everyone, so find the right person for you!
I hope these tips are helpful for boosting your confidence on camera. If you’ve got any others, I’d love to hear them!