How to Boost Confidence in Portraiture
One of my favorite moments as a photographer is being able to encourage and uplift others to see the good in themselves. When a client says, ‘Wait, that’s me?!', ‘I actually look like that?’, or ‘wow’, I know that I’m a part of that person’s journey. Recently, a client said “I usually don’t like my nose because it’s big; but, I actually really like my nose in this shot’. Being able to be a part of moments where people embrace and love who they are is one of the most incredible parts of my job. Here are some recent portraiture shots from a group lifestyle shoot. In this article, I’ll walk you through a few ways you can boost your confidence for photos.
Nervous or Anxious? Often the jitters show up in photos as a tense jaw line and shyness. The best way to combat this tenseness is some of the following: a good or cheesy joke, shaking out the shoulders with a roll, or taking a deep breath and relaxing the jaw line by opening your mouth just a tiny bit after breathing out that tension.
2. Point out the good aspects in photos taken thus far of the client and let the client see photos as you move around periodically. This also allows the client to get excited or point out their concerns so that you can address the hiccups and assure desired results.
3. Think of a moment. To bring emotion to the images, I often have clients think of a moment that brings them joy. I also have folks thing of a really serious moment for creating a different mood. Once the client has the moment ready and top of mind, the rest comes naturally. You can also try having the client imagine different scenarios to match the desired look.
4. Ask the client about what they enjoy + Scout out comfortable locations. We’re typically not stressed when in the middle of what we enjoy. I’ve seen so many surfers become very laid back and chill after a stressful day at the office. I wouldn’t bring up what stresses unless it’s something pertaining to the shoot; in that case, do what is necessary to fix and resolve those concerns before you continue shooting. In fact, I often discuss beforehand any concerns so that we can plan location and other details accordingly. For instance, if it’s a busy area and the onlookers are too much — Find a better nearby spot, where it’s easier to not worry about passerby's and noise distractions. A photoshoot should be an enjoyable experience.
5. Become an expert in the portfolio that you want to shoot for clients. Photo skills don’t come overnight. Creating meaningful and impactful imagery is an art that takes years of dedication and learning to attain. Instead of just shooting anything, find out what you have a natural eye for and what excites you. Focus more on composition and learning the exposure triangle to achieve what you’re looking for in camera than staying within your comfort zone or jumping around with gear. This will allow you to find your unique style and keep you experimenting with new ideas to your hearts content. If you don’t get giddy and excited over editing another round of portraiture or surf photography, find what you uniquely enjoy — maybe that’s weddings, events, or even macro leaf shots in your local park. The options to taste different field of photography are wide and varied. Find what excites you and that will translate to a better experience for you and your clients.
This last point is important because you, as the photographer, will play a big part in making the client nervous or at ease depending on your demeanor. The way you represent yourself matters. If you are tried and true within your area of photography, clients will have a foundation of quality work to rely on and in turn trust your work and often give you the creative freedom. Show your skills through listening, planning, and catering to client needs. Good photos come from good experiences.
I hope this will help with creating an enjoyable photoshoot experience and helping you or your clients to be at ease during your next shoot. If you have anything to add to the discussion, please add it below.
Take care,
Nicole
