Overcoming Your Fear: How to Be Comfortable on Camera

As a personal branding photographer, I spend most of my time taking photos of my fellow entrepreneurs — just like you!

 

And, that means that, a lot of the time, I have clients who tell me, “ugh, Jess… I HATE being on camera.”

 

I get it. To be honest, I don’t looooove being on camera, either. I understand the anxiety that it brings around how you look and present yourself, and I know that it’s not always fun for a lot of people.

 

But, at the same time, taking personal branding photos for your business is so, so important. Those photos help you represent yourself, they give your business a professional face, and they help you develop recognition and relationships and *so* many other things.

 

The trick? To strike that perfect little balance between being not-so-comfy on camera and also still really willing to rock it anyways.

 

I’ve got you, too. I’m sharing how you can finally get over your fear of being on camera, so that you can have personal brand photos that light you up from the inside out.

 

Because, I promise: it’s so, so possible!

 

Here’s why being comfortable in front of the camera is so important.

To put it lightly, we live in a very digital age — and, for a lot of us, being on camera is a pretty important part of the job (in a lot of ways). From taking photos to shooting video to even being on news segments, cameras are everywhere… and it’s really important to be okay with that! After all, you want to put your best face and foot forward whenever you can, huh?

 

Plus, you’re an incredible entrepreneur. I. Know. It. By being comfortable in front of the camera, you can portray that confidence that — even if it’s hidden — is there. While you don’t need to love taking photos (and that’s ok!), gaining confidence and comfort in front of the camera can genuinely help you portray that rockstar you have in you.

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3 Tips on Overcoming Your Fear of Being on Camera

Do you need help when it comes to overcoming your fear of being on camera? You know I’ve got you covered with these 3 tips! From preparation all the way to your choice of photographer, you’ve got this. I just know it.

 

  1. Prep for your photoshoot.

My #1 tip to getting comfortable in front of the camera is always going to be preparation, preparation, preparation! See, a lot of anxiety around photos comes from unpreparedness in the first place — not knowing what to expect, not knowing what to wear, and not knowing what your goals are with your photoshoot. When you *do* know what to expect, what to wear, and what your goals are, so much of that anxiety and fear fades right away.

 

Here are a few of my fave preparation methods for my clients (and why I always send them a Client Prep Guide in the first place):

  • Choose, iron, and lay out every outfit you want to wear on your photoshoot a day or so before the session — including every accessory you want to wear, too! (Psst… I’d definitely recommend trying your entire outfits on, too.)
  • Send your photographer any inspiration images that you may want to lean towards at your shoot.
  • Make sure you know exactly where you’re going for your photoshoot, when you need to leave, and where you’re going to park. (Ideally, your photographer will share this with you!)
  • Create a list of goals for your photoshoot and share them with your photographer so that he or she can help you make the most out of your session.

 

  1. Find a photographer you genuinely trust.

When you’re looking for a service provider (whether it be a plumber or a realtor or an assistant), you want to be able to trust them… right?! Definitely — and this 1,000% goes for the photographer you hire, too. When you search for a photographer to do your personal branding photos, don’t be afraid to really look around. Choosing someone that you genuinely click with and trust is key to relieving any of the fear you have around your photoshoot in the first place… and choosing someone you know you align with is sure to get you great photos, too.

 

  1. Remember: you are always your own worst critic.

Self confidence is really, really hard – it just is. (And, for the record, that’s okay). However, there’s something you need to understand: and it’s that you are always going to be the worst critic of yourself. And, when you really get to the root of the problem with a fear of the camera, it’s more likely than anything a fear of other people’s opinions. While I know that reading that isn’t going to make it something you instantly no longer have problems with, let it guide you on your photoshoots. More than anything, remembering that you are very likely the only person who notices a hair out of place — because, I promise, you are.

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