A few weeks ago, I photographed Liv, a young woman with the whole world ahead of her. She had just gotten a fresh haircut and wanted updated portraits to mark the new season she was stepping into.
But here’s the thing: she wasn’t sure how she felt about her new look. She admitted she was nervous to be photographed, because she didn’t know if the haircut actually looked good on her.
At the start of the session, I noticed her eyes kept drifting. Her body was present, but her mind was somewhere else. So I paused the shoot and asked her what she was thinking about. She told me the truth: she was fixated on how she looked, replaying thoughts about whether she looked “good enough.”
This happens all the time—even with models. Especially after a big change in appearance, the camera has a way of magnifying our insecurities and making them feel like the only thing that matters. But they’re not.
I reminded Liv why she booked this session in the first place. “What if, instead of thinking about how you look, you think about your upcoming move to New York City? About the opportunities waiting for you, about how exciting it’s going to be for you and your partner, and all the doors this move will open. Plus,” I told her, “worrying about how you look? That’s my job. I’ve got you covered.”
From that point on, something shifted. She softened. She flowed. She stopped performing for the camera and started beingwith it.
Later, in her feedback form, Liv wrote:
“I realized my purpose was to just be and flow. You really helped me channel my confidence! I felt so confident and pretty after. I took that feeling into my everyday life!”
And that’s the heart of it.
When we stop obsessing over what we can’t control, we create space to lean into what we can. In front of the camera, your only job is to feel confident and present. Looking good? That’s mine.
If you’ve been holding back from booking photos because you’re worried about how you’ll look, I want you to know—that’s not your job. It’s mine. Let’s talk about how I can help you feel supported and confident. Schedule a Connection Call today.
Be the first to comment