Nervous About Getting Your Picture Taken?

"People are often nervous about getting in front of a professional camera. It's your job to help them relax and have an amazing experience".

This is the advice that has been drilled into me by photographers who are farther down this road than I am. Today, I'm going to confess something to you.

I don't like getting my picture taken.

It has less to do with nerves than the fact that I don't like how I look in pictures, the majority of the time. I don't particularly like my smile and I think that my eyes look sad if I don't have mascara on.

These things are issues I've been working on over the last few years, because I know that God made me and He doesn't make mistakes. I'm trying to learn to be happy with my smile and my eyes and not compare or be jealous of other people. (Although it is hard when your brother has killer dimples). Still, I don't like having my picture taken.

Why am I telling you this? To tell you that I can relate. It's okay to not want your photo taken. I can also tell you that a good photographer makes ALL the difference. One of my best friends did senior pictures for me (like the one to the right) and I actually like many of them because she makes me genuinely smile and laugh. We are planning to do another shoot soon for some updated pictures of me that I can use so that you can actually see me! Imagine that.

I've found, as the photographer, that I get the best photos when people are relaxed; the candid style photos. If I start with that, then when we have to move into some more traditional posed photos, people are relaxed and give me genuine smiles. It's kind of like back when you were in high school and college. If you think about it, your favorite classes where probably the ones with the best teachers who knew their subject really well, were passionate about it, and could teach it well. It had nothing (or at least very little) to do with the actual subject. I think the same thing applies to photography. You can get great photographs from two different photographers, but love one set more, because you had fun doing that session.

It's totally true for me, which is why my goal is to get you laughing and relaxed so that you can enjoy your session. Those feelings will translate to how you feel about your photos.

What has your experience been with photographers? I'd love to hear about it.

Blessings,
Sarah