Three Ways To Feel More Comfortable & Confident During Your Photo Shoot

Having been a full-time photographer for almost a decade and a half, you’d think I’d be SUPER comfortable in front of the camera when it’s my turn to be photographed. But surprisingly, I still freeze up sometimes and find myself wondering “what do I do with my hands?!” just like my clients do! Here are three easy ways to feel more comfortable & confident during your photoshoot.


  1. Take the opportunity to get your hair and makeup professionally done. This tip isn’t for everyone, but if you’re someone who enjoys getting hair & makeup done, I highly suggest you do it for the shoot! Not only will it give you a confidence boost knowing you look your best, but your makeup artist is likely familiar with makeup for photoshoots, and should know the proper amount to make your face really pop in your photos! This is definitely important for headshots, as many people use their headshots for 5+ years… you want it to be perfect!

  2. Practice posing in front of a full-length mirror. Will you feel silly? Probably. Will it help you feel LESS silly at the shoot? YUP. It’s amazing how a slight movement of your hips or transfer of body weight from front to back can make a huge difference in your photos. If you’re doing headshots, senior photos, or any other type of solo shoot, practice sitting in front of a mirror & moving your body around to find good angles. If you’re doing family photos, grab your spouse or a kiddo and practice standing next to them, behind them, etc to discover your best side & ways you feel make you look the most confident & photogenic!

  3. Leave your house EARLY. I can’t stress this enough! Most of the time, when clients are running late, they’re panicking about traffic, parking, etc. Many couples get into fights en route to photoshoots, and I get it! It’s super stressful! Leaving early ensures you’re calm & comfortable on the way to the photos, and that vibe will absolutely carry itself through the shoot. If things are chaotic leading up to the shoot, you’ll likely still feel stressed out and chaotic during the shoot (and we all know how good kids are at picking up on that!).

I hope these helped! I’m hoping to do more series like these to help you prepare for your San Diego photoshoot. What other tips would you like me to write about? Leave them in the comment section below!