If I had a pound for every time someone said, “I just don’t know what to do in front of the camera,” I’d probably be typing this from a quiet Dutch island—surrounded by long sandy beaches, wind in my hair, sipping something warm while watching the tide roll in.
The truth is, being photographed can feel weird. We’ve all been on the receiving end of a stiff, awkward photo—where our face doesn’t quite look like ours and our body suddenly feels like it belongs to someone else. So if you’re already bracing yourself for that same old “stand here, turn there, smile!” routine… I get it.
But here’s the good news: I don’t really pose people.
Instead, I guide. Gently. Kindly. Naturally.
My headshots and branding photo sessions are designed to feel more like a conversation than a photoshoot. We chat, we move, sometimes we even dance. The focus isn’t on posing—it’s on helping you feel like yourself. Because that’s where the magic happens: when you relax, laugh, and forget for a moment that the camera is even there.
Here are four of my go-to ways to help people feel (and look) more like themselves in front of the lens:
Posing Tip 1: Move, move, move.
That frozen “camera face” thing? We ditch it right away. I might have you walk slowly toward the light, turn in place, shake out your shoulders, or dance a little if the music’s good. Movement isn’t just good for the body—it helps you think less about the camera, helps loosen up your energy and brings a sense of you into the frame. This is an article I wrote about using music during your brand photoshoot, which also includes a great confidence boosting Spotify playlist!
Posing Tip 2: Talk about what you love.
Seriously. Whether it’s your dog, your business idea, your last holiday, or that one book you keep coming back to—I’ll ask you about the things that light you up. Why? Because when you talk about something you care about, you soften. You smile. You forget to feel self-conscious. That’s the moment I’m waiting for.
Posing Tip 3: ….and breathe.
Sounds obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to forget. When you take a deep breath, your shoulders drop, your jaw softens, and your whole posture shifts. One breath can change the energy of a photo more than any fancy pose ever could. Try it—inhale, exhale, soften.
Posing Tip 4: gentle prompts
Sometimes, I’ll offer a soft prompt—“just lean in a little,” or “look toward the light.” But I’ll never contort you into something that doesn’t feel right. The best photos aren’t about performance. They’re about presence. My job is to create the space where that presence can shine through.
If you’ve been putting off booking a session because you’re worried you’ll feel awkward or “not photogenic,” I hear you. But you don’t need to know what to do. You just need to show up.
I’ll take care of the rest.
Ready to feel like yourself in front of the camera?
I photograph branding and headshot sessions in London and across the UK and the Netherlands, and I’d love to help you create images that feel genuine, relaxed, and make you feel this is you.
You can email me with any questions, or go ahead and book a free discovery call here to chat through your ideas and see if we’re a good fit.
