I’m just back from what can only be described as a full-throttle, gloriously exhausting European holiday – and somewhere between Parisian Metro mishaps and Slovenian ziplines, I found myself thinking about confidence. Specifically, confidence in front of the camera – and how it shows up in the most unexpected ways.
So there I was: sweaty, more than slightly frazzled, and standing on a train platform in Trieste with a decision to make.
Picture this: six countries, five cities, four planes, countless trains, a few buses, a hired car with the steering wheel on the wrong side, and our family discovering that even the best of us occasionally need a bit of personal space.
Notable moments?
Somewhere along the way, we made a charming family discovery: being together 24/7 is too much. A week of it is fine, but two… ooooof. Even the closest-knit family benefits from the occasional strategic timeout. We all discovered we like our own space. A lot.
Well, here's how I got mine!
In which I panic (and do it anyway)
On the day we’d planned to go to Venice – tickets already booked – my daughter fell victim to the classic “dodgy holiday guts,” and my husband gallantly stayed behind with her.
And suddenly, I had a choice: stay put in Trieste with them, or head off to Venice alone.
For context, I’d never travelled abroad solo. Ever. The idea of a 2.5 hour train journey in a country where I don’t speak the language, with train strikes on several routes and at varying times, was not exactly giving me warm fuzzy feelings.
Actually, I was crapping it. What if I screwed up the trains and ended up in Rome? Or Switzerland? Or if my phone got nicked and I was stranded? The three battery packs I had in my bag would be no use then!
My brain was in overdrive, helpfully offering a full carousel of catastrophic scenarios, ranging from “you’ll definitely end up in Switzerland” to “your phone will get nicked, and you’ll spend the night on a bench next to the Grand Canal. Or worse, IN the Grand Canal, as you'll definitely get robbed and malkied.”
I almost bailed. But the thought of being in Venice again – which I last visited 25 years ago and loved – was too compelling. (And, if we’re being brutally honest, a solo day away from family debates over meal choices and “no, you can’t have a 25th ice cream today” was highly appealing.)
So I went.
And it was glorious.
I wandered at my own pace, took an utterly absurd number of photos, and spent aeons gawping at the Doge’s Palace artwork without anyone complaining that they were starving. Or bored. (And that’s just my husband.) It was, quite simply, the best decision I almost didn’t make.
The fear always comes first
Here’s what I learned that day: fear shows up before everything worthwhile. Not after. Not during. Always before.
It’s your brain doing its slightly overzealous job of keeping you safe. Because “safe” (in your brain’s opinion) means doing what you’ve always done. It means sticking to the group, avoiding uncertainty, and absolutely not hopping on a foreign train by yourself armed with the Google Translate phone app and a warm mozzarella sandwich for company.
But the part your brain tends to forget is that fear isn’t the end of the story.
I’ve seen this exact pattern – fear first, freedom later – play out again and again in my work, especially when it comes to building confidence in front of the camera. Especially with brilliant small-business owners who’ve been putting off being photographed for their business for years. Not because they don’t care about their business. But because it feels risky. Exposing. Too much. I mean ...
- What if I look awful?
- What if I feel awkward?
- What if it’s a waste of money?
- What if I hate every single photo?
These are real worries. I get it – I’ve had them too (and I’m the one behind the camera). But just like standing on that platform in Trieste, there’s a moment where you realise: the fear is not going away. The only way past it… is through it.
What changed when I JFDI'd it
That solo day in Venice turned out to be utterly brilliant. I can't even begin to explain exactly how brilliant.
I wandered aimlessly in the most relaxed way. Took an utterly ridiculous number of photos. Didn't bother stopping for food, because who needs food when there's something incredible to see around every corner? Spent a frankly indecent amount of time gawping at the Doge’s Palace ceiling artwork without anyone moaning that they were “bored and dying.”
More than that, I felt… really chuffed with myself. Not for navigating the trains or not getting robbed (although, hey: small wins). But for doing the thing I was scared of. For not letting the fear talk me out of something I actually knew I’d love, just because the route there felt a bit scary.
And that’s the bit that sticks with me.
Because we so often think confidence comes before action – that we’ll do the thing once we feel braver. But it’s actually the other way round. You take the leap, scared and unsure, and then the confidence catches up.
It’s the same in business, isn’t it? You launch the new offer. You raise your prices. You post the photo that makes you feel a bit too visible. You book the photoshoot even though part of you would rather live off LinkedIn avatars from 2009.
And then? You breathe. You realise you didn’t die. And you get to enjoy what’s on the other side.
This is how confidence is built
The biggest myth about confidence is that you either have it or you don’t.
I can’t tell you how many of my clients – all smart, capable, successful women – have said things like, “I’m just not confident in front of the camera,” or “I’ll book a shoot once I feel better about how I look.” As if confidence is some magical ingredient they’re supposed to find before they’re allowed to show up.
But here’s the truth: confidence isn’t a pre-requisite. It’s a by-product. It comes from doing the thing you’re nervous about… and realising you can.
I’ve watched it happen again and again during shoots. The first few photos are always a bit stiff. There’s nervous laughter, some faffing with jackets, a bit of “do I look weird when I smile like this?” chat. And then – bit by bit – something shifts. You relax. You trust me. You see a glimpse of yourself in a photo and go, “Oh. That’s actually… not bad.”
By the end, you’re not just tolerating the process – you’re enjoying it. Feeling good in your own skin. Proud of how you’re showing up.
And those photos ... They don’t just capture what you look like. They become proof of what you’ve done – and how far your confidence in front of the camera has come. A visual reminder that you did something brave, and came out stronger for it.
You don’t have to go to Venice
I’m not saying you need to hop on a plane and wander the canals of Italy to feel like a brave business owner. (Although if you get the chance – do it. 10/10 would recommend.)
But I am saying that doing something that scares you – even a wee bitty – can unlock so much more than you expect.
Maybe, for you, that scary thing is booking a brand photo shoot. Putting yourself in front of a camera. Investing in your business in a way that feels visible, personal, and a tiny bit exposing. And I do get that. It’s not a small thing. But what if – like my unexpected solo trip – it turned out to be the very thing that brought you a sense of freedom, clarity, and confidence?
What if it made you look at your business in a new way – more legitimate, more polished, more you?
What if it finally gave you images you’re proud to share – ones that actually reflect who you are and how brilliant your work is?
That’s what I help my clients do. With patience. With strategy. And with an entire process designed to make you feel supported and capable, not like you’ve been shoved under a spotlight.
You don’t have to figure it all out yourself. I’ll guide you through it – gently, clearly, and with zero eye-rolling, no matter how many “bad side” jokes you make.
Let this be your sign
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment – the quieter season, the new haircut, the magical confidence boost – this might be it.
Not because everything has to be perfectly aligned. You don’t have to feel 100% ready. You just have to be willing to take the first step. To trust that future-you will thank current-you for being brave.
And I’ll be right there with you – helping you plan, guiding you through, and making sure you come away with photos that not only look fantastic but feel like you.
So if this struck a chord? Let’s talk.
You can read more about what’s included in my Soar package if you’re after a full, strategic image refresh. Or start smaller with Elevate if you just need a brilliant visual update.
Not sure what you need? This guide on what kind of business photography you need will help you work it out.
And if you’re still feeling nervous, my post on how to feel confident in your photo shoot might be exactly what you need to hear right now.
Or just drop me a message – there’s zero pressure and absolutely no hard sell.
Here’s to doing the scary things. To being proud of yourself on the other side. And to finally being seen – really seen – in your business.
