Figuring out how to feel confident in your photo shoot can feel like a bit of a mystery, let's be honest. You want to look natural, but suddenly, you don’t know what to do with your hands. You’re trying to smile, but it feels more like a rictus grin. Sound familiar?
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If you’ve ever felt nervous about a business photo shoot, you’re not alone
Even the most confident business owners can feel a bit unsure when the lens is pointing at them. It’s not that you don’t love what you do or that you’re not proud of your business – but the moment you step in front of the camera, you become hyper-aware of every tiny movement.
Should you stand straighter? Cross your arms? Tilt your head? And what the blooming norah are your hands even doing?!
The good news? None of that actually matters as much as you think. Your brand photo shoot isn’t about looking perfect – whatever the hell that even means. It’s about showing you – the real, relatable, brilliant person behind your business.
You KNOW how important professional photography is for your business ... People connect with people, after all, and that means your photos should reflect who you are, not just what you do.
The best brand photos aren’t stiff, posed, and forced
They’re the ones where you look comfortable, at ease, and completely yourself.
That’s exactly what I help my clients achieve. Whether I’m photographing business owners in Edinburgh, across Scotland, or beyond, my focus is always on helping them feel at home in front of the camera – even if they usually hate having their photo taken.
If the idea of posing makes you feel like a deer in the headlights, don’t worry – I'm here to help. Feeling a bit self-conscious in front of the camera is completely normal, but there are plenty of simple, practical ways to help you feel more relaxed, so your photos come out looking natural, effortless, and totally you.
Set yourself up for success
Let’s go through how to set yourself up for success, how to relax in front of the camera, and what to do if you feel a bit awkward on the day.
It’s not hard, I promise! Feeling a wee bit nervous before a photo shoot is completely normal, but it doesn’t have to take over. With the right preparation, a supportive photographer, and a few simple tricks to help you relax, your brand photo shoot can be a fun, empowering experience – one that leaves you with images you love.
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Before your shoot: setting yourself up for success
The more prepared you are, the less you’ll have to think about on the day. When you walk in knowing you’re ready, it takes a lot of the pressure off. You won’t be worrying about whether your outfit looks right or second-guessing how to pose – instead, you’ll be able to focus on feeling good and enjoying the process.
Choose outfits you feel great in
What you wear can completely change how you feel in front of the camera! The right outfit makes you feel confident, comfortable, and like yourself, whereas the wrong one can make you feel distracted, stiff, or just not quite right. If you’ve ever worn something that looked great in the shop but made you feel awkward the moment you put it on, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
Your brand photos should feel like you. If you’d never normally wear a structured blazer, don’t feel like you need to just because you think it looks "professional." If your style is more relaxed, go with that. If you love bold colours, embrace them. The best outfit is the one that makes you feel good in your skin.
At the same time, it’s worth thinking about how certain colours, textures, and patterns will translate on camera. Busy prints or neon shades can sometimes be distracting and take attention away from your face. Simple, well-fitted clothing in solid colours or small, soft patterns tends to work best. But if your brand is loud and busy, then by all means, go with big prints!
If you’re unsure, I always recommend bringing a few options. A quick jacket change or swapping around accessories can give variety to your images without needing a full outfit switch. Layers can be great for this – a blazer, cardigan, or scarf can help you create multiple looks with ease.
If all of this feels overwhelming, don’t worry. I help all my clients plan their outfits as part of our shoot preparation process, so you’ll have plenty of guidance to make sure you feel great on the day.
Get a good night’s sleep
I know, I know – easier said than done. I still rue the day I ever started letting our three cats have free reign of our bedroom, ugh. The way Murdo, the big black one, snores ... It's like a chainsaw!
But waking up on shoot day feeling well-rested makes such a difference. If you’ve ever had one of those mornings where you feel sluggish, your skin looks tired, no amount of concealer seems to help, and you just generally feel a bit shit you’ll know exactly why.
A solid night’s sleep helps you look fresher, feel more energised, and avoid that "I need five coffees" look in your photos. Your eyes will be brighter, your skin will look healthier, and you’ll generally feel more alert and at ease. You'll just FEEL better.
If you struggle with sleep, try winding down early the night before. Switch off screens an hour before bed, drink some herbal tea, or listen to something relaxing. You know, all that stuff. Even if you don’t sleep perfectly, just resting properly is better than burning the midnight oil.
Practise in front of a mirror (or your phone)
I know this might sound a bit mad, but trust me – spending just five minutes trying out a few expressions and poses can make a huge difference in how comfortable you feel in front of the camera.
Most of us aren’t used to seeing ourselves from different angles, so the more familiar you are with how you move, the more natural you’ll feel on the day. It’s not about "practising poses" as if you’re on a catwalk – it’s about getting comfortable in your own skin so you’re not second-guessing yourself.
Try this: stand in front of a mirror, relax your face, and try a gentle smile. Then a slightly bigger one. Notice the difference between a natural smile and one that feels a bit forced. See what happens when you tilt your head slightly, or shift your weight from one foot to the other. Small, natural movements always look best in photos.
If you want to take it a step further, film yourself talking for 30 seconds. You might feel ridiculous at first, but watching yourself back will help you notice what feels natural versus what feels stiff or awkward. And the best part? You’ll realise that when you’re engaged and talking, you look more like you – and that’s exactly what we want in your brand photos.
Know that I’ll guide you every step of the way
This is important: you don’t need to know how to pose.
I know it’s easy to worry about whether you’re standing right, if your hands look weird, or if you’re supposed to be smiling or looking serious. But it's my job to figure that out, not yours.
At the start of our session, I’ll give you some simple, easy guidance on how to sit, stand, and move so everything feels natural and effortless. I’ll pay attention to the details – things like posture, angles, and how the light hits your face – so you don’t have to.
And if something feels awkward? I’ll tweak it. If you’re not sure what to do with your hands? I’ll give you something to hold or a natural movement to try. If you feel unsure? I’ll chat with you, help you ease into it, and before you know it, you’ll forget about the camera altogether.
That’s the beauty of a well-planned brand photo shoot – you’re never left to figure things out on your own.
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During your shoot: how to relax and feel natural
During your shoot: how to relax and feel natural
Even with the best preparation, it’s completely normal to feel a few nerves at the start. It's also completely normal for you not to have a clue how to feel confident in your photo shoot! After all, if you aren’t used to being in front of a camera, the idea of being photographed can feel pretty unnatural and weird at first. But here’s the secret – the more you let go of that initial awkwardness, the more natural and effortless your photos will look.
Within the first few minutes of your shoot, you’ll start to settle in. And once we get into the flow, you might even forget the camera is there. Here’s how to loosen up and feel comfortable so your photos truly reflect you.
Keep moving
One of the biggest reasons people look stiff in photos is because they are stiff. Holding a pose for too long can feel unnatural, and that translates into the image. Small movements make a huge difference in keeping things looking relaxed and natural.
- Shift your weight slightly from one foot to another.
- Adjust your posture by rolling your shoulders back and down.
- Move your hands naturally – hold a coffee cup, tuck your hair behind your ear, or gesture as you speak.
Rather than standing still and wondering what to do, I’ll encourage you to move and interact with your environment.
Whether that means walking slowly towards the camera, leaning against a wall, or simply shifting your pose slightly between shots, those subtle movements create a much more authentic, effortless look.
If you’re sitting, I’ll guide you to adjust your posture so it feels comfortable but confident – no awkwardly perched-on-the-edge-of-a-chair moments here! The aim is to get photos where you look like your natural self, not like you’re frozen in place.
Have a blether and a laugh with me!
One of the easiest ways to forget about the camera is simply to talk! I always encourage my clients to chat with me during their shoot – about their business, their day, or even something completely random. Partly because I'm nosy and like talking to folks so it makes me enjoy my job a lot more, but also because it relaxes YOU.
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The moment you start talking, your expressions become more natural, your posture relaxes, and suddenly, you’re not overthinking what you’re doing. And before you know it, you’ll be laughing at something daft I’ve said – because trust me, I’ll keep the conversation flowing. (We do need serious looks too, though, so we get a range of expressions.)
Some of the best brand photos come from those in-between moments – the way your face lights up when you’re talking about something you love, the slight tilt of your head when you’re thinking, the spontaneous laugh that wasn’t posed or forced. Those are the images that feel real, relatable, and full of personality, and I am always watching out for them.
Don’t overthink it
You don’t need to be "perfect" – whatever the hell that means anyway. Some of the most engaging brand photos are the ones where you’re mid-laugh, deep in thought, or just naturally interacting with your surroundings.
The more you try to control how you look, the harder it is to actually relax. So instead of thinking, How do I look right now?, shift your mindset to, I’m showing up for my business, and I’m going to enjoy this experience.
Trust that I’ve got your back. If something doesn’t look quite right, I’ll adjust it. If a pose feels unnatural, we’ll tweak it. My job is to make sure you look your absolute best, and your job is just to be yourself.
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If you start feeling nervous, try this…
No judgement here ... Whatever helps, ha!
If you feel nervous, try this…
Even with all the preparation and guidance in the world, unless you've been regularly photographed for years or you're just enviably confident in general, it’s still completely normal to feel a bit self-conscious when you first step in front of the camera. That flutter of nerves, the sudden awareness of your every movement, the brief moment of "WTF is my face doing?" happens to nearly everyone.
But the key to looking relaxed in your photos isn’t about eliminating nerves. It’s about knowing how to manage them so they don’t take over. And the good news? It only takes a few simple tricks to reset, refocus, and find your flow.
Take slow, deep breaths
Breathing might seem like the most basic thing in the world, but when we’re nervous, we tend to hold our breath without realising it, or take shallow, tight breaths that make us feel more tense.
Try this: inhale slowly through your nose, hold it for a second, and exhale just as slowly through your mouth. Do this a few times before your shoot starts, or whenever you feel tension creeping in. You’ll be amazed at how quickly it helps you feel more grounded.
Slowing your breath signals to your body that everything is fine, helping to ease any nervous energy. And honestly? It makes a difference in how you look, too. A relaxed body creates a more natural, effortless expression.
I remember reading something years ago about how they physiology of a big huge smile actually does something positive to the way you're feeling mentally - try it. It really does work! And I'll think you're smiling at me, so I'll smile back, then you'll feel better, and we get into a nice wee upward spiral, don't we?
Shift your focus
It’s easy to get caught up in how you look, but for the love of goodness, if you remember one thing here it's that you’re NOT here to look perfect. You’re here to connect with your audience, share your story, and represent your business in a way that feels real and true to you.
Instead of thinking, Shit I hope I look okay, shift your focus to Yass! I have the balls to show up for my business! (Even if you don't. You know. Have balls. Technically. Biologically. Whatever.) Remember, your brand photos aren’t just about today. They’re images you’ll use on your website, in marketing, on social media - places where potential clients will get their first impression of you.
And when they see someone who looks comfortable, approachable, and real, that’s what builds trust. Your audience isn’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for you.
Take a short break if you need to
There’s no rush. This isn’t a high-pressure fashion shoot where you have to nail every single shot in a limited time. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed or need a moment to reset, that’s completely fine.
Take a swig of water, stretch out your shoulders, step away from the camera for a second if you need to. Sometimes, even just a quick shake-out of your hands and arms can help release nervous energy.
And don’t worry about "wasting time" - taking a wee break now and then often makes the rest of the shoot go more smoothly, because you’ll feel more refreshed and relaxed.
Be proud of yourself
Getting professional brand photos isn’t just about having nice pictures - it’s about showing up for your business. It’s about putting yourself out there, making yourself visible, and letting your audience see the real person behind your brand so they can get to know, like, and trust you - then buy from you.
That takes guts. It takes stepping a little outside your comfort zone. And that’s something to be really proud of.
Even if you feel a bit awkward at first, remind yourself why you’re doing this. You’re investing in your brand, creating images that will work for you for years to come, and making it easier for your ideal clients to find, connect with, and trust you.
And at the end of the day, you’ll walk away with a set of images you love - ones that feel like you, ones that tell your story, and ones that will help your business thrive and grow.
That's definitely a few "WTF am I doing" moments, isn't?
So you've now figured out how to feel confident in your photo shoot ...
If the idea of stepping in front of a camera has ever made you hesitate, you’re not alone. But getting professional photos shouldn’t feel intimidating - it should feel empowering, exciting, and yes, even fun!
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Feeling confident in your photo shoot isn’t about knowing how to pose or forcing a perfect smile. It’s about having the right brand photographer to guide you, preparing yourself well, and trusting that you don’t need to "perform" - just be yourself. When you do that, your confidence shines through effortlessly.
And that’s where I come in.
As a brand photographer for small businesses and entrepreneurs, I specialise in working with business owners who don’t naturally love being in front of the camera, people who tell me they feel awkward, stiff, or just not sure what to do. But after a wee bit of guidance, a relaxed chat, and a few easy adjustments, they always end up saying, That was so much easier than I expected!
I work with clients in Edinburgh and across Scotland, helping them create authentic, natural brand images that actually feel like them. No forced poses. No awkward energy. Just professional, high-quality photos that help them show up confidently for their business.
If you’ve been putting off getting brand photos because you’re worried about feeling uncomfortable in front of the camera, let’s change that. I’d love to help you feel confident, relaxed, and excited about your photo shoot.
Get in touch today, or have a look at my services page, and let’s create a set of brand images that truly reflect you.
