If you've ever looked at a photo of yourself and thought, "That doesn't look like me," you're in good company. Most of the people I photograph tell me the same thing within the first five minutes: "I'm awkward in front of a camera." I smile every time they say it, because those are exactly the people I love working with.
Why most photos feel stiff
Traditional portrait photography is built like a performance. You stand where you're told, tilt your chin, hold a smile until your cheeks ache, and wait for the click. What you get back is a photo of you doing your best impression of a person being photographed.
That isn't a flaw in you. It's a flaw in the format. When someone asks you to smile on command, your brain stops being in the moment and starts watching itself. You think about your hands, your jawline, your posture. The more you think, the stiffer you get.
What a candid session does differently
A candid session changes the goal. Instead of chasing the perfect pose, I'm chasing the moments in between: the laugh after a bad joke, the quiet look off to the side while you're thinking, the real smile that shows up when you forget I'm there.
Here's how that plays out in practice.
We talk first. Before the camera comes out, we chat. I want to know what you like, what you're nervous about, and what the photos are for. Sometimes the best thing I can do for a nervous client is spend the first ten minutes just getting to know each other.
I give gentle direction. You'll never be left standing there wondering what to do with your arms. I'll give you small, easy things to do, like walking toward me, looking at the person you came with, or taking a breath and glancing away. These aren't poses. They're prompts that give your body something natural to do.
I don't make you smile. Some of the best photos in a session are the ones where nobody is smiling at all. Laura, who describes herself as an "awkward, inexperienced model," put it better than I could: "He did not make me smile for photos. He just helped."
We keep moving. Self-consciousness lives in stillness. Walking, laughing, changing spots, and trying something a little silly keep you out of your head and in the moment.
"But I'm just not photogenic"
I hear this one constantly, and here's what I've learned: photogenic mostly means comfortable. The people who look great in photos usually aren't the ones with some magic face. They're the ones who stopped worrying about it.
Mikala avoided cameras at every opportunity before we met. After our session she told me it was "a kind of exposure therapy." Carson says he does not like being in front of a camera, but still wanted photos with the people he loves most. His words afterward: "I never felt posed or uncomfortable. It felt natural and even enjoyable, which is not typically how I feel about getting my pictures made."
I'm not a therapist, and I'm not pretending to be one. I just believe that when you feel relaxed and heard, the camera picks that up.
Five ways to feel more comfortable before your session
Tell me what worries you. Hate your profile? Self-conscious about your smile? Not sure what to do with your hands? Say so, and I'll steer around it. You'd be amazed how much a simple heads-up helps.
Bring someone along. A friend, partner, or family member makes a great buffer, and photos of you interacting with someone you love are almost always the best of the day. Dogs are welcome too. I've held a leash mid-shoot more than once.
Pick a place that feels like you. A coffee shop you love, a trail, a favorite corner of downtown. If you're not sure, I'll suggest spots based on your style and the vibe you're going for.
Wear something you already feel good in. Comfort shows up on camera. Don't buy a brand-new outfit that itches.
Let go of "perfect." I'm not interested in manufactured perfection. I want the version of you that your friends and family actually know.
What you'll walk away with
Photos that look like you on a good day. They'll have natural light, a warm tone, and light editing so you still look like yourself. Jenna, who has worked with me, described the editing as "warm and nostalgic" and said it "will stand the test of time." That's the goal.
You'll also get them quickly. Your gallery arrives within a week, and I'll check in afterward to make sure everything got to you and you love it.
Not sure this is for you?
If you read this far, it probably is. You don't need to be a natural, and you don't need to know how to pose. You just need to show up as yourself, and I'll take care of the rest.
Sessions start at $100, and I keep my pricing accessible on purpose. Great photos shouldn't feel like a luxury.
Ready to try a session where nobody says "cheese"? Book a free consultation and tell me what you're picturing, or tell me you have no idea. We'll figure it out together.
