What If You're Awkward in Front of the Camera?
No judgement, friend. I am too, even after all these years.
And rather than hold your hand and speak a bunch of platitudes... sometimes you ARE awkward in front of the camera.
Photoshoots are weird. The situation is usually outside your comfort zone (even if you're in your actual comfort zone at home), I'm a stranger and everyone is verrrrrry aware when I point the lens towards them.
Maybe there is past shit playing out here around body image. Maybe you don't see the point of photos anyway. Maybe your social awareness is a little different to some people. It's hard to make small talk with me (a stranger). It's hard to appear happy and relaxed when you're dying on the inside.
I get it.
First of all, if you are awkward? IT'S OK. It is what it is, and I will help you.
I'm not going to pretend I can solve this for you in one session (though we could always try? Haha!). What I can do is tell you what I do to help the situation.
I take the pressure off you
If I'm sensing awkwardness, my first go-to is to drag alllll that attention back onto me.
Bear with me... I know that's an odd thing to say!
I'm going to chat, I'm going to observe your surroundings and find things to talk about. I'm going to carry the social situation and interaction completely on my shoulders. I find clients visibly relax once they realise they don't have to lead the conversation, don't have to think of things to say or pretend to be interested in me. They just have to surrender to my slightly energetic, always enthusiastic, genuine interest in meeting people and having a good time.
You get to be the introvert, because I'll happily be the respectful extrovert, my friend.
I'll take charge when you need me to
If you've flat-out told me you're awkward, or I can simply feel the vibe, I'll also take charge of the session. I'll suggest where we stand, I'll put you in situations that naturally create the photos you're wishing for and, if it really comes down to it, I'll physically put you in position. I'm not afraid to do what we need to do for the shot. I'll make it fun, we'll have a laugh and it'll be amazing.
Again... no judgement from me.
Some people like to see a few shots as we move through the session to be reassured I'm not lying about how amazing they are (fair... not gonna lie). Some people prefer not to see anything or talk about the images at all, but would rather wait until I show them the final product.
Both are completely fine.
I prepare you before we even meet
Awkwardness is realistically... well... it's often just anxiety. Different flavours for sure, but that same feeling of not quite knowing what's expected of you.
So I'll prep the heck out of you.
I'm sending emails in the lead-up. I'm linking you to free resources I've created so you know what's happening every step of the way. I encourage you to reach out and ask all the questions you want to.
Think of me as air traffic control guiding you in to land.
By the time you get to the shoot, you'll know what's happening before, during and after. Knowing what's happening can go a long way towards the awkward vibes lessening.
Accommodations? Friend... say less.
Sometimes awkwardness requires legit accommodations in order for you to feel safe and supported in the moment.
Friend... say less.
I can keep my voice low. I can not speak at all. We can take time between moments of shooting. We can rest. We can play music. We can check in regularly. You can bring your fidgets, you can do your stims, you can wear earphones. We can find a location you feel safe in. We can do a shorter session.
We can do this.
I'm not going to pretend awkwardness doesn't exist, or that if we all wish upon a star your shoot will magically become something completely different to who you are day to day.
What I can promise is that the space is a safe one, my patience is endless and there are actually a shit tonne of things we can do to make it easier for you.
Feeling awkward during a photoshoot and looking awkward in your photographs are two completely different things.