What Really Happens During a Photoshoot — and What I Do to Help
You don’t know what to do with your hands. Your smile feels fake. You feel nervous — and that’s perfectly fine. Here’s what actually happens during a session, and why you don’t need to “know how to pose” to look confident and natural.
Many people feel uncomfortable before a photoshoot.
They’re not sure how to stand, how to hold their body, where to put their hands. Everything feels unnatural or forced.
That’s completely normal.
About 95% of my clients feel this way at the beginning.
My job is to make sure that feeling fades quickly.
How I behave during the session
I always work calmly and patiently.
I don’t rush. I don’t create pressure. I don’t start shooting right away — instead, I observe, I listen, I create a quiet rhythm where you can feel safe.
I don’t treat you like a model or direct you like an actor.
You won’t hear “smile nicely” or “stand exactly like this.”
Instead, I create space where you can simply be yourself.
I don’t force anything.
I won’t overwhelm you with instructions or technical language.
I just stay present — observing your face, your gestures, the way light falls on you — and I let everything unfold naturally.
We begin with conversation.
While we talk, I start to get to know your features, your expressions. Then I take a few simple shots — maybe you’re just sitting in a chair, relaxed.
Then I guide you gently:
• Turn your head to the left
• Look down, or look up
• Soften your shoulders
Later, I might suggest:
• Shift your weight slightly
• Cross your legs
• Lean your body just a bit
Everything is light and simple.
No stress. No pressure.
And that’s how the best moments appear — when your body begins to move naturally, when your expression softens, when you forget the camera is even there.
Why I say “Smile” — and what I’m actually looking for
Yes, sometimes I ask you to smile.
But I don’t expect a perfect or genuine smile.
Even a fake one is fine.
What I’m really waiting for is the moment after the smile.
That second when your facial muscles relax, your jaw softens, and your eyes calm down.
That brief pause — right after smiling — often reveals your most natural and honest expression.
It’s not about the smile itself. It’s about what comes next.
If you’ve had a session with me before, you already know this.
If not — now you do.
Your behaviour in front of the camera: what’s normal
In the first few minutes, almost everyone feels a bit awkward.
You might think:
• My hair looks strange
• My clothes are uneven
• I don’t know what to do with my hands
• This pose must look ridiculous
That’s all normal.
And it passes quickly.
When you simply follow my directions, after 10 or 15 minutes, something shifts.
You stop thinking.
You start moving naturally.
You breathe. You settle into your body.
That’s when we start capturing the real you — calm, confident, and completely authentic.
In short
You don’t need to know how to pose.
You don’t need to be confident in front of the camera.
You just need to show up — as you are.
I’ll take care of the rest.
Gently. Respectfully.
With full attention to who you are.
Why I say “Smile” — and what I’m actually looking for
Yes, sometimes I ask you to smile.
But I don’t expect a perfect or genuine smile.
Even a fake one is fine.
What I’m really waiting for is the moment after the smile.
That second when your facial muscles relax, your jaw softens, and your eyes calm down.