Getting comfortable on camera is something that you should work on if you want to really be successful on any social media platform. Most platforms are moving more toward video content so getting comfortable with that is a MUST!
Even though it can be super overwhelming and you will feel awkward at first, the more you do it the more comfortable you will be. Ripping off that band-aid and starting are the biggest hurdles.
Here are some of the tips I give to my clients when they are first starting out with photos and videos of themselves.
Find Some Inspiration Photos or Video
One thing to do when planning out photos is to find some you like with poses and props in them. This way you can see how the person sits, puts their hands, etc.
You will then be able to try these poses and see if any of them work for you. Eventually, you will have certain ways you stand and certain angles you will gravitate toward when having your photos taken.
If One Way Isn’t Working, Try Something Else
If you are trying to get that one photo and it just does not seem to be working, try something else. Either, move on to the next photo you need or try a different pose.
Sometimes, just going to a different area, standing up instead of sitting down, holding a prop, etc. will help.
And remember, all photos look better when you are comfortable. If you are trying to get a photo exactly like the one you have seen, but you are not comfortable then if might not work.
Take As Many Photos As You Can
In my opinion, more is sometimes better. Just make sure you are moving a little bit for each photo so that you have a lot of different angles.
The change in your head position could be the one thing that makes you like that photo and not the others.
Look At The Photos In a Few Days
If things just aren’t working and you feel super awkward, don’t delete all of the photos you have taken right away. (Even though you may want to.) Come back in a few days and look over the photos.
I always find that I tend to like a few of my photos a few days after I actually take them. Looking at them with fresh eyes and when I’m not so flustered really helps.
Don’t Overthink It
Always remember, people have super short attention spans today. In reality, they may only look at your photo for a couple of seconds. You will always be more critical of your photo than someone else will.
Taking too much time getting photos does not help your business. You will just waste your time when you could be using that time to do something for your business that will move the needle forward.
Overall, remember everyone started out being awkward and unsure of themselves when getting their own photos for their social media. But like most things, the more you do it the more comfortable you will be.
Think about it this way, be awkward now and learn from it when you only have a few followers. That way, when you have hundreds (or thousands) of people following you your photos will be easy to take and put out there!
One way to get comfortable with photos is to not show your face in them. Check out Don’t Want To Show Your Face On Instagram for some ideas on how to do this.
