Katie Rhona is a photographer who helps creative business owners feel at ease in front of the camera — capturing honest, personality-filled brand photography that reflects who they really are. In this piece, she shares a fresh perspective on what it means to be ‘photogenic’, and offers practical advice for anyone feeling nervous about booking a brand photoshoot.
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If, like many others, you’ve been telling yourself that you’re not photogenic and it’s held you back from booking a branding shoot in the past. Or you worry you’ll feel awkward and will then hate the photos, I’d love for you to take a minute to read on.
As a branding photographer, I’ve worked with countless business owners who share the same fears when it comes to stepping in front of the camera. You feel like you’re under a spotlight, unsure of how to pose to show your personality, but what if the experience could feel more like a cosy conversation with a friend rather than an intense, high-pressure event to get right? What about even imagining enjoying the experience and looking forward to it?
Like slipping into your favourite spot at home, where you’re at ease, comfortable and with no expectation to be anything but yourself, it just takes reframing your mindset.
First, let’s address the fear; acknowledge it rather than suppress it. There’s a lot of pressure around representing your brand visually and getting the perfect gallery, but here’s a little secret: perfection isn’t the goal, connection is. The camera can feel like an unfamiliar space, especially if you’re more comfortable behind the scenes.
By reframing the idea of photogenicity, you can shift your focus from how you look to how you feel in front of the camera.
Challenging your feelings
It can be really useful to journal on what’s coming up for you if you feel you’re not ready to step in front of the camera. I hear “I’m not photogenic’ a lot! The word ‘photogenic’ originates from black and white film photography and refers to whether there was enough contrast within the image to make it visually beautiful. The modern age term is associated with the media’s ideology of what people should look like, and, as we know, this changes constantly.
What actually creates a great branding photo for any business is the right photographer for you and your approach to your session. If you are constantly thinking about what you are looking like in the photos on your photoshoot, then you will not be relaxed, and the photos will be stiff, awkward, and your experience will be negative, not only in the session but also when viewing your gallery and reliving those feelings.
If you’re relaxed, in the moment, and you allow your genuine smile and laughter, your gallery will be bursting with real personality and therefore create genuine connections. Of course, that is so much easier said than done, especially when you’re nervous. I’m not dismissing nerves, and they’re so valid – everyone feels some nerves before a shoot.
A little exercise to try in the lead-up to your photoshoot, or even if you’re not due for a photoshoot, it’s a valuable task to do. We are so used to seeing a photo of ourselves and immediately jumping into critic mode, searching for all the things that we don’t like about ourselves within the photo and what we would change. Instead, when you are faced with a photo of yourself, catch yourself immediately and make a conscious effort to search for all the things you like about yourself in the image.
This can be tricky; it’s a muscle to build, so don’t be hard on yourself if it doesn’t come naturally the first time. Keep at it, and soon it will become a habit to look for the good and speak positively about ourselves. By reframing the idea of being photogenic, you can shift your focus from how you look to how you feel in front of the camera.
Choosing the right brand photographer
Choosing the correct photographer for you is so crucial to the success of your session and the finished gallery, so take the time to ask questions, never feel you are annoying a photographer, and if they do make you feel you are asking too many questions, I’d suggest they are not the right fit for you.
Often, people feel uncomfortable in front of the camera because they’re worried about being judged, so make sure you feel comfortable with your chosen photographer. The process of a photoshoot is a collaborative one right from the start, make sure your photographer really understand your vision and is on board to create exactly what you’d like; it’s absolutely ok if you don’t know too much of what you want, come with the ideas you have, visuals are a great place to start, and your photographer will be able to guide you through what you like and don’t like within those photos and create a mood board specific to you considering poses, lighting and location to narrate yor values, tone of voice and offer.
Discuss your brand identity, values and goals with your photographer beforehand. The more they understand your vision, the more tailored their guidance will be. This can help ease your anxiety and build trust, which will show in the photos.
An experienced branding photographer will constantly be reading your body language to read whether you are comfortable with the pose.
Focus on the story you want to tell
Changing the narrative that you’re ‘not photogenic’ involves embracing the power of storytelling. Every photo is an opportunity to show people who you are and what you stand for. Think of your branding session as a chance to invite your audience into your world. It’s about sharing the warmth of who you are and what your brand stands for.
Just like the comfort of home, where you’re free to be yourself, the goal of a branding shoot is to capture that same essence of ease and familiarity. Let your brand’s story guide your photoshoot, and don’t worry so much about how you should be looking. Instead, think of how you can best represent your passion, experience and values in a way that feels true to you.
I think many people are put off from a branding photoshoot because they think they are going to be awkwardly stood in front of a camera and asked to pose in ways that don’t feel natural for them, and unfortunately in some cases, that is true -but if you find the right photographer, the photo session will feel seamless and not awkward. It should be a journey of movement within all areas of you and your business, and don’t forget this photoshoot is to show your band and therefore should be completely tailored to you.
How a photograph is taken, the angle of the photographer and where and how you are positioned not only significantly change how you are perceived by the viewer, but they will also immediately affect how you feel during your photoshoot. An experienced branding photographer will constantly be reading your body language to read whether you are comfortable with the pose and switch it up if you’re not.
Wear what makes you feel good: The key to feeling like yourself in front of the camera is wearing what makes you feel confident. Whether it’s a favourite outfit that feels like you or a colour that makes you feel empowered, your wardrobe should be an extension of your brand’s vibe. Again, it’s a collaborative process, and your photographer will expertly guide you through these choices. Every element in a photoshoot concept is strategic to create a successful gallery.
Once you embrace that stepping in front of the camera is simply a way of sharing your brand’s story, opening your door to show your expertise, it becomes less about performing and more about being. Your brand is an extension of you, and when you show up authentically, you build connections that can last a lifetime.
I’d love to invite you to journal on the feelings that come up for you in stopping you from booking a brand photoshoot and free yourself by challenging societal expectations of us.
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