Five Tips for Looking Confident in front of the Camera
A frequently asked question is how to look confident in front of the camera. We can all tell when someone does not come across as self-confident by reading the body language, which can be shielded and tense, accompanied by that caught in the headlights look!
I can empathise with my clients because I have felt the unease of not knowing what to do with my face…. my hands….. body! It can seem overwhelming.
Why bother?
You might want to look confident in front of the camera; because you are the face of your business, and you need to have a convincing online presence.
I have decided to create my 5 top tips for looking good and feeling confident in front of the camera, and you don't have to be a trained model either.
If you have booked a photography session, you will have discussed what you want from the session; your photographer should help guide you into suitable poses. That said, it is still a good idea for you to experiment yourself. Use your phone to practise or get a friend to assist; so that even when not with a professional photographer, you will feel confident in coming across the way you intended.
#1 Find your best side-
We all have an angle or sides of our face we prefer; in a full-length mirror, look at yourself from different angles using your phone to capture your face from different angles. Once you have established your best side, you can then start to work out how to pose.
# 2 Collect images-
You could create a Pinterest board and try them out in front of the mirror, don't feel scared; at first, it can feel very awkward. However, the more you practice, you will soon see what does or does not work for you, your brand your personality.
# 3 The Eyes-
It's said, that the eyes are the windows to the soul. A good tip for headshot, looking straight into the camera and very slightly narrowing the lower lids of the eyes will make you appear more confident. Have a go, get your mirror out; eyes wide open is the deer in the headlights look, then narrow the bottom lid you instantly look confident. Again, it will feel strange at first, but with practice, you can nail it.
# 4 Push out your neck
You might have heard people say that the camera makes them look 10 pounds heavier, it's because of compression and has to do with the focal length of the lens; it narrows the space between your chin and your neck, not very flattering. The tip to avoid this thick neck and chin look is to push your neck out. Stand where you are and imagine that you have a piece of string attached to the middle of your forehead and that someone is pulling on that string ever so slightly. Only your head will move, creating a space between your head and your neck instantly. You get a far better Jawline; you look slimmer and more confident.
#5 R-e-l-a-x
If you're tense, it will show in the images, so before you start, put on some music, shake out your shoulders, arms and hands; this will help you get loosened up and not come off rigid in your photos. If you feel like it, have a little dance. Once you feel relaxed in your body, it will show on the outside.
Enjoy, it's not like you’re going to the dentist!