I’ve been blogging for over 5 years now, about 3 of those 5 years my outfit shots were taken in the comfort of my bedroom or garden with my trusty tripod. It was only a couple of years ago when I decided to take the plunge and really improve my content, and this meant venturing out into the streets to shoot outfits.
This was a big step for me and was something I found terrifying. I’m not the most confident in front of the camera in the first place, let alone posing on my own in front of the public! After 2 years of getting used to being in front of the camera, I finally feel comfortable and confident, for the most part anyway! Today I thought I’d share how I’ve managed to do it:
The more you do it, the easier it’ll get
I know this is probably the least useful and most obvious tip ever, but it’s true. The more you get out there and pose in front of the camera, the easier it’ll get! It’s taken 2 years for me to finally be happy with the shots I’m getting from my photoshoots. Time and hard work is everything!
Practice some different poses
You may feel like an idiot, but test out those poses! Get your tripod out or go stand in front of a mirror and see what poses look good. I’ve recently been flinging my arms about a lot more rather than resting them on my bag or sunnies and I’ve loved the new type of shots. Another way to try out some poses is by having a look on Pinterest – there are so many killer blogger babes over there nailing their poses so go and get some inspo!
Have the right photographer
I’ve personally never had a professional shoot with a professional photographer. I’m lucky in the fact Jamie is into his photography and understands my love and passion for blogging and is always so supportive of my constant nagging and photo needs! For me, Jamie is the perfect photographer – he makes me feel comfortable and makes me forget about everything that’s going on around us. Having the right photographer can make the whole process so much easier.
Ignore everyone else
The biggest thing for me when I’m shooting in public is worrying about everyone else. I wonder what they’re thinking of me and I don’t feel happy posing for shots on my own when people are around. I’ve slowly started to overcome this, as I said before – the more you do it the easier it gets. One way I think of it is for some of these shoots I’m getting paid. Although not directly, but creating content keeps my blog going and ultimately, and very, fortunately, results in some paid work.
Understand the light
Although this is probably more of a photography tip – it does relate to feeling confident in front of the camera too. I know the amazing feeling of getting the perfect shot, and the thrill of nailing a shoot. Getting great photos almost becomes addictive and hopefully, the more brilliant shots you get, the more you’ll want to get in front of the camera and the more confident you’ll get. Lighting is everything when it comes to photos – play around with the light and shoot from different angles. Trial and error is key here. One rule Jamie and I always play by is shoot for the light, not the subject!
Top* – Matalan // Skirt & Sandals – ASOS // Bag – eBay // Sunglasses – Weekday
Hopefully these tips are useful and can help you feel more confident in front of the camera. What are your top tips?
Lucy x