I began this year by taking my own headshots, and being on the other side of the lens came with a slew of thoughts:
Does my smile look forced?
Is this angle doing me any favors?
What do I do with my hands?
Is my posture okay?
This feels awkward!
Turns out, routinely putting myself in front of the camera makes me a better photographer. The parents, CEOs, programmers, doctors, and project managers I’ve worked with don’t need any prior modeling experience because I have been in their shoes. My firsthand understanding enables me to anticipate and address the typical insecurities that arise during a photoshoot, creating a comforting atmosphere for my clients when the lens is focused on them. Whether it’s a headshot or family session, I’m ready with posing suggestions, prompts to elicit your desired facial expressions, portable fans for hot Raleigh summer temperatures*, and silly gadgets to encourage young children to cooperate. I’ve built out this bag of tricks through countless hours behind the camera and also very valuable moments in front of it, too.
*Having experienced the yearly photoshoot drill with my own family, I get it. Chasing after an uncooperative toddler, sweating it out in a skirt and heels on dirt pathways, and desperately willing my hair not to frizz in the humidity has made me very empathetic toward my families with little kids!