There’s a lot of advice online, usually directed at women and moms, that says:
JUST ASK FOR HELP
Delegate!
Outsource!
Hire people to do the things that aren’t in your zone of genius!
Okay, I’ll admit that this blog post is coming from my personal experience. I’ve always been really independent and had the mindset that “it’s faster if I just do it myself”. And becoming a mom 10 years ago took that to the next level.
So I’ve been working really hard the last few years to flip that thought. To not do it all myself.
And what have I learned?
That sometimes it can be a game changer! But also….
- What happens when I ask for help and don’t receive it.
- What happens when I delegate and it somehow adds more to my mental load.
- What happens when I outsource and it’s ends up being a bandaid fix. It works for a while, but not sustainably.
Here’s the thing… I don’t have an answer for those either because I’m the person asking it (Lol)
<< brakes screeching >>
(welcome to my brain)
Wait! Does this happen to people who need photos and then don’t get what the need or aren’t happy with the way they looked?
Do I do this to people too?? They’re told that brand photos will be transformational and then they don’t get that feeling. Ugh. No way, not happening.
So here I am, giving you some answers instead of just telling you everything will be fine 😉
Here is what you need to know before your photo shoot so that you’re not disappointed in the photos:
Your Values
- What is most important to you? What drives you? What shapes your business?
The Purpose
- Why get new photos now? How will they be used? What do you hope they’ll do for you?
Where Are You Confident?
- And I don’t mean confident in front of the camera. I mean, where in your business do you feel strong? Where do you know your stuff and can talk about it without doubt or hesitation?
If you can answer these questions you’re already on your way to a successful photo shoot!
They are the compass behind every decision we make before and during your photo shoot to keep us pointed in the right direction. When you filter everything through those answers you end up with photos that feel authentically you, align with your business and are powerful and intentional.
And if you don’t have answers to them yet then a photoshoot might leave you feeling like you were promised a transformation and all you got were some nice photos and a new Instagram profile pic.
But what if you’ve got those answers and there’s still that thing we don’t talk about that’s putting a damper on it.
Body Image and Your Own Self-criticism
I’ve seen people look SO GOOD in their photos, everyone else sees it too, but they can only see their own beliefs about the way their body looks.
I’m not going to pretend that one blog post is going to be the thing that makes you see yourself differently – I know it’s so much deeper and more layered than it ever looks to others.
But I will say that it’s more about mindset than you might think. Practice changing your mindset from them being about your body to these photos being a tool to help you connect and communicate with your future clients. Are they going to base their decision to work with you on your size or are they going to base it on the person who they see is confident and knows what she’s doing? (if it’s the first, is that the kind of person you want to work with anyway)
Mindset flip: use the answers to the questions above as affirmations before your shoot or one like this
- “I am a strong, confident, capable woman who deserves to be seen by others so I can help them achieve their goals. I will not hide.”
- “I am more than my body. I will not be held back by the least interesting thing about me.”
- “I am allowed to take up space. I will not shrink myself.”
- “My values and my purpose define me more than my body does”
- “I’m really good at ________ and that’s what I will see in these photos”
Again, I recognize that this is a very real thing that a lot of us experience and it doesn’t change overnight just because a photographer told you that you look great. But it can also hold you back for a long time if you let it.
Lastly, if everything else feels good and something is still off it might just be
Communication (+ trust + comfort)
Finding a photographer who understands you, communicates clearly and helps you know what to expect before your photo shoot is huge. If communication (both ways) isn’t great then it’s a whole lot harder to get the results you want.
Speak up during your shoot if something feels off to you. Personally, I hate fake laughing. I know, it can look great in photos and usually turns into real laughing which is what the photographer wants. But I hate doing it when I’m getting my picture taken! It makes me feel embarrassed and awkward and then I carry that with me for the rest of the shoot.
Your photographer is probably going to ask you to do things because that’s their job to see what works. Sit on the desk, dance, jump off the couch, lay on the floor, fake laugh… there’s so many things that sound absolutely ridiculous but actually look really good in photos
There’s a balance between trusting your photographer and knowing when you just really don’t want to do that thing. And that comes down to communication. Tell them! Or try the thing and then ask to see the photos on the back of the camera for proof for yourself.
My number one thing on a photo shoot is helping you feel comfortable and at ease. I think that it’s the most important thing! If you have that then the rest comes a lot more naturally. You might feel uncomfortable at the start, but as we ease into it it gets easier and feels less weird. And that’s when the photos feel like you, but at your very best.
Bring it all together and that’s how you’ll get photos that will help you share your values, your business and connect with the people who you want to work with.
