How to get excited for a photoshoot when you absolutely hate being in front of a camera

There’s a sentence I hear all the time. It usually arrives quietly, almost apologetically: “I just don’t feel like myself anymore… so I don’t know how I’m meant to be photographed.” And I want to reach through the screen and say this first: You’re not broken. You’re not failing. You’re human.

Maybe it’s summer and you know you need updated photos- for your family, your business, your life as it is now. But the thought of being in front of a camera makes your chest tighten.

Your body has changed. Your confidence feels thinner than it used to. The person looking back at you in the mirror feels unfamiliar, maybe even a little distant. If that’s you, pause here for a moment. You’re not alone in this. Not even close.

Why this feeling shows up (and why January makes it louder)

January has a way of cracking things open. The year turns over. The noise softens. There’s more light, more skin, more mirrors. And suddenly there’s space to notice the parts of yourself you’ve been too busy to sit with. Add summer clothes, harsh daylight, and the endless highlight reel of other people online, and it’s no wonder being photographed feels confronting. It’s not vanity, it’s vulnerability. But here’s the part most people don’t realise: You don’t need to find yourself before you step in front of a camera. Sometimes, being photographed is part of the remembering.

Authenticity isn’t loving how you look

Let’s clear something up gently. Authenticity isn’t confidence. It’s not liking every angle. It’s not walking into a session feeling radiant and self-assured and totally at peace with your body.

Authenticity is arriving as you are- unsure, evolving, a little tender around the edges, and being met there with care. Some of the most powerful images I’ve ever created were with people who told me upfront, “I hate photos of myself.” Not because they suddenly changed who they were, but because they stopped trying to perform who they thought they should be.

Here’s what a past client has said- “I'm someone who doesn't do selfies and avoids photos like the plague. Not only did I have the most fantastic time with Kerry while doing the photoshoot, I LOVE the photos. She managed to capture my essence.”

One small shift that helps before any photoshoot

Instead of asking yourself:
“Do I like how I look?”

Try asking:
“Do I feel like myself?”

That single question changes everything.
What you wear.
How you move.
What kind of images you actually need.

It shifts the goal from “looking good” to “feeling true.” And that’s where the magic lives.

How I work (without forcing confidence)

My job isn’t to hype you up or talk you into pretending you feel amazing. My job is to guide you gently back into your body, your presence, your truth. Whether you’re coming for family photos, business imagery, portraits, or something that doesn’t fit neatly into a box- you don’t need to arrive ready. You don’t need to know what to do. You don’t need to be confident. You just need to arrive. I’ll take care of the rest- with humour, softness, intuition, and a deep respect for where you’re at.

Your next step

If this stirred something in you, I’ve created a free guide called “How to Prepare for Photos When You Don’t Feel Like Yourself.” It’s practical, gentle, and designed to help you feel more grounded before you ever step in front of a camera.

Join my email list to receive the guide, and ongoing support for showing up as you are, not who you think you’re meant to be.

You don’t need to disappear while you’re figuring yourself out. You’re allowed to be seen, exactly as you are, right now.