Building Confidence
One of the most rewarding parts of portrait photography is watching someone discover a confidence they did not realise they had. Before this portrait session, my client explained that she felt very self-conscious because she was wearing braces. She worried they would dominate every photograph and admitted she was nervous about being in front of the camera. During our consultation, we talked through her concerns, discussed the style of portraits she wanted, and created a relaxed plan for the session. By the time the camera came out, she was already feeling much more comfortable.
Throughout the session, I made sure she never felt uncertain about how things were going. After each series of photographs, I showed her the images on the back of the camera and explained what was working well. Seeing beautiful photographs of herself as the session progressed completely changed her confidence. The nerves gradually disappeared, her expressions became more natural, and her personality began to shine through. By keeping the atmosphere relaxed and positive, she was able to enjoy the experience rather than worry about how she looked.
By the end of the session, we had created around forty stunning portraits that she absolutely loved. This image was taken relatively early in the shoot, before her confidence had reached its peak, yet it already shows the elegance and beauty that had been there all along. Great portrait photography is never about hiding who someone is. It is about helping people see themselves in a new light, recognising their own confidence, and creating photographs that they will treasure for years to come.
People often say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I say that the most liberating thing about beauty is realising you are the beholder."
Salma Hayek
