I'm not photogenic! | Truthy Tuesday

Today is a big day. After a 3+ year hiatus, Truthy Tuesday is back!

I feel like I’m bursting at the seams with excitement lol. I have so much to share with you, so let’s dive right in!

Last week I posed a question on the gram: “if you are interested in taking photos, but haven’t, what’s holding you back?” and got some great feedback. Here’s a quick list of the responses:

  • Not sure I’ll photograph well/weight gain

  • Haven’t found a photographer I like

  • Budget/can’t afford it currently

  • Scheduling conflicts

  • Waiting for a special occasion

  • Not sure what to wear/need styling help

  • Don’t know my best angles/how to pose

  • Session planning anxiety/ time & effort required


All totally understandable concerns, right?

I’ll be honest- when I asked the question, I kind of figured that money would be the top answer, so I was a little surprised (but also encouraged) by the range of responses because a lot of these are things I can help with!

So let’s tackle the first one:

Not sure I’ll photograph well/ concern re: weight gain

This is easily one of the top concerns of just about everyone taking photos or thinking about taking photos. But let’s work through it… if this is an obstacle for you, how can we overcome it?

I have 6 tips- 3 for you and 3 for the photographer because you are not in this alone!

Let’s start with you:

  1. Book a photographer you trust
    You have to be confident that your chosen photographer will be the best to bring your photos to life. If you have any doubts or concerns about their ability or don’t feel like your personalities will work well together, don’t do it! Keep looking until you’ve found someone you’re confident in.

  2. Share your concerns with them
    Your photographer won’t know if you are feeling self conscious about weight gain or anxiety about not photographing well. Let them know! This gives them an opportunity to reassure you and also be aware of how best to direct you to a great final product.

  3. Be open to your photographer’s feedback
    Once aware of your concerns, your photographer may make suggestions re: wardrobe and/or session planning. Please be open to their feedback. Know that they’re pulling from years of professional experience and they want you to have an amazing final product!

For the photographer:

(I’m sharing these from my perspective :)

  1. Be helpful, kind, and encouraging
    It’s super important to me to be kind and reassuring to every client of course, but even more so when my client has expressed uncertainty re: feeling awkward in front of the camera, weight gain, or feels they’re just not photogenic. This gives me the opportunity to be encouraging right from the start and aware of how I can support you through the planning process and during the shoot itself.


  2. Photograph flatteringly
    Because I’m aware of my client’s concerns, I am alert to potential issues and address them in real time. This can look like a lot of different things during the course of a shoot- reminding you to make slight adjustments (lower chin, relax shoulders, smooth out clothing, etc) and also requires that I do my part to place you in the best light, help you feel comfortable, and photograph you from the most flattering angles.

  3. Retouch mindfully
    Awareness of client concerns doesn’t end after the shoot! When retouching, I keep those things in mind as well. Worried about a double chin? All good, I can bring that up a bit. Worried that your arms look a tad larger than you’d prefer? Got you, I can bring them in a little. When editing, I consider the image as a whole and make slight tweaks to ensure a flawless final product- a gallery of photos that show you in your best light 🧡


What does this look like in practice? Let’s consider a real life example with Lakeya!

In her initial inquiry, Lakeya shared that she felt really awkward taking photos, but she was open to feedback and suggestions. This was huge! Right from the beginning, I knew the support I needed to provide. During the planning process, Lakeya also let me know when she was feeling anxious and having wardrobe challenges- as a result, I had the opportunity to reassure her and we worked through it together! That helped to calm a bit of her anxiety and on the day of her session, I checked in throughout and encouraged her to make sure she didn’t get stuck in her head thinking about being awkward or uncomfortable.

What was the result? She can tell you!

Now, this blog is running long (and it could honestly run even longer because I have a TON of client experiences I could share!) but let me tie things up a bit.

If your reason for not moving forward with taking photos is because you’re not sure you’ll photograph well or you’re worried about weight gain, please let me assure you that it’s worth it to work through the discomfort. Allow your photographer to guide you through the process and you’ll come out on the other side with an amazing set of photos to remember this time in your life 🧡

I have just a few spots left for Q4 and this week only, the gates are open so to speak :) You don’t need to be on the waitlist to book, just shoot me an email if you’d like to snag one of the remaining spots for 2022 and we’ll get you all set!

Let me know what you thought of today’s Truthy Tuesday!