“You know what my greatest personal stumbling block is? My shyness.” – Susan Lucci.
I have been blogging for more than 2 years now and I still struggle with getting comfortable to shoot in public for my blog. If you notice, most of my photos were taken in the middle of the street, that’s because I usually take them in the middle of a workday (Mondays – Fridays) when most people are out for work or something. But all of that has been changing as I began to get more comfortable and confident.
FOR THE MILLION NAIRA QUESTION, HOW DO YOU GET COMFORTABLE POSING IN PUBLIC?
Practice Different Poses
You may feel like an idiot, but test out those poses in front of a mirror and see what poses look great! I’ve recently been dancing and flinging my arms about a lot more rather than resting them on my hips and I’ve loved the new type of shots. Another way to try out some poses is by having a look on Pinterest; there are many bloggers over there killing their poses so get inspired and try the ones that feel more YOU!
The More You Do It, The Easier It Gets
This is probably the most obvious tip but it’s true. The more you put yourself out there and pose in front of the camera, the easier it’ll get! After the first few shots, passersby will leave you to your thing anyway so there’s nothing to be scared about. It’s taken almost one year to understand this but it’s easier now. Time and consistency helps!
Have An Amazing Photographer
I’m lucky in the fact that my office has an in-house Photographer who is super supportive of my constant photo needs! He understands my discomfort to shoot in public and he makes me feel comfortable and makes me forget about everything that’s going on around us. Having the right photographer can make the entire process a lot easier.
Ignore everyone else
My biggest problem when I’m shooting in public is worrying about what everyone else is thinking and it makes me look nervous in the photos. I’ve started to overcome this, as I said before – the more you do it the easier it gets. One way I think of it is, that people are here for me, not the passersby, so I need to focus on getting the best photos I can get for the sake of those coming to my blog.
I don’t know that I have an end-all-be-all answer to this. However, I’ve realized that when I focus on all the tips above, I start to care less about everyone and everything around me. It all comes down to purpose – if you know you have photos to deliver (whether for a client or a blog post), then your job is to get those photos done regardless of anything that comes your way. If you worry about everyone else around you, you’ll never finish what you need to. So, focus on your end goal, utilize the tips above, and drown out the noise.
I would love to build a collaborative community so if you have other tips that help you, chime in below! Would love to learn something new.
XoXo,
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” – John 8:32
Photography by Seye Kehinde
This article was first published in my previous blog and was transfered here with only minor typographic edits.
The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only as a snapshot of my personal thoughts at this particular time and is not to be a substitute for life advice and consultation as I am not engaged in the provision or rendering of psychological or philosophical advice or services. You understand and agree that I will not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article.
