Has your mind ever gone blank whenever you look at a long test you are about to take (even though you know you know your stuff?) If not- you’re a genius! For the rest of us, the anxiety of test-taking (and life-living) is totally common. I know my mind goes blank when I get in front of the camera (in spite of the countless hours I spent in front of the mirror in my teenage years.) I like my “models” to feel comfortable in front of the camera. So, as a photographer, I need to think how can they have their personalities shine through more naturally. 

Fortunately, in photography, both the photographer and the models, we can use “cheat-sheets” to push this anxiety away. I brought sample pictures and showed Maranda and Adam what I am thinking. As I prepared this list, I thought that this was just helping me remember the poses I thought they’d look cute (great) in. But soon I realized that by having this list, they knew exactly what they wanted and came up with other great poses. It helped pictures seem candid. For Maranda and Adam these helped them feel more comfortable in front of the camera (at least it seemed that way!) By the end of the shoot they looked like pro models! 

So, what do I do when I am in front of the camera? How do I try to act natural in front of a camera? As I mentioned before, I practiced my smile for hours in front of the mirror as a teenager. I always thought my oldest sister (Leia)’s smile was beautiful so I tried so hard to smile like her. Since I do not have a picture of my sister on hand, I do suggest you look at the look you want to achieve, and practice it for yourself! Yo may want to take a few magazines or pictures that you really like and show them to your photographer to give them ideas!