Central Maine Portrait Photographer | Why You Shouldn’t Feel Nervous About Your Portrait Session

(Day 23/30 of the 30 day blog challenge. Read more about it here!)

Last year for Christmas Tony gifted me (or rather, us) with professional portraits with one of our favorite photographers in Maine (can’t WAIT to show you the resulting photos!)  We finally just scheduled that session for this month.  I found, as I was writing down the date, that I actually felt a little nervous, and suddenly realized how many of my clients feel at the beginning of our sessions.  “Ah,” I thought, “I get it now.”

Many of my clients come in worried that they will not do well, that they wont be able to compare to the other lovely ladies and gents on my site.  I can completely understand that fear, but it’s got to be pushed aside.  You’ve got to trust me and relax.  Allow yourself to laugh at how silly it feels to have this camera pointing at you, because it’s hard to ignore at first.  But, if you trust me, it wont feel that weird after a little while.  It’s even easier if we’re doing an engagement session– yes, it may be weird to hug and kiss your significant other while I photograph you, but you’re going to forget I’m there– after all, how can you ignore that cute kiss that he just planted on your nose, or the way she’s smiling up at you?  I may say something ridiculous to make you two laugh, but you’ll be laughing at each other’s laughter.  I’ll only be there  as a catalyst.

To prepare myself, I decided to take a few self portraits.  I felt awkward at first, but figured, hey, if I can take alright photos of myself on my own with little to no makeup on, just think of what our photographer is going to coax out of me and Tony!

I think I’ll make it through that session just fine.

And, for the heck of it, a slightly more creative self portrait