Confident On Camera: A Quickstart Guide for Business Owners

Read this before your next brand shoot (especially if you think you’re awkward)

WRITTEN BY: KAYLEIGH KING, FOUNDER, WILD KIND PHOTOGRAPHY

Does the idea of being photographed make you want to run? Vomit a little? Call in sick?

You’re not alone. Nearly every business owner I work with tells me the same thing: “I’m awkward,” “I’m not photogenic,” or “I don’t know what to do with my hands.”

I’m guessing you can relate?

Here’s what I tell my clients: being on camera isn’t normal - unless you’re a model. It’s completely acceptable to feel a little weird about it. It’s a comfort zone expander - one that’s crucial for your business.

We all know the old adage - people buy from people they know, like trust. And being visible is how we do that.

I truly believe that confidence is a habit, not a trait. It’s not something that you just don’t have - it’s something that needs built, practiced, flexed. I promise the more you do it, the easier it becomes - even if the thought of being photographed makes you feel insanely uncomfortable right now.

The shift I’ve seen in clients their second, third, and fourth shoots, is absolutely incredible.

Here are some steps to help you feel more confident on camera.

✦ Mindset First

You’re not just getting brand photos—you’re stepping into the next level of your growing brand. That deserves more than rushing through your get ready list and a simple smile. It deserves intentionality.

Here are a few simple but powerful ways to hype yourself up from the inside out:

➝ Affirm Your Badass-ness

Say it out loud, write it on your mirror, whisper it to your tea—whatever works:

“I’m amazing and people want to work with me.”
“My energy is magnetic and I’m ready to attract.”
“I love and celebrate myself.”

Because the way you speak to yourself matters. It shows up in your posture, your expression, your presence.

➝ Picture the Wins

Close your eyes and picture the incredible outcomes: the new clients, the hell-yes opportunities, the content clarity your new photos will bring. Imagine the ripple effect—more people finding you, connecting with you, choosing you.

Let that vision anchor you when the nerves start to creep in.

➝ Speak to Your Inner Child

You know that soft, sensitive part of you that gets nervous about being seen? Talk to them gently. Tell them you’ve got this. You’re safe. You’re stepping into something exciting—not scary.

✦ CEO Prep

There’s nothing next-level CEO about scrambling to curl your own hair and steam your outfits at 7am on shoot day. Confidence isn’t about doing it all alone. It’s about supporting yourself.

➝ Outsource

Book the blowout. Hire the makeup artist. Let a stylist help you find looks that feel like you (and look good in photos). Wanting to look good isn’t vanity - it’s a strategic confidence move that will help you show up more powerfully.

➝ Timeless, not Trendy

It’s not about trends - we want to aim for timeless (so you don’t have to book a shoot next time a croc-like trend resurfaces from the nineties). What matters is how you feel in the clothes. Choose outfits that align with your brand, complement your shape, and make you feel unstoppable. It’s amazing how great clothing has helped my clients show up more confidently on camera.

➝ Find your Ritual

Essential oils, a few drops of CBD, deep breaths, a Lizzo-fuelled dance party on your way to the shoot—find what helps you ground and elevate. It’s not about perfection - you just need to feel present.

✦ Let’s not Even Call it Posing

Posing is what models do and that’s not the goal. We’re storytelling. Your shoot is about Connection. You don’t need to know what to do - it’s your photographer’s job to guide you.

You wouldn’t avoid going to a restaurant because you don’t know how to cook, would you?

➝ Keep it Moving

A simple trick I use with my clients is motion. Still is stiff. Instead, we’re going through your workflow, walking, swaying, laughing. You should never be left guessing. I’ll guide you the whole way (and tell a few terrible jokes in the process).

➝ Find the Poses That Work for You

This is where having the right photographer makes all the difference. One that can help you find the best, most flattering angels. You’re still meant to look like you - just a more grounded, next-level version.

➝ It’s an Experience, not a Chore

Bring fun props and include hobbies that tell your story. Pop on an empowering playlist that makes you feel unstoppable. Get creative and think outside the box. The internet has enough laptop photos - let apple do their own advertising.

✦ Practice = Progress

Being photographed doesn’t get easier by avoiding it—it gets easier by doing it. Crazy, I know.

Each shoot is a chance to expand your comfort zone (while inspiring others), deepen your connection to your brand and your community, and build the kind of confidence that goes beyond the photos—it shows up in everything you do.

Read this before your next brand shoot (especially if you think you’re awkward)

WRITTEN BY: KAYLEIGH KING, FOUNDER, WILD KIND PHOTOGRAPHY