How to prepare for a brand photoshoot when you hate having your photo taken
WRITTEN BY: John Cleary - John Cleary Photography
Having a brand photoshoot can feel like a very sensible business decision right up until the moment you actually book one.
Then your brain may start being wildly unhelpful.
What should I wear? Will I look awkward? Do I need to order a branded mug for the obligatory holding a mug shot? Do I need to suddenly become someone who confidently leans against walls?
If you hate having your photo taken, you’re not alone.
The good news is that when you prepare for a brand photoshoot, you do not need to become a different person. You just need the photos to feel useful, natural and recognisably you.
The first decision is the most important one: choose the right photographer.
Not every photographer is right for every person. That does not make anyone good or bad, it simply means the fit matters. If you are nervous in front of the camera, you need someone who understands that. Someone who can guide you without making you feel silly. Someone who can spot when you are freezing up, overthinking, or doing that fixed ‘camera smile’ we all do when we would rather be anywhere else.
Look deeper at their portfolio
Do the people in the photos look relaxed? Do they look like real humans, or have they all been styled into the same version of “professional”? Would you feel comfortable saying, “I’m really nervous about this”?
That last one really matters.
A good brand photographer obviously needs to know what they are doing with a camera. But honestly? That is only a tiny part of the job. If you feel awkward, it will show. Helping you feel at ease is a huge part of getting good photos.
They should also know how to help you look good, not just feel good. That means guiding you on how to stand, sit, turn, move and relax. Small, useful adjustments that help you look like yourself on a good day.
Next, think about what the photos are for.
Your website? LinkedIn? Social media? A speaker bio? Proposals? PR? The aim is photos you will use.
A really good photographer should also bring a few left-field ideas that support your brand, so you do not end up with the same photos everyone else seems to have.
When it comes to clothes, start with what feels like you. A lot of brand shoot advice tells you to wear your brand colours. Sometimes it just results in someone wearing a jacket they secretly hate because it matches their Canva palette.
The key question is: would I feel comfortable meeting a good client in this? If the answer is yes, it is probably a good option.
And do not aim to look perfect. Most of us are far more critical of ourselves in photos than we are of anyone else. We zoom in. We spot things nobody else would ever see unless we handed them a magnifying glass and formal complaint.
Brand photos are not about flawless. They are about trust, warmth, credibility and approachability. We all have something we fixate on. For me, it is my teeth. I notice them immediately, every time. But I’m also fairly sure that nobody has ever refused to work with me because of them.
Think beyond standing against a wall and smiling at the camera.
What real situations connect to your work? Speaking, planning, working with a client, using a laptop, having a coffee, walking into a meeting, or looking relaxed and approachable.
For many camera-shy people, having something to do makes a huge difference. It gives you somewhere to put your hands and a reason for the photo to exist beyond “here I am, being photographed”.
Finally, tell your photographer what makes you nervous. You do not have to pretend to be confident. A good photographer would much rather know.
They should also work collaboratively with you, perhaps showing you what they are getting on the back of the camera as you go along. Not so that you can criticise yourself into oblivion, but so you can be part of the process.
That is not being difficult. That is useful.
You do not have to love being photographed to have brand photos that work. You do not even have to believe you are photogenic.
You just need the right support, a clear plan, and a photographer who can help you see what everyone else probably sees already.
Image of a mortgage advisor in front of a castle ruin used to discuss the difference between the different types of mortgage surveys available
About The Author
John Cleary is a personal brand photographer based in Stratford-upon-Avon, working with business owners and teams who want natural, useful images without the awkwardness. He specialises in helping people who hate having their photo taken feel more relaxed, more confident and more like themselves in front of the camera.
Through John Cleary Photography and Be More Visible, he creates brand photos, headshots and visibility-focused images that help people show up consistently online. He is especially good at gently proving to camera-shy people that they are far more photogenic than they think.
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