Never had a professional shoot before? You’re not alone. It can be nerve wracking, especially if you have no idea what to expect.
If you’ve booked a portrait session with me, or you’re thinking about it, here’s what will happen from start to finish.
Before I start taking pictures, we talk. Not a quick “hi, you alright?” and straight into posing, but a real conversation about you. Who you are. What you do. Where these images are going to live.
Maybe you’re a musician who needs press shots that actually look like you, not a random person in a borrowed leather jacket. Maybe you’re updating your LinkedIn because you’ve outgrown the cropped group photo from your cousin’s wedding. Whatever the reason, I want to understand the context, because that shapes everything: light, location, styling and mood.
This is also where you can tell me what you don’t like. If you have a “no, absolutely not” side, a preferred angle, or if you hate being told to “smile” on cue, say so. I’d rather know in advance than give you a gallery full of images that feel nothing like you.
A lot of people worry they’ll be left standing in front of a lens with no idea what to do. That’s not how I work.
I’ll guide you into positions that feel natural, not like you’re auditioning for a catalogue. We might start with something simple like sitting on a chair, leaning on a wall or walking towards me. I’ll show you where to place your hands, how to adjust your posture and where to look, but I’ll also pay attention to how you move and what feels comfortable for you.
If something looks awkward, I’ll tweak it. If you’re doing something that looks great, I’ll tell you. The aim isn’t perfection. It’s to catch you in that space where you feel relaxed enough to forget the camera slightly, but still intentional enough to recognise yourself in the final images.
The first ten to fifteen minutes are usually a warm‑up, for some up to 30 minutes. That’s when you’re most aware of the lens, and your brain is doing the usual “what do I look like?” spiral. That’s also when I’m paying close attention to how you respond: what makes you laugh, what makes you tense, how you hold yourself when you’re just listening.
I don’t expect you to arrive ready to serve looks on command. We ease into it. We might talk about music, your latest project, your weekend plans. We might pause so you can shake it out, adjust your outfit, or take a breath.
At some point, often without you noticing, your shoulders drop. Your mouth stops doing that forced half‑smile. You start to feel more like yourself. That’s when we’re really getting into it.
A portrait session is something we build together. I bring my eye, experience and direction. You bring your personality, your story and your preferences.
If you’ve seen an image of mine you really like, tell me why. Is it the lighting, the mood, the expression, the colours? If you’ve got reference photos, we can look at them, not to copy but to get a sense of what feels aligned for you.
You can ask to see the back of the camera during the session. Sometimes, seeing one or two frames helps you relax because you realise, “Oh, that actually looks like me.” Other times it helps us adjust on the spot: maybe a jacket needs straightening, or a fringe needs moving. It’s a live, responsive process, not a one‑way performance where you’re left guessing.
Yes, you’ll leave with images you can actually use. Portraits that look like you on a good day, not you pretending to be someone else. But you’ll probably also leave with a little more confidence about how you show up in front of a camera.
You’ll know which angles you like. You’ll know what to wear next time. You’ll have a sense of how to breathe and move when there’s a lens on you, whether that’s on a shoot, at an event or even just when a friend pulls out their phone.
For me, a good portrait session isn’t just about making one strong image. It’s about giving you an experience that feels grounded, respectful and honest. You don’t need to be a model. You don’t need to arrive knowing what to do. You just need to show up as yourself and let us build from there.
If you’re ready for portraits that feel like you, not a version of you you barely recognise, you can find out more and book a session with me via my photography site.