The #1 Thing That Will Ruin Your Photo..
Light test image that became a favorite and the official wall art for the 2025 40 Over 40 Gallery Show
The number one thing that will ruin how you look in a photo:
Wondering & over thinking if you look good.
I’m serious. This isn’t a post just highlighting how I take care of you during a photoshoot but rather more of an observation and hypothesis from someone who does what I do and some basic tips I find myself telling pretty much every client.
Let’s set the scene: I will be at a photoshoot, just getting started, doing “light tests” - everything looks amazing, the client is just sitting there waiting to start, looking absolutely incredible just existing and the moment I let them know we are beginning, everything changes.
They tense up, they start overthinking, the body language changes, the expressions, the emotions…everything.
Even if they are subtle changes, most of the time the client doesn't even realize what’s happened, everything is different.
In fact, many times one of the client’s favorite images is from the “light tests” - because they are not overthinking, over worrying, or tense. Because they can tell it’s authentically them.
Yes, I am great at posing but to be honest most of my job consists of just getting my clients out of their head.
And this overthinking creates a vicious cycle.
This is how it goes.
Tense up during a photo (because of overthinking) → takes an awkward or “bad” photo → sees the photo, confirms worst fear, you look “bad” in photos → thinks about this during the next photo → gets awkward or tense → another “bad” photo confirming what you already “know” … and the cycle repeats.
And honestly, that takes a lot of joy out of life. Because you deserve to exist in photos and you deserve to see yourself in an accurate light.
Without further ado, here’s some non-posey posing advice, that's easy to remember, so the next time you’re in a photo you can start breaking this cycle and start seeing yourself more accurately.
Get great posture, then relax. Stand tall, shoulders back, chin slightly forward and slightly down. Relax your shoulders and lean to one side, either on one leg or prop your arm on something. Think as if you're waiting in line or in a chair for 20 mins (but with good posture)
Soften your jaw. If it's a smiling photo, laugh instead of cheesing. Even a fake laugh (like you’re politely laughing at a friend's joke) looks more like your real smile than trying to hold a fake smile. If it's a more serious look you’re after, then simply relax your jaw by breathing through your mouth (like you have a stuffy nose). You can even hold a slight smile while doing this.
Think happy thoughts. Or at least just be in the moment. This shows mostly in the eyes. It gives you a happy glow. You can tell this mostly when someone is fake smiling. And your fake smile doesn't look totally like you, it's a misrepresentation of what you actually look like.
You’re already beautiful, just exist.
Ready to stop overthinking and finally love how you look in photos?
I specialize in helping real people feel confident, comfortable, and seen—without the pressure, the posing paralysis, or the fake smiles.
If you're ready for a session that actually feels good and results in images that reflect your true beauty, let’s talk.
Click here to book your consultation or if you’re a woman over 40 check out The 40 Over 40 experience.
