I'm just going to start with this and then get it out of the way.
People buy from people....and showing up, showing your face, showing who you are, is one of the most effective and impactful ways to create the know, like and trust factor with your potential clients and customers.
But...sometimes you just don't want to show your face. You're not in the mood, you don't like being in front of the camera, you feel awkward and shy. I get it.
So is there a way to show up without showing your face? Fortunately, yes! I've tried it with many of my personal brand photography clients who were extremely reluctant to put themselves in front of the camera (perhaps just like yourself?). but they knew that it was SO important for increasing their visibility and attracting their clients to their business.
This is what Rachel Beekman, one of my personal brand photography clients had to say, who HATES getting her photos taken:
I am very awkward in front of the camera but Maira made me relax and have fun with it! I love the photos and they are going to cut my marketing time by half!
So are you ready to find how you can avoid that awkwardness, whether you are taking the photos yourself or you have hired a personal brand photographer?
3 Tips To Show Up & Not Show Your Face
Tip 1: Show your Behind the Scenes
Take photos of yourself working - you can be typing away on your laptop, you can show yourself taking notes in your journal, you can be sketching something, you can be packaging or labelling up a product, you can show yourself speaking to a client on the phone...there are so many options where you don't need to look in the camera, but your clients and customers can still see you.
Tip 2: Show Yourself Talking to Someone
Your customers and clients want to see your 'human' side...they want to know what kind of person you are, how you engage with people, and what that experience would like if they hired you or purchased something from you. Here is a secret...in my personal brand shoots, I invite my client's friends and family to join us in some of the shots, so it looks like they are speaking to their customers, clients or suppliers. Even if you don't have anyone around, you can still pretend that you are speaking to your client...and I know, it might seem silly at first, but there is no one around and if you don't like the photos, just delete them. But at least give it a try.
Tip 3: Show Your Interests
I like to call these the 'Personality Shots', these images tell your story and show your uniqueness, without forcing you to look into the camera and strike a pose! You can take photos of yourself, or in a brand shoot, your photographer could take these for you, and you can across your social media, on your website and in your newsletters.
Here are some ideas for you to try:
Reading a book or a magazine
Drinking a cup of tea or coffee
Lacing your shoes for a run
Rolling out your yoga mat
Making a smoothie or a salad
Dancing to your favourite tunes
Scrolling on your phone
Doing yoga or working out in the gym
I hope you found this blog post helpful, and and if you need more help, I've got a free mini training on how to look and feel more confident on camera, you'll learn all the tips and techniques I use to help my clients feel more relaxed, plus some hacks on posing and styling. You can watch it here: Camera Confidence.
And whenever you are ready to show up and book that brand shoot that has been forever on your long to-do list, then I would love the chance to work with you. You can find out about my brand photography packages here.
Have the best day!
Maira x
Comments