“I hate having my photo taken”
how to finally get photos you actually love
You know that feeling when someone points a camera at you, and your mind goes completely blank, except for one thought? Oh no. Not this again.
If you hate having your photo taken, you’re not alone. In fact, most of the people I work with feel exactly the same before they arrive. Entrepreneurs. Business owners. Coaches. Senior leaders. People who are brilliant at what they do.
And yet, put a camera in front of them and suddenly they’d rather be doing literally anything else.
If you’re looking for a personal branding photographer in London or natural headshots that don’t feel forced, this will help you understand why photos feel so uncomfortable — and how to change that.
Blame the school photographer. Or the passport office. Or that work ID photo, taken at completely the wrong moment.
Most of us have a catalogue of bad photos etched into our memory. Really unflattering angles. Awkward poses. Lighting that did absolutely nothing for us.
And our brains, being ever so helpful, have built a very convincing story: I’m just not photogenic.
But here’s what I know after years of photographing people who’ve said exactly that: it’s never true.
It’s not true that you don’t photograph well. What’s actually true is that you haven’t been photographed well.
There’s a difference. And it really matters.
A bad photo is almost always the result of bad direction, bad timing, or bad light. Often all three at once! It is not a reflection of you. It’s a reflection of a photographer who wasn’t paying close enough attention.
Why most of us HATE BEING IN
front of a camera
What makes a photographer right for someone who dreads the camera
The right photographer for a camera-shy person:
❋ Talks to you before the shoot - not just about logistics, but about you. Your brand, your clients, what you want these images to say about you.❋ Doesn’t make you stand in a corner and hold a smile until your face aches. Movement is your friend. Conversation is your friend. Rigid poses are decidedly not.❋ Shows you the good shots as you go, so you can relax into the session rather than spending the whole time wondering anxiously if anything is working.❋ Doesn’t rush. Makes the whole thing feel, dare I say it, actually quite enjoyable!❋ Gives you real direction — not ‘just be natural’ (the least helpful instruction ever) but actual, specific guidance that makes you feel like you know what you’re doing.This is what I’ve built my whole practice around. It’s why I’m known as ‘the photographer for people who hate having their photo taken’. It genuinely describes most of my clients when
they arrive. If you’re curious what that actually looks like, you can explore my personal branding photography sessions.
THE PHOTOGRAPHER FOR PEOPLE WHO HATE HAVING THEIR PHOTO TAKEN
Let me walk you through it, because the fear of the unknown is often the hardest part.
What actually happens during
a byBALLARD photoshoot
BEFORE THE PHOTOSHOOT
We start with a proper consultation. I’ll understand your brand, your audience, and what you need these photos to do. You’ll also get guidance on what to wear and how to prepare, so you’re not walking in unsure.
On the day
We start gently. Always with a bit of a chat. I’m not going to point a camera at you the second you walk through the door. As we shoot, I guide you the whole time. I’ll tell you where to look, how to move, what to do with your hands, and I’ll interact with you to get the expressions we need. I’ll suggest small adjustments and will keep the conversation going so you’re not standing there in loaded silence trying to ‘look natural’. You’re never left guessing. And I guarantee there will be no awkward posing whatsoever.
We keep things relaxed. We talk. You settle into it. And I show you images as we go.
After the PHOTOshoot
You’ll receive a carefully edited gallery of natural, high-quality images. Each photo will have already been hand-edited for light, colour, composition and overall feel, so everything you see is polished, consistent, and ready to choose from.
Most people find they have more photos they love than they expected. Which, really, is the point.
Once you’ve selected your favourites, I then go on to retouch them professionally. This is always done with a light touch, no heavy editing, just subtle refinements so you still very much look like you.
If you’re thinking about updating your photos, you can take a look at my headshot photography in London or personal branding sessions to see what might suit you best.
You don’t have to love being photographed
This is important. The goal isn’t to turn you into someone who suddenly loves being in front of a camera. The goal is to give you photos that feel like you, on a really good day.
Because avoiding being visible in your business might feel safer, but it also quietly holds you back.
It often looks like:
❋ Using an outdated photo from years ago
❋ Cropping yourself out of a group photo from a wedding and hoping nobody notices
❋ Avoiding being visible in your own business
❋ Turning up to a meeting and the other person does a subtle double-take because they look nothing like their LinkedIn photo.
None of that has to be your story.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
“From the moment we started, Claire had a real talent for putting me at ease, I felt relaxed and comfortable throughout the entire shoot. What stood out most was how genuinely engaged she was. You could tell she cared about every single shot, bringing real energy and attention to each moment. The results speak for themselves, I had such difficulty choosing my final images because the standard across the whole gallery was so high that I ended up going back for a second round of selections.”
— Auste
“I've never been particularly comfortable in front of the camera, but this experience was completely different. From the moment the session started, you made me feel at ease. It was the perfect pace — your directions were clear, encouraging, and easy to follow, which made the whole process feel natural and surprisingly fun.”
— CharmaineReady when you are
If you’ve been putting this off, you’re not alone. Most of my clients felt exactly the same before they booked.
When you’re ready, we can start with a simple conversation.
No pressure. No hard sell. Just a chance to talk it through.
Frequently asked questions
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Then you’re in excellent company! It describes how most of my clients feel before they arrive. The session is designed specifically for this. There’s no point at which you’ll be left standing awkwardly wondering what to do next. I direct every moment, and we go at a pace that suits you.
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No but you should look and feel like yourself. The goal is images that capture you authentically, not a dressed-up version your clients won’t recognise. I send detailed guidance on this before every session and I’m always happy to talk it through beforehand.
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It really depends on what is needed from the photoshoot. I have a studio in Penge, South East London (SE20), and I photograph across London and the surrounding areas, including Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. We can also shoot at your workspace or a location that fits your brand. Not sure what would work best? That’s exactly the kind of thing we can figure out together.
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That depends on the session type, but the emphasis is always on quality. You’ll receive a carefully edited gallery, images that are genuinely good, not a long list of every frame.
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Yes. I regularly travel for shoots and I’m always open to discussing projects further afield. Send me a message and we’ll figure out what’s possible.