I'm not photogenic
Being photographed should not feel like a test of how comfortable you are in your own skin.
And yet for many professionals, it does. You are articulate in meetings. You advise clients. You lead teams. You make decisions every day without hesitation. But the moment a camera is pointed at you, something shifts. You become aware of your posture. Your expression. Your hands. You start wondering how you look instead of focusing on what you want to communicate.
Posing is not performing. It is not about becoming someone more polished or more impressive. It is simply about being yourself with clear direction. My role is to guide you step by step so you never feel unsure about what to do next. You do not need to guess. You do not need to overthink. You just need to show up.
In most cases, there is no need for exaggerated poses or dramatic body language. Strong portraits are usually built on subtle adjustments, not big movements. Even when doing a branded session, I often begin with how you naturally carry yourself, and make a few headshots. From there, we refine. A slight shift in weight. A small adjustment in shoulder angle. A gentle lift through the spine. These changes are often almost invisible, but they make a significant difference in how you come across. The goal is not to turn you into someone else. It is to align your body language with the level you already operate at in your business, work and life.
Many people prepare for a session by thinking about angles. They worry about their “good side” or whether they should practice expressions in the mirror. While those details can help, they are not the foundation. A more useful question is this: how do you want to be perceived? Calm and steady. Approachable and open. Decisive and capable. When you focus on the feeling you want to communicate, your posture and expression start to organize around that intention. That clarity is far more powerful than memorizing poses. It creates consistency between who you are and how you appear.
Can you guess which side Sven thought was his 'better' side? It just so happens that he thought the image on the left was featuring his best side. I disagreed, and we went with the image on the right. No-one knows your face better than you do, and we all have a tendency to be our own worst critics. You see things that no-one else does. It's like the arrow in the Fed-ex logo – once you see it, once you know it is there, you will see it every time, but you won't know it is there till someone draws your attention to it! Just so, with your 'flaws'!
Time also plays a larger role than most people expect. A natural portrait rarely happens in the first few minutes. Just like any meaningful conversation, it takes a short warm up. We talk. We adjust. We review. You begin to see that you do not look awkward. You start to relax. During the shoot, we build gradually. There is no pressure to get it perfect immediately. As the session progresses, you forget about the camera and focus more on the interaction. That is when the strongest images are created.
And then there are your hands. Almost everyone brings this up before we even begin. The moment you become aware of the lens, your hands suddenly feel unfamiliar. Should they hang at your sides? Crossed? In your pockets? This is completely normal. The solution is not complicated. Give them something natural to do. Adjust your jacket. Button your cuff. Rest one hand lightly in a pocket. Hold your glasses for a frame. Place a hand on the back of a chair. Small movements create rhythm and reduce stiffness. They help your nervous system settle because your body is engaged in something familiar. When your hands feel natural, the rest of you follows. Your shoulders drop. Your expression softens. You look more like yourself.
The person behind the camera matters more than most people realize. You can study posing tips. You can practice expressions. But if you do not feel comfortable with your photographer, it will be difficult to look at ease. You should feel guided, not judged. Clear about what is happening next. Confident that your time is being used well. For busy professionals, efficiency matters. Structure matters. You need to know that there is a process, that you are in capable hands, and that the session has a clear purpose. When there is trust and clarity, you stop questioning yourself. That sense of safety is visible in the final images. It shows in your eyes and in your posture.
I’m Andy, a portrait and headshot photographer based in Wassenaar. I work with small business owners, consultants, and independent professionals who care about credibility and clarity, in Wassenaar and the entire Zuid Holland area. Most clients tell me they feel uncomfortable in front of a camera before we begin. By the end of the session, that tension is gone. Not because they learned to pose perfectly, but because they felt guided and understood. I do not believe some people are photogenic and others are not. I believe that when the environment is calm and structured, and when you are clear about how you want to show up, strong portraits follow naturally.
Looking natural in portraits is not about knowing the exact angle of your nose or memorizing a set of poses. It is about feeling steady in your own skin and working with someone who knows how to bring that steadiness forward. When the process is clear and supportive, you stop trying to look confident and simply are. The result is not a different version of you. It is you, clear, confident and approachable. This is you on your best day.
Before and after