Why the best portraits happen when you stop trying so hard?
Let’s be honest—most people don’t love being photographed. They worry about how they look, what to do with their hands, how to smile, or whether they’ll come across as awkward or stiff. I hear it all the time.
But here’s the thing: the very best portraits—the ones you’ll actually love—don’t come from perfect posing. They come from presence.
They happen in that moment where you stop overthinking, take a breath, and just be.
Posing Isn’t the Problem. Over-posing Is.
There’s nothing wrong with a little guidance. I’ll help you with that. I might suggest where to stand, how to turn your shoulders, or what kind of light we’re working with. But the goal is never to make you look like someone else.
You don’t need to strike a dramatic pose or channel a supermodel. You just need to show up and let yourself be seen. Not perform. Not perfect. Just present.
The beauty is already there.
What “Just Being” Actually Looks Like
You laughing between takes.
You fixing your kid’s collar.
You reaching for your partner’s hand.
You lost in thought for just a second.
Those unscripted in-between moments? That’s where the gold is. That’s where the truth is. That’s where the camera becomes a mirror instead of a spotlight.
Let Go of the Mirror Version of You
We all have that mental image—the one we see in the mirror, or the one we wish we could project in a photo. But photos aren’t about creating a fixed version of yourself. They’re about capturing something real.
You don’t have to “nail the shot.” Just be open. Be comfortable. Be honest.
And let me do the rest.
This Is a Conversation, Not a Performance
My sessions are relaxed. We’ll talk. We’ll move around. We’ll try a few things. If something feels forced, we’ll change it. If something feels good, we’ll stay with it.
My job isn’t to make you “look good.”
My job is to help you feel like yourself—and to capture that. That’s where the good stuff lives.
If you can stop posing and just start being—you’ll walk away with portraits you actually love. Not because you looked perfect. But because you looked true.
