How to Look Natural in Photos (Even If You Hate Cameras)

Almost every client tells me they’re “not photogenic.” They say it in the first email, again on the phone and one more time as we walk to the first location, usually while fidgeting with a sleeve or tugging at their hair. None of them are right. After more than a decade of photographing portraits, families, couples and executives who would rather be anywhere else, I’ve learned that looking natural in photos has very little to do with your face and almost everything to do with how you feel in the moment. These five tricks work for nearly everyone.

Why we freeze in front of a camera

Most people feel awkward in front of a camera for the same reason: they’re suddenly aware of themselves. In everyday life, you don’t think about where your hands are, what your shoulders are doing or which side of your face looks better. But the moment a lens points your way, you start thinking about all of it at once. That self-awareness creates tension, and tension shows up in photos as a stiff smile, raised shoulders and a clenched jaw.

The good news is that tension is easy to release once you know where to look for it. My job isn’t to make you look like someone else. It’s to help you relax enough to look like yourself. Every trick below is designed to get you out of your head and back into your body.

Breathe out

A slow breath out before each shot relaxes your shoulders and jaw. This is the first thing I teach every client, and it works almost instantly. When we’re nervous, we hold our breath without realizing it, and that tension travels straight to our faces.

Here’s how to do it: just before the shutter clicks, take a normal breath in, then let it out slowly through your mouth, like you’re gently fogging up a window. Feel your shoulders drop. Let your jaw soften. Then look at the camera. That relaxed, exhaled moment is when people look most natural. I often count my clients through it during the first few minutes of a session, and by the end, they’re doing it on their own.

Move, don’t freeze

Walk, turn, laugh, fix your hair. Movement looks natural; stiffness never does. When people hold perfectly still for a photo, they often end up looking like a mannequin. Real life is full of motion, and the best portraits capture that energy.

During a session, I almost never ask clients to stand still and smile. Instead, I give them small actions to do. Walk toward me slowly. Turn and look over your shoulder. Tuck your hair behind your ear. Adjust your jacket. Laugh at something your partner whispers. These little movements create natural, candid moments that feel alive. I simply photograph the in-between moments, which are almost always the best ones.

What to do with your hands

Hands are the number one thing my clients worry about. My advice: give them a job. Put one hand in a pocket, hold your partner’s hand, cradle a coffee cup, touch the brim of your hat or rest a hand gently on a railing. Hands that are busy look relaxed. Hands that are dangling at your sides look uncertain.

You don’t need to be photogenic. You need a good reason to smile.

Ivy

The five tricks

Here’s the full list, the one I share with every client before their session:

• Breathe out slowly
• Keep moving
• Look just past the lens
• Think of someone you love
• Trust your photographer

We’ve already covered breathing and movement. Here’s how the other three work.

Look just past the lens

Staring directly into a camera lens can feel intense and unnatural, and it often creates a wide-eyed, deer-in-headlights look. Instead, try looking just past the lens, at my ear or slightly above the camera. Your eyes will soften, and the result feels more thoughtful and relaxed. When I want direct eye contact, I’ll ask you to glance back at the lens at the last second, which creates a natural, engaged expression.

Think of someone you love

Forced smiles are easy to spot. They reach the mouth but not the eyes. A real smile happens when you’re actually feeling something. So before a shot, I’ll sometimes ask clients to think of someone they love, like their child, their partner, their dog or their best friend. The change in their face is immediate and beautiful. Their eyes crinkle, their expression softens and the smile becomes genuine.

Trust your photographer

This might be the most important trick of all. When you trust the person behind the camera, you stop worrying about how you look and start enjoying the experience. A good photographer will guide you, tell you when something looks great and gently fix anything that doesn’t. You don’t have to know how to pose. That’s my job. Your only job is to show up as yourself.

Before your session

A little preparation goes a long way toward feeling confident on the day. Here’s what I suggest to every client:

1. Wear clothes you love. Choose outfits that fit well and make you feel like yourself.
2. Avoid busy patterns and logos. Solid colors and soft textures photograph beautifully.
3. Get some rest. A good night’s sleep shows in your eyes.
4. Drink water and eat beforehand. Hungry people aren’t relaxed people.
5. Bring something meaningful. A favorite book, an instrument or your dog can help you relax.
6. Give yourself extra time. Rushing to a session creates stress that shows up on camera.

Key takeaway: The first ten minutes of any session are a warm-up. Don’t judge yourself by them. Everyone relaxes as they go.

For couples and families

Group sessions bring their own nerves, but they also bring a secret advantage: you have each other. Instead of posing side by side, I’ll ask couples to whisper something silly in each other’s ear, walk hand in hand or share a slow dance in the middle of a field. With families, I give kids small games to play, like a race to me or a tickle contest with Dad. Parents relax when their kids are having fun, and the photos show real connection rather than forced smiles. My favorite family images almost always come from the moments when someone dissolves into giggles and forgets that the camera is there at all.

If you’re nervous, tell your photographer. A good one will slow down, explain what’s happening and make sure you feel comfortable throughout the session.

You’re more photogenic than you think

I’ve photographed hundreds of people who told me they hated being in front of a camera. Almost all of them left their session surprised, both by how much fun they had and by how much they loved their photos. Not because they suddenly became someone else, but because they were finally able to relax and be themselves.

So the next time you find yourself in front of a lens, remember these five tricks. Breathe out. Keep moving. Look just past the camera. Think of someone you love. And trust the person taking your picture. You don’t need to be photogenic. You just need a good reason to smile, and a photographer who will help you find it.