Thread: Photoshoots...

Okay, so this is a little weird but here I go.

I've just returned from a shoot for the jeepers peepers girls, I've known the photographer for two years; love his still shots but still came home and threw up, still shaking now.

I cannot do photoshoots. I avoid them like the plague and as a result get asked often why I only seem to have live shots on my website. When people ask me to wear something from their line for a shoot etc I always say no because I know when it comes down to it...I cannot do it and its not worth their time.

This is seriously holding me back, I can't get promo pics taken because I cannot relax and end up with terrible images that I end up never using. Live photos I generally love because I'm not aware of them...

Smiling is another issue... I'm not shy in the slightest but stick me in front of a camera and I want to run away fast fast fast. I've acted since I was small so have always had headshots, no problems at all until maybe last year when I suddenly fled a shoot.

So I'm asking you all for helps, tips to relax, where to copy poses from or if I should just give up on traumatic shoots and stick to live shots??

Heeeeeelp!

xx

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I got a few posing guides (Pdfs) off the net, haven't really used them much but I will get round to it at some point. Practice at home in front of the mirror, take photos of yourself to see which suits you. Have a mirror on hand during the shoot to check your expression etc. I found it useful when I had a shoot and the photographer had a wall mirror behind him.

You already know the photographer - do you just go in and start shooting or do you sit down & have a chat first? That can help with nerves, discussing ideas etc.

That's all I can think of atm, have to leave the house now. If I think of any more ideas I'll come back to this thread x

Aww hun :hug: That sounds like an awful affliction - especially in show biz.

Perhaps if you try and understand why you're having problems you can address the root cause. Popping a few chill pills is all very well, but a drooling Amelie who can't untangle herself won't make for a good picture either. Although I'm sure there's a market for that somewhere :worried:

Do you get stressed over casual photos (like your friends taking pics at a party for instance) or is it just the professional ones?

What are you thinking about exactly when you start to dread a shoot? Is it the smiling, the posing or something else?

What was the most enjoyable photoshoot you can remember doing and why? (even if you hated it)

~Betty~

Hello gorgeous - first of all - no! don't give up hope on getting over this fear of photoshoots....you are beautiful and having some lovely photos of yourself I'm sure will be worth getting over this.

Do you know what might be behind this - because all the fear and feeling sick etc sounds like just a symptom of possibly something bigger.

I'm not pretending that my experiences are anything like yours but - up until last year I couldn't have my photo taken either....I avoided being photographed like the plague, any photos taken at family and friends parties/weddings I'm always looking away from the camera at the last mo, or clutching one of my kids in front of me, obscuring my face. My problem was extremely poor self-esteem....I hated myself, the way I looked, my weight and had taken my brother's taunts of being a big disgusting blob over the years to heart.

The way I got over this(and if you see my myspace, you probably wouldn't guess I had a problem with this, a there are now a LOT of photos there) ....which might possibly help (?) was to have photos taken by my husband and 'in character'.

Can Edd help you? Can you break yourself into this easily with someone who understands you? We take a day every fortnight or so and think up something silly or a theme....and we have fun together. I love finding castles or ruins, or great venues - and I know up north there are some fantastic places. I wanted to do a 'superman' shoot....so we went and found a red telephone box and did silly pics. I also wanted to pretend to clean a ruin.....so we took a vacuum cleaner to a nearby castle and took photos of me hoovering the grass. Go and have some fun....

But being in character is important too. Don't be V....be Amelie....or one of your characters. I still can't have my pic taken as my real self, I squirm, I can't smile either. But if I take some time putting on my makeup and dressing up and going to a nice venue (btw I find outdoor shoots WAAAAY easier than being in a studio still, I feel really wooden and restricted in a studio, and move much more freely and smile and laugh more when 'outside').....think of having your photo taken as a performance - especially if you can cope with live photos.

Tips to relax....erm, do something silly to start, make a cd of your fav music that you want to dance/sing to and get the photographer to play it (loads do this anyway - but if it's music that makes you happy/proud even better), try to enjoy being dolled up - doing your make-up, hair, costume.....start with photoshoots that you find easier - do ones as if you're performing - don't go straight in for the headshots/promo shots, someone else suggested once on here hum the benny hill theme tune to yourself, convince yourself that you deserve this - you deserve to have some fantastic photos of yourself and the end result is worth some nerves.....AND don't worry about being nervous....everyone gets nervous and these nerves raise your adreniline (you know all this from performing) to help you cope with it, but if you feel nerves before having your photo taken, don't beat yourself up and tell yourself you're pathetic because YOU ARE NOT! You're a wonderful person who's just got a temporary fear to get over. And you have beaten many other things in your life, so you can do this too.

Poses - I spent sometime at the beginning when I couldn't face having my photo taken working my way through photos I loved on myspace and studying why I liked the pics - try the albums on Candee Photography's myspace (I love Beatrix's being carried away by the balloons....fab photo and she's being silly but still looks gorgeous and smiling), or Cherry Bomb Rock's. I love Miss Rain's photos too.

And sometime....try a photoshoot with Deb and Steve at Tiptop Photography.....and ask to do a shoot on location somewhere. They are massively understanding about nerves. I did my first proper indoor shoot with them and was tremendously nervous, but they were fab - I could tell them exactly how I felt and they helped me absolutely tons and I got really pretty photos - and Deb got me smiling too, which isn't something that comes naturally to me believe me! And/or Candee Handful - again fab photos and a very very understanding lady who I'm sure could also get the best out of you and possibly start to get you thinking you can do this.

I don't think you should give up on this one darling because I think if you conquer it you will feel on top of the world and I'm sure it will build your self-esteem no end.....and it would be lovely to see some great shots of you and the Frayed Knot website!

Funily enough Tempest, me and the beautiful Amelie have something lined up already!

Amelie petal, your gorgeous but it is a case of feeling comfortable at the shoot. Not only were you in a pressured situation you were surrounded by 7 or 8 (?) other girls who ARE comfortable at photoshoots which is only going to add to the pressure. You're comparing yourself to the likes of Gem and Laura who are naturally more outgoing than you and this will come across in the shoot.
We've already talked about doing shoots soon, why dont we do a couple dressed down, just you and me and we'll work together.
I know it feels awkward but other girls tell me they practice in front of a mirror. This way you can see what your face and body looks like but what happens is you find the poses that you find flattering for yourself then you can feel where to put your body so you can then recreate them without being in front of the mirror.

That's the best advice I've ever heard for models and you should not give up.
If it makes you feel better I'll let you even take photos of me and you know what I'm like having photos taken of me!
There's a reason I'm behind the camera! hahah

Tempest thank you so much especially for taking the time to write I do think it's because I take photos as myself not 'Amelie' and it freaks me out ha! It's really great to read your situation because to be honest, I really wouldn't have guessed you had camera issues at all!! Gives me hope it does

The strange thing is, I've just come back from two months with a camera in my hand every day...it's the first trip we've ever had pictures of me from and i was okay there preciesly because there was no pressure AND because I knew I could delete.

To answer Violet, the shoot was a little of a rush last night so we couldn't really sit and chat. Plus, I had no idea what we were shooting for so had brought a bag of costumes and wasn't actually happy with what I chose to wear. I should have changed but being my usual self, didnt want to waste everyones time by taking too long doh!

Miss Rain, my beautiful lurky friend I had no idea you'd see this and I feel really bad!! You're actually the only person who can make me calm down and it's that reason i love working with you (plus we normally bail for tea and cake haha!) I can't wait to do our spacey shoot...and i've been really calm about it precisely because of you and as it involves an aerial prop that i can pose on and not have to look directly at the camera all the time!

I still feel fluttery about the results from the last shoot, I don't really want them used on promo but hey whatever it's not the end of the world. The photographer did as best he could to get good pics out of me, I just couldn't get myself to do that

Em, I'm so going to abuse your photography skills before you leave me in Jan waaa!

Thanks all xx

Originally Posted by tempest devyne

And/or Candee Handful - again fab photos and a very very understanding lady who I'm sure could also get the best out of you and possibly start to get you thinking you can do this.

Tee hee, actually this time last year I did a shoot with Candee and it was hilarious! First we were asked to leave a store because we were not allowed photos oops ha then we went to the same place Bea had her balloon photo! Because I'm a klutz and it was rainy, I kept on falling over and I felt really relaxed. We then went to the snow dome and did some really fun stuff in the little Christmas area, arsing about on the sleds etc. I was really suprised with how some of these came out, and you're right Candee is incredibly understanding. I defintely think I was more comfortable taking photos a year ago than now but then I did have a really bad shoot in the New Year so maybe that's what it was??

I dunno

xx

Originally Posted by Amelie Soleil

I defintely think I was more comfortable taking photos a year ago than now but then I did have a really bad shoot in the New Year so maybe that's what it was??

Some shoots are good, some shoots are bad. It can depend on so many things - time, location, the dynamic between you and the photographer, etc. etc. You can never tell whether it'll be a good or bad shoot until you get there and start doing it. Don't beat yourself up about it! You're best off doing shoots with people you know and trust (and with friends you also have the option to delete, as you said earlier) and just treating them as fun rather than work. Then you'll have a good time and get some pictures that capture that fun!

This may seem a little left field but I wonder if being the photographer or assistant on a photoshoot might help you feel more comfortable in front of the lens? I used to hate the evil soul stealing machines but feel much happier now I've taken up photography a bit more seriously and see it as an interplay of both sides rather than simply having to perform on demand for a static uncaring box

well it was the lovely Tempest that made me nosey about coming on here. She added me on myspace saying she was referring me to a friend,I had no idea it was you!

Tell you what, we'll shoot all your needs (circus and burlesque) before I move away so you have pictures to show off how fab you are and then you can just build on that when everyone is clamouring to work with you

I actually had an idea for your pheonix routine last night, can you think of anywhere with a big ornate fireplace?

Notts isn't that far petal :P
xxx