A lot of women don’t like having their photos taken, yet a portfolio of professional photos is something every businesswoman should have these days. We asked Vanessa Laval-Glad, photographer and videographer from Tauranga and the person behind most of focus magazine covers, how to overcome the fear of the camera and how to pose for business photos to appear professional and confident.
- Why do you think women are so anxious about having their photos taken?
- It’s something we overthink. Self-doubt in our minds just takes over. Little insecurities that every woman has are just magnified with the thought of sitting in front of the camera. Usually, this self-doubt comes from a place of lies, to be honest. it’s something that we tell ourselves, things that we see in ourselves when we look in the mirror that nobody else will ever see. Once people do get in front of the camera and realise that it’s actually not that bad, they feel that it was really worth it.
- So, it’s that little voice in our head that we need to get over.
- Absolutely! It doesn’t matter how beautiful people are, everyone has it. 99% of people who walk into my studio have it! Everyone says ‘I’m not photogenic’ or ‘I don’t look good in photos’. But it really is just something in your own mind that you need to overcome.
- For me, it shows the importance of having professional photos taken. Why do you encourage people to do that?
- In this day and age, people are finding you on the Internet before they meet you. You want to have images there that you can be proud of. Having professional photos taken is not just about equipment that I use, it’s also about finding a connection. A professional photographer will coach you through a session, pose you and set you up to show your best self. This is something we struggle to do by ourselves, with selfies. They’ll show you exactly how you need to be sitting or standing, or tilting – your best angles.
- We work with you so often and you’re so good at guiding us through… You know, the chin and where it should be, the angles and all that sort of stuff. Could you show us, if someone’s sitting like that, what sort of pose should they do?
- My rule of thumb is usually leaning forward to the camera. That brings your face closer to the camera and makes your body look smaller. I’d get them to cross the legs, lean forward and bring your chin down slightly to open the eyes a little bit more. Bringing down the chin also minimises any extras we might have. I always tell people to push their chin forward and down, which feels a bit like a chicken – it creates that illusion of a smaller body that most of us wouldn’t mind.
- And what do you do with your smile?
- Everyone’s different and everyone, obviously, has a different way of smiling. I always remind people to relax, I get them to laugh. The moment you laugh – your whole face relaxes and everything goes where it needs to go. As soon as your body, your shape is as it needs to be, a friendly laugh is what I’m looking for.
- Would you mind showing us how to stand in a photograph?
- Sure! Usually, it’s leaning forward slightly, bringing your shoulder around, bringing your chin around your shoulder and smiling naturally. I usually get people to tilt a little bit. Gorgeous!
- Are we still doing the long neck?
- Yes, still doing the chin forward and down.
- And are you putting your weight on the front leg?
- Usually, I get people to start on the back leg but it naturally goes to the front as you lean forward.
- And what do you do to your hands? How do you make them look relaxed?
- Basically, just pinning your elbows to your sides. And slightly bringing your shoulders back.
- What about those poses when you’re with a couple?
- If it’s a business-type portrait and they’re a couple in business, I would get them standing quite close but not too close, so that it doesn’t look like a wedding photo. Alternatively, I get people to stand slightly back-to-back.
- Any colours you would suggest?
- Obviously, everyone has different colours that suit them better. Black is a go-to for many reasons: it minimises excess visually, it also takes the focus off the clothes and brings it back to you, which is where we want it to be. But some people don’t like black, I’ for example, never wear black myself. I would wear a solid colour or at least not too busy print. Again, we want to keep the focus on your face and not the clothes you’re wearing.