r/portraitphotography

How do you gain confidence as a photographer, especially when directing people?

I’ve always been more socially anxious and not very confrontational, so getting used to directing people during shoots has honestly been one of the hardest parts for me. My social anxiety has gotten tremendously better than it used to be, and I can still be outgoing, but I’m just getting started in professional photography even though I’ve been doing photography for years.

I’ve definitely gotten better with each session, but sometimes my mind still goes blank even when I prepare beforehand and I suddenly don’t know what to say or do. I think part of it is that my style is naturally more documentary and observational, so being more vocal and intentionally directing people doesn’t come as naturally to me yet. I also think part of it could be that I’m not fully comfortable or confident with myself right now either, which probably carries over into how I approach shoots.

It’s also hard to give myself credit for how far I’ve already come. For photographers who struggled with confidence or social anxiety at first, what actually helped you get more comfortable during shoots and directing people?