Having a camera pointed at their face is enough to make many women anxious. For them, the mere thought of having an awkwardly taken headshot or video floating around in the public domain puts them off using this medium to promote themselves.
It is important to know there are ways to rise above the most common problems in photography and videography.
Below, I will address five of the biggest fears women have about being recorded and how they can be overcome.
1) Flaws in their appearance will be accentuated
If you’ve ever spent a half hour obsessing over a blemish or how your bangs fall across your forehead, then you’ll understand how this fear makes some women hesitant to step in front of a camera.
We all have perceived flaws our hyperactive mind inflates in contrast to what people actually focus upon. Viewers care more about your message than that crease in your forehead.
Aside from that, there are ways you or a videographer/photographer can enhance your physical appearance (angles, lighting, etc) so your finished product looks super sharp.
2) People will make fun of them
High school can be a traumatic time for many women, as the all-too-cruel social hierarchies which rule these institutions harshly judge ‘underlings’ for having the slightest facial flaws or committing a perceived fashion faux pas.
These horrible experiences often carry over into adult life. Made to feel self-conscious about their looks, getting in front of a camera can be enough to trigger a fight-or-flight response.
Realise the overwhelming majority of people watch videos to learn how to improve their lives, build a business, and so forth. Those who would still laugh at you based on your appearance are (a) stuck in an immature state of emotional development and (b) are behind a computer screen far away. Pay them no heed and focus instead on your fans.
3) They don’t crave the spotlight
Some women have no qualms about sharing every detail of their personal lives. From the mountain they climbed last weekend to what they had for breakfast this morning, almost no topic is out of bounds.
Others couldn’t fathom sharing intimate moments with anyone outside their immediate circle of family and close friends. This is normal, as many choose privacy over the virtual fishbowl.
Putting your face out there can be an uncomfortable experience if you consider yourself a private person – however, building a personal brand is a virtual necessity for success in today’s business climate.
Know this: even if you aggressively build your image within your niche, it’s unlikely you’ll ever become as big as Kim Kardashian. Accordingly, any worries you have about being recognised on the street are unlikely to become reality.
4) They look different photographed/filmed
Through our life, we mostly define our sense of self via our reflection in the mirror. However, this image is produced by light reflected off its surface, creating a reverse image of everything in front of it.
This warps how you actually look to other people, which can spurn a mini-identity crisis the first time you photograph yourself.
Self-employed filmmakers and photographers can get over this hurdle simply by getting used to the photographic/filmed version of themselves, and by learning camera tricks which will improve their appearance. Alternatively, they can hire a professional, as they know how to make their clients look smashing.
5) They genuinely believe they are not photogenic
Every photo or home movie since childhood depicts you in the worst possible light. Despite looking great when you aren’t being recorded, cameras never seem to capture you at your best.
This is not an uncommon situation – many of the shots in which we appear are candids, which can vary dramatically from the poses we practice in front of the mirror each morning.
Fortunately, photo/film shoots are meant to depict you at your best by definition. As mentioned, photographers and videographers know how to make their subjects look incredible.
If you are setting up your own production, however, doing things like blinking before shots, using makeup to accentuate your best facial features and taking tons of pictures/shots from a variety of angles will get you the best possible results.
