Get over fears with process visualization
Process visualization is helpful in overcoming fear of the unknown.
...especially when it comes to being in front of a camera.
For many folks, the idea of a branded lifestyle portrait session is akin to having your taxes done while having a root canal at the same time.
Ugh, jesus.
I know exactly how you feel.
One of the ways to combat this anxiety is to make sure that you have a solid rapport with your photographer in order to allow yourself to be in the moment, guard down, so that you show up to your session confidently and powerfully.
Now, this is an important aspect during your session; there are other steps you can take prior to your session in order to get your mind right before you set foot in front of the camera.
One of the things you can do is leverage your vast imagination in order to help accumulate the positive, emotional capital needed in order to rid yourself of nerves and fear of your session.
Visualize how awesome your portrait session will be
Although not nearly as paralyzing as it used to be, I still get a few butterflies the night before every single, branded lifestyle portrait session.
Rather than crawl into the fetal position and allow the negative, self-talk to overcome me, I allow these butterflies to narrow and focus my attention towards visualizing how the entire day of the session will unfold - from the moment I wake up, to the moment I give my client a warm, goodbye hug.
I include all the details - from packing my bags full of gear, jumping on the train, and setting everything up on location, to how I plan to direct the client in various lifestyle portrait scenarios, to the photo review portion of the session.
This is referred to as process visualization - imagining all the small steps that make up the whole experience, rather than seeing the experience as a whole.
It is an amazing processing tool to leverage when feeling stressed about an upcoming event.
Process visualization helps reduce stress because it plays on a very interesting nuance of our brains.
You see, our brains don’t know the difference between what it’s experiencing and what it’s imagining, so, if you think it, it is so, as far as your brain is concerned
(Mind was blown on that one, lol)
As a result, leverage this reality to visualize yourself going through the entire process of completing an amazing, branded lifestyle portrait session.
For example:
Choosing your outfits/packing your bags
Arriving at the location
Getting your hair and makeup done
Sharing a few laughs with the photographer before the session
Being engaged and loose in front of the camera
Observing the photographer reset from setup-to-setup
Transitioning from location-to-location and changing your wardrobe
Reviewing the images and selecting your favorites
Celebrating the completion of a valuable and empowering portrait session!
Rather than spend the days leading up to the session devolving into a ball of nerves, use your brainpower for good, and allow yourself to visualize a smooth, flowing process that leads to the best, branded lifestyle portrait session that you’ve ever had in your life.
By focusing on the details, and preparing for the details, this allows you to familiarize yourself with the experience, step-by-step, and that familiarity will lead to building a heaping amount of positive emotional capital.
Can’t hurt to try, right?
PS - This article was adapted from an article I published entitled, I’m Not Photogenic: How To Get Your Mind Right For Your Next Portrait Session.
I’m Not Photogenic outlines several applied positive psychology interventions and principles designed for the reader to amass a wealth of positive, emotional capital before their next session in order to ease their nerves to present themselves powerfully, purposefully and authentically in front of the camera.
Give it a read and let me know what you think!
Also, if you are looking for a photographer who can help guide you past your emotional landmines in order to capture a truly authentic, content portfolio full of portraits and other image content, I know just the guy for you, :)
Schedule a call with me in order to see if we’re a good fit to work together!
PS - For those of you who aren’t in the know, I mail out these blogs 3x a week, and lemme tell you, they’re a real party, so, if you’d like to get in on this, sign up for it here and I’ll throw in a free gift for you...because I care, :)