Charlotte was looking for a Rotterdam business photographer to create authentic images to launch her new business and website as a digital accessibility trainer.
In this article I explain how I helped her address her fears about being photographed. And how this experience both built her confidence and created images that she can use to market her work and build her online profile as a freelancer.
Why Charlotte decided to book a Rotterdam business photographer
Charlotte had recently made the decision to go freelance when she got in touch with me, looking for a Rotterdam business photographer. She wanted a set of photos that expressed her personality and professionalism, so that her clients could get a real sense of what she was like to work with. She wanted to make her home and place of work, Rotterdam West, a big feature of the photoshoot, as well as her sidekick, Dolly the doggie.
However Charlotte was dreading having to stand in front of the camera for over an hour. She felt nervous about posing, about what she’d do with her hands, whether she would look stiff or fake in the photos.
Supporting Charlotte to create relaxed, confident images
I'm very used to working with camera-shy people - be they coaches or consultants, artists or accountants. The first thing I did was ask Charlotte a series of questions to understand what she wanted from her photoshoot:
1. How do you see yourself using the photos?
2. What aspects of your personality do you want to convey?
3. Which location would you like to use for the shoot?
4. What shots do you want to make sure we definitely capture?
5. Do you want to use any props? (e.g. books, coffee, equipment)
We used her answers to design the plan for the shoot, so that on the day she felt prepared and clear on what was going to happen.
Then, on the day of the photoshoot, here’s how I supported Charlotte to relax and enjoy the process:
1. We took things slowly - starting off in her apartment with a chat over a coffee to break the ice and get ready. Before taking out my camera, I invited Charlotte to take a few deep breaths with me to feel more grounded and calm her (totally understandable) nervousness.
2. During the shoot I gave Charlotte constant encouragement and feedback - telling her how well the photos were turning out and reassuring her that she was doing a great job.
3. I gave lots of tips on how she could pose, from sitting on the pavement, leaning against a wall, walking Dolly the dog, looking out over the green-grey water of the Nieuwe Maas river.
4. I took a LOT of photos, then after the shoot I picked out the strongest images and shared them in an online gallery. Charlotte then chose her own absolute favourites from gallery, which I then edited and shared with her.
From dreading the day to a huge confidence boost
After receiving the photos, Charlotte made a LinkedIn post talking about her experience. How she went from dreading the day, to finding that it really increased her self-esteem. And, she got a set of photos that paint a picture of who she is and what’s important to her. Charlotte says it best, here’s what she wrote:
“A few weeks ago I finally went out with the cheerful and fun portrait photographer Sarah Tulej. And what was so nice about it: a day that I honestly dreaded — standing in front of the camera for hours is not my 'thing' — actually became a huge boost for my self-confidence.
"Sarah constantly put me at ease and it was so cool to keep hearing: this is going to be such a beautiful photo! And now I have taken beautiful pictures at my favourite places in Rotterdam West.
These pictures are another step towards my own website. It's coming!”
So there you have it. Charlotte was able to overcome her nerves and really build her confidence, supported by my years of experience working as a Rotterdam professional photographer. Through a combination of thorough planning, practical posing advice, and lots of encouragement, we created images that show Charlotte’s many facets.
A bit about me
I am Sarah - portrait photographer for camera shy changemakers and teams. I work with small business owners, creatives and freelancers to increase their visibility.
From 30 minute headshot sessions to full personal branding photoshoots, I have packages to suit different budgets.
Questions? Get in touch via my contact page, I am here to answer any questions you may have.
Not ready to reach out? Join my email community and get my free guide: 13 Simple Ways to Use Brand Photography to Grow Your Visibility.
Check out the rest of the images we created together...
Curious about creating your own set of photos?
Get in touch via my contact page, or check out my FAQs page for answers to the most common questions people ask me.
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