Opinion | Managing Unconfident Models

     One of the questions I get asked a lot as a photographer is how I deal with unconfident models. Personally, I have been in front of and behind the camera before and am severely insecure about myself; therefore, I understand both aspects of this. Insecurity is mainly an occurrence with women, especially mothers and senior models for me. Unconfident models are difficult to deal with if you are not a good people person, but can be easily turned around if you are by communication and honesty.

     To begin with, it may be beneficial to ask the model what their favorite angles are if you know in advance that they are insecure or if you are getting the hint throughout the shoot. Be sure to compliment your model on aspects they may seem concerned about, but do so honestly and non-sexually. Everyone loves a good compliment! Also, throughout the shoot, be sure to show the model their shots (of course, the good ones). This is the perfect time for another compliment.

     In addition, be sure to inform them that “they are their own worst critic,” everyone knows this, but it is necessary to be reminded sometimes. Also, sometimes models still feel insecure and don’t let lose after the photographer’s many compliments and positive comments. If this happens, you could ask the model what their best feature is and do your best to accentuate that attribute. When doing this, be aware of the model’s body type and take photos acclimated to their body type.

     Honestly, if you, as a photographer, believe that you’re getting good shots and they are still down on themselves, just focus on other things and keep shooting! They will feel better about it when they’re not thinking about what they’re doing and you will still be getting the shots you want!

     To recap, always remember that when you are working with an unconfident model, there is nothing more important than being honest when communicating with them. Positive reinforcement is another important aspect of being a photographer as well as making the model feel comfortable with themselves in front of the camera. Things you may do to help your model out are knowing their angles, asking their favorite attribute, changing the poses to their body type, and making sure to keep shooting! This issue is an ongoing challenge for photographers and for models and hopefully these tips help you find a solution, but know that every model and situation is different—guide your response appropriately.