"I Hate Looking At Myself in Photos."
The Truth No One Tells You
While working with some of the most influential and successful business leaders around - from accomplished experts, execs, and to founders and CEO’s - there is one common denominator amongst them all:
They seriously dislike seeing themselves in photos and would rather be doing something else other than being in front of a camera.
Regardless if they command a stage, wrote multiple New York Times best-sellers, or led their company to unconscionable heights, when it’s time for them to get their close-up, they want their assistant to get them out of it.
It’s as if they’d prefer to be in a dentist chair and have all four wisdom teeth removed at once.
But here’s the thing: That resistance? It’s not awkwardness.
It’s actually a secret edge. How?
The experts that wrestle with being seen often become the most trusted when they finally step up. Because they do it with intention, sincerity, and an honesty that cuts through the digital noise like nothing else.
Stop Hiding Behind Your Work
You’ve probably heard, “Just let the work speak for itself.”
That’s a fast track to becoming invisible to your audience.
It might have worked five years ago, but today, your prospects and partners are constantly bombarded by digital noise at breakneck speeds—TikTok filters, AI spam, generic stock shots.
What cuts through? Real, genuine presence.
If you think showing up visually is about satiating your ego, you’re missing the point.
Sick of watching less-experienced, louder competitors win attention? Here’s why: people don’t just buy what you know—they buy who you are. Your presence is proof of life. It’s a connection device, not a vanity play. That connection, over time, consistently showing up in the same way, leads to them trusting that you are who you say you are, and that you will deliver on your promise.
Why Discomfort With the Camera Is a Signal, Not a Shortcoming
Here’s what happens—we’re all conditioned to spot our every perceived flaw in a photo. You fixate on the out-of-place hair, the uneven smile, the wrinkle you never noticed until now.
Meanwhile, the people you serve are looking for someone approachable, real, and reliable.
They aren’t picking you apart; they’re searching for a sense that you understand them, that you’re safe to work with, that you’re a relatable human being.
The irony? The more you try to “get it perfect,” the less real you seem. The more your actual self comes through, the more your audience feels seen and connected.
You’re meeting them where they are - not looking down from the altar of your greatness.
How to Turn Camera Discomfort Into a Strategic Asset
1. Treat Photographer Selection Like Hiring a Strategic Partner
Don’t just go with whoever holds a camera—hire a specialist who has worked with people just like you before, recently, and overdelivered on their promise. Just as importantly, choose someone who gets your vision, who makes you feel understood, and is excited to collaborate. The rapport you build here is everything: it’s what allows you to drop your guard when they camera is pointed at you and your real self shines through.
2. Outsmart Anxiety With Preparation
Preparation dissolves uncertainty. Decide what to wear, where to shoot, the activities you need to have captured and what emotions you want to convey ahead of time. Strategize before you step in front of the lens; show up with a plan and take the edge off your nerves.
3. Make Collaboration a Real-Time Process
Ask to review photos as you go. Get feedback. Spot-check. This isn’t about control—it’s about removing surprise and gaining confidence as you see yourself taking up space on your own terms. Trust that your photographer is seeing strengths you’re not even aware of.
4. Remember - These Images Are for Your Audience, Not You
This is the single most powerful mindset shift. These photos let the people who need you most discover you and connect. Your visual presence is a bridge—not a digital ad on the side of the screen.
Are You Sidelining Your Own Potential?
Here’s what’s really at stake: Every time you let discomfort keep you off-camera, you’re quietly clearing a path for someone else—usually with less of a track record, less commitment, and less to offer—to become the face your ideal clients trust.
That leaves you with two options: you reserve your talents for those few who stumble across your work, or you be bold and show up, own your story, own your value and shape the perception of your expertise at scale.
Enough hiding. It’s time to be visible, magnetic, and real.
The Time Is Now
Ready to use your real presence—not just your resume—to build an unmistakable and genuine presence online? What would change for your business if you finally leaned into being seen?
If you’re ready to stop letting camera discomfort hold you back and want to craft a visual story that compliments and amplifies your expertise and essence, let’s talk about how to build something that actually opens doors to those who are ready for you to get them over the hump.
Book your Visual Storytelling Strategy Call now.
Let’s make your next level visible, together.