Perhaps you dislike yourself in some photographs and wonder whether a portrait session is for you. You do not need experience in front of a camera. Preparing a few preferences is more useful than trying to memorise a whole collection of poses before we meet.

Think about what the pictures are for

Are they for a profile, a gift or simply for yourself? That gives us a starting point for the look of the photographs. Choose two or three examples and note what you like: the light, an outfit or an expression. Show me whether you prefer still portraits or pictures with some movement, too. Save the examples on your phone so we can look through them together before taking photographs.

Choose clothes you can move in

Try your outfit while sitting and standing. Can you raise your arms without having to pull the fabric back into place? Do you feel comfortable wearing it? A familiar blouse or a simple jumper may suit you better than something new that needs constant adjustment. If you are choosing between two outfits, we can talk through the options beforehand.

Give your hands something simple to do

You do not need to think about your shoulders, hands and expression all at once. Resting a hand on a sleeve, holding your jacket or taking a few steps gives us somewhere to begin. I help with posing. Tell me if a movement feels awkward. You do not have to look into the camera or smile in every photograph, either.

Share what you like and what you would avoid

You can bring photographs of yourself that you like as a reference. It is also useful to know what you would rather avoid. You do not need photography terms to explain it. Instead of trying to control every expression during the session, start by concentrating on one movement. You can say when you would like a moment to breathe or to try a different position.