How to Build Confidence Behind the Camera (Even When You Feel Like an Imposter)
If you have ever stood behind your camera second-guessing everything you are doing, you are not alone!!
Every photographer I know (myself included) has wrestled with feeling like an imposter at some point.
But here is the good news: confidence is not something you either have or you do not. It is something you build.
And you do not have to wait until you "feel ready" to start. Here is what I have learned about building real, lasting confidence behind the camera:
1. Start Before You Feel Ready
One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is "I will start once I am better."
But getting better happens through starting, not before it.
Show up. Take the photos. Let yourself be a beginner. Every session you shoot is a step toward becoming the photographer you want to be.
2. Learn By Doing (Not Just Watching)
You can read all the articles, watch all the courses, and scroll through all the Pinterest boards.
But nothing replaces the experience of working with real people in real situations.
That is why mentorships and shoot-alongs are so powerful. They give you a safe space to practice, ask questions, and build muscle memory for the moments that count.
3. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection
Every photographer you admire started where you are right now!
They did not wake up one day knowing exactly how to pose a family of five or handle tricky lighting. They learned by trying, adjusting, and trying again.
Celebrate the little wins:
A session that felt easier than the last
A client who said they felt comfortable with you
An image that feels a little closer to what you imagined
Confidence comes from progress, not perfection.
4. Surround Yourself with People Who Get It
It is easy to feel isolated when you are building a creative business.
Find people, whether it is a mentor, a community, or even a small group of photographer friends, who encourage you, challenge you, and remind you that you are not alone.
(Hint: if you need a mentor who believes in you, I am here!)
5. Fake It (Kind Of)
Here is a little secret. The family in front of your camera has no idea what you are seeing on the screen.
If it takes you an extra minute to get your exposure or settings right, just say, "Hang on a second, I am adjusting for the light." No big deal.
If you do not love the pose you just set up, just say, "Wait, let's adjust a little," or even laugh and say, "That is not working — it is me, not you."
You are in charge of the experience. They are trusting you, not scrutinizing you. Sometimes a little confidence on the outside buys you the space you need to figure it out on the inside.
You do not have to have it all figured out to create beautiful, meaningful images.
You just have to keep showing up, one session, one click, one learning moment at a time.
Confidence is not something you wait for. It is something you build.
And you are already on your way.
