Just because you cringe at the thought of having your photos taken doesn’t mean you need to accept the fact that you’ll never have any good photos of yourself. There is a way to overcome your camera shyness and feel comfortable enough in front of your photographer to get the photos you want, whether it’s of you and your loved ones or just you on your own.

Below are three tips that you can use to conquer your upcoming photo session.

1. Be as comfortable as possible. Take the time to pick out an outfit that not only suites the purpose of the photo session but one that you feel completely comfortable in too. Wear a color that you love and get your hair and makeup done to give you that extra boost of confidence.
2. Practice really does help. Stand in front of a mirror and strike a few poses, get comfortable with your body and your smile. Once you’re feeling better about how you look, use your smartphone or camera to snap a few shots of yourself to see which angles and poses work best. Your photographer will be able to help you with this on the day too but it never hurts to be prepared anyway.
3. Why are you doing this? Sometimes focusing on the camera and the person taking the photos is enough to put anyone off, instead rather focus on why you’re doing this shoot in the first place. Are you updating your family albums or perhaps you’re taking a few great shots for a holiday card, keep your mind on the result of the shoot instead.

Remember that your photographer does this for a living because they love working with people. They want to help you achieve the best quality images so have fun with it and trust that your photographer has your best interests at heart.