Echoes Portrait Photography

Having professional pictures taken makes some people really nervous. And we get that - not everyone likes being in front of bright lights and lenses. That's where we come in. A professional photographer should be as good with people as they are with cameras and lights.

Photography works in a 2D space - width and height. But you are 3D - width, height and depth. A great image needs to make you look 3D in a 2D space. To help, we might get you standing side-on to the camera, which helps create perspective. Or tilting your head, which does the same. Changing how you hold your arms is another trick. Hands on hips create shapes - triangles - between your arms and body. Or for something completely different try sitting down, leaning forward, and looking straight into the camera.

Surprisingly, you don't always need to smile for a great shot. Sometimes a more serious expression can work just as well. It all depends on what you want people to think, feel and do when they see your pictures. We have some questions that can help you decide that too.

Above all though, relax! You look better when you look natural. Stand like you're talking to people in the pub, sit like you're at a nice lunch, laugh like you're with your best friends. Just a few simple things that can make even the most nervous people walk away with extraordinary pictures.