What If I’m Not Photogenic? - The Art of Being Seen
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I’m guessing you’ve said this at some point: “I’m just not photogenic.” Maybe you’ve followed it up with something like, “My smile looks forced,” or “The camera just doesn’t like me.” If you feel that way, I want to start by telling you that you’re not alone. And I want to gently challenge that belief.
Being “photogenic” isn’t something you’re born with or without. It’s not a fixed trait. Honestly, if you’ve never felt photogenic, you probably just haven’t had the right experience in front of the camera yet.
I hear so many stories that sound a lot like yours. People who have spent years convinced there’s something un-photographable about them. People who have learned to expect disappointment the moment they see their image. But the truth is, that reaction isn’t proof that you’re not photogenic. It’s just proof that you haven’t felt safe enough to let yourself be seen.
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I’ve come to believe that the word “photogenic” is a myth that keeps so many people small. When you tell yourself you’re not photogenic, what you’re often saying underneath is, “I just don’t like how I look when the camera is on me,” or, “I’ve only ever seen pictures that highlight what I don’t like about myself.”
And that makes sense. Maybe you’ve worked with photographers who didn’t take the time to connect with you. Maybe you were rushed, posed, or asked to pretend to be someone you’re not. Maybe you’ve spent years measuring yourself up against images of impossible beauty standards that never told the truth about who you really are, and over time, it taught you to expect disappointment. You deserve better than that.
Being photogenic isn’t about having flawless features or knowing how to “work the camera.” It’s about feeling relaxed enough to show up as yourself. When you trust the person holding the lens, something shifts. You start to let go of performance. You start to breathe. You soften. And in that softness, the real you comes forward. That is what I call being Soulgenic—worthy of being seen exactly as you are, without needing to change or prove anything.
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I think about my client Nick, who was needing new photos. He told me he’d done a lot of research and felt drawn to my approach because it looked artful and professional without feeling stiff. By the end of our session, he walked away with photographs he never imagined he’d love.
He said, “Just a couple of weeks after my first email, I walked away with eight amazing photographs that turned out even better than I could’ve imagined.”
And here’s what I want you to know: Nick didn’t walk in the door feeling “photogenic.” He just showed up, willing to be real. That willingness is where everything begins.
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One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is the idea that you need to know how to pose. Let me be clear: you don’t. That’s not your job. That’s mine.
You don’t have to rehearse expressions in the mirror or figure out your best angles. You don’t have to muster up a pretend confidence or force a smile. You only need to show up as you are. I’ll guide you every step of the way with curiosity, rather than pressure.
Some of the most powerful images I’ve ever taken happened in the little spaces between the moments. A quiet breath. A relaxed shoulder. A genuine laugh. Those are the moments when you stop performing and start simply being.
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You might be surprised how common it is to walk into a photoshoot feeling like you need to apologize for not being “good at this.” Some clients arrive sitting stiffly, bracing themselves for judgment. Others crack jokes to keep the nerves at bay. All of it is welcome. All of it is human.
But almost every time, something starts to shift once we begin. Your shoulders drop. Your breath deepens. There’s a softness that rises behind your eyes, a soulfulness that can’t be manufactured.
That’s the moment I’m waiting for. That’s when I press the shutter. Because that’s when you are no longer trying to look like anything. You’re simply allowing yourself to be seen.
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When you book a session with me, I’m not thinking about forcing you into a mold. I’m thinking about how to understand who you are. I’m thinking about what you’re carrying and what you’re hoping to feel. Whether you’re here for personal portraits or professional branding photos, the process is the same. It’s about revealing the truth of who you already are.
Annie Leibovitz once said, “A thing that you see in my pictures is that I was not afraid to fall in love with these people.”
That’s how I feel about this work. My job is to fall a little bit in love with your spirit, so you can fall a little bit in love with it, too.
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If you’ve spent years telling yourself you’re not photogenic, let this be your permission to stop waiting. You already are Soulgenic. You always have been.
If your heart is curious or your body is nervous, that’s okay. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to take the first step.
If you’re in the Los Angeles area let’s create something together that invites you to see yourself with new eyes, as someone fully and beautifully themselves.
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You don’t have to feel photogenic to begin. You just have to be willing to be truly seen.