The other day a friend asked me to take a professional headshot. She hates photos of herself, just like I always have, and she told me how awkward it always feels when a camera is pointed her way.
I said honestly, “Even with mate’s rates, you could probably book someone cheaper than me. And if you can’t tell the difference in the results, absolutely do that.”
Because choosing a photographer is never only about price. It is about what you need, what you value and how you want to feel during your session.
Growing Up as the “Fat Little Girl”
When I was younger, my nickname in Chinese was “chubby little girl”. Which in Chinese culture is an affectionate term because it shows your family has enough resources to feed you well. A chubby child is a healthy, cared for child.
But growing up in a Western environment, the meaning did not translate quite so well…
On top of this, I had glasses from an early age. I was painfully awkward and had no idea about fashion. I wore all my favourite clothes at once and genuinely thought that counted as a style. I never felt like the pretty one and I certainly never felt photogenic - constantly in between expressions in our family photos…
The Insecurities We Carry
Those childhood insecurities do not simply disappear. They linger in the way we stand, the way our smiles shift when a camera points towards us and the instinct to hide or over-compensate when we know a photo is coming.
Because I know that feeling so well, I am intentional about the experience I create for anyone who steps in front of my lens. No one should ever feel like they don’t belong right up there with all of the other beautiful photos.
Not awkward.
Not judged.
Not too anything.
My job is not just to take a technically good headshot or branding portrait. My job is to help you feel seen in a way that feels honest and kind.
If You’ve Ever Felt Like This
Most people who come to me have the same thought in their head: I’m not photogenic. Maybe you tense up the moment a camera is pointed at you, or your smile feels stiff. Maybe you look at a photo and think, this isn’t me.
You are not unphotogenic. You are just standing in front of a camera in a way that doesn’t feel safe, guided, or understood. And that’s exactly what I help change.
Why This Makes a Difference
Anyone can learn to press a shutter or edit a photo. But helping someone quiet the internal voice that says they are not enough, not ready, not photogenic - that’s different. That is human, and getting you on the other side of this takes patience, understanding, and care.
When someone arrives nervous, reluctant, convinced they will not like the results, I don’t see a challenge. I see someone I understand completely.
Because I have been there.
And the moment you step in front of my camera, you no longer have to be that person. You get to feel supported, guided and photographed in a way that feels natural, confident and genuinely you.
In the right hands, a photoshoot is not about looking perfect, it is about finally seeing yourself with honesty and kindness.
I work with clients across Cheltenham and the Cotswolds who have never felt photogenic. We meet - and suddenly it all feels effortless, natural, and truly like them.