05/19/2026
I actually don’t think this is about not knowing what to do with your hands in photos.
I think what happens is that the second a camera comes out, you suddenly become painfully aware of yourself.
A minute ago you were just being normal. Chatting with your partner. Laughing together and existing. Then suddenly you’re thinking about everything. From what your face is doing, to how you’re standing...even whether your smile looks weird or not. Oh and don’t forget the “what on earth are my hands supposed to be doing” thought.
In all this, somehow, and not surprisingly, you stop feeling like a person just living your life and you start feeling overly aware of being watched. Causing the spiral to start.
“why do i feel so awkward?”; “I’m probably just not photogenic”; “everyone else looks natural in photos except me.”
And because you care, because you actually want the photos to feel beautiful and like you, you start trying harder. Trying to stand right and look relaxed, and trying to pose naturally.
But usually that effort becomes the exact thing pulling you further out of the moment . And after enough experiences like that, you start to believe the problem is in fact you. You are the awkward one. Natural photos just aren’t your thing. Then you look back at old photos and something feels just wrong about them.
You remember the day itself feeling warm and good, but the version of yourself in the image feels like a stranger. Too aware. As if you were trying really hard to get it right. And you know what. I don’t think this is about needing better poses.
I think what most people need is enough comfort with the camera, and the person behind it, to stop performing for it. Because usually the photographs people love most are the ones where they finally felt like themselves again.
Film photos second shot for the beautiful and talented
