Yana Skakun
How to relax and feel natural during a photo session
By Yana Skakun·10 June 2026·5 min read
Most people feel awkward in front of a camera. You are not alone, and it is not something to worry about — a good photographer's job is to help you forget the camera is there. But there are a few things you can do to help yourself.
Move
Stillness feels unnatural and photographs unnaturally. Walk slowly, turn slightly, look away and back — movement creates flow and makes everything more natural.
Don't hold a smile
A held smile is almost always visible as a held smile. Instead, think of something genuinely amusing, or just look slightly to one side and let your face do what it naturally does.
Breathe
Before the shoot, stand tall, breathe slowly, let your shoulders drop. Tension in the body shows in photographs. A few deep breaths transform posture and expression.
Talk to the photographer
The best images often happen mid-conversation. Good photographers will keep you talking on purpose. Let it happen — genuine expression during conversation is impossible to fake.
Make peace with looking at photos
The first few shots of any session are rarely the best. Give yourself and your photographer time to warm up. Don't judge early images harshly.
Wear something you feel good in
Confidence in your appearance translates directly into confidence in front of the camera. Don't wear something new — wear something you know looks good on you.
Eat beforehand (but not too much)
Low blood sugar creates irritability and low energy. Eat properly, stay hydrated, arrive feeling well.
A relaxed session starts with the photographer
I build time into every session for warming up — and I'll never make you feel rushed or judged. Get in touch to book a relaxed, natural session.
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Yana Skakun
Photographer · England
Professional wedding, family and portrait photographer based in England. Passionate about capturing authentic emotions and timeless moments.
About Yana →how to relax photo session UKfeel natural in photos Englandcamera confidence tipsphotography session tips UK
Photography Tips — Professional Photography in Cambridge & England
Yana Skakun is a professional photographer based in Cambridge, specialising in wedding, family, and portrait photography across England. Every session is personal — planned around your story, your people, and the moments that matter most. This guide — How to relax and feel natural during a photo session — is part of the photography journal: practical, experience-based advice drawn from real sessions across England. Whether you arrived searching for how to relax photo session uk or feel natural in photos england, the same care and attention shapes every session Yana photographs.
Professional Photography sessions are available year-round, with bookings open across Cambridge, Ely, Huntingdon, Peterborough, and further afield — East England, London, the Midlands, and beyond. If you have specific questions about camera confidence tips, mention it in your enquiry. Get in touch through the contact form above to check availability and discuss your session. Enquiries are welcomed from anywhere in the UK.
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