A great photo is more than just perfect lighting and good composition. It’s about capturing your subject’s truest essence—that confident, authentic, magnetic self that already exists inside them. My job as a photographer is to bring that forward. Over the years, I’ve built a toolkit of both physical and psychological tools that help guide clients into that space where they feel fully alive and expressed.

Pre-Production: Where Confidence Begins

Confidence starts before the camera ever clicks. That’s why I treat my Elevated Realism™ photoshoots with the same reverence and preparation I would give to an editorial or advertising shoot.

Together with my client, we identify their story, their vibe, and the visual narrative we want to tell. This means:

• Choosing the right wardrobe
• Selecting emotionally resonant locations
• Identifying props that tell their story
• Planning for the moments we want to create

The Confidence-Carrying Playlist

Music is my magic wand. It shifts energy instantly. I always bring my own playlist curated to uplift, move, and loosen up even the most hesitant clients.

But more importantly, I ask every client: “What music makes you come alive? What gets you dancing?”

I wear a custom harness I originally designed for Burning Man, equipped with dual UE Boom speakers and pouches for batteries and memory cards. It’s functional, but more than that, it’s part of creating a vibe.

Client Rituals: What to Bring Beyond Clothes

Aside from their wardrobe and props, I encourage my clients to bring:

• A full night’s sleep
• Hydrated bodies
• A collaborative mindset

Energy is everything on set. I want clients who are ready to show up fully, open to play, and curious about what they might discover.

Real-Time Confidence Tools

When a client tightens up or starts to get in their head, I have a few tricks:

• Fluttering the lips – It relaxes the jaw and usually makes us laugh
• Full-body shakes – Releases tension quickly and reconnects us to presence
• Dancing or walking – Motion frees up emotion. It shifts the nervous system from freeze to flow
• Conversation and questions – I keep talking with them, asking meaningful questions to keep their mind present and engaged

Creating the Atmosphere

There is no one-size-fits-all set or vibe. Each location brings its own flavor. Sometimes it’s a minimal, light-flooded loft; sometimes it’s a maximalist paradise full of eclectic pattern and chaos.

What’s consistent is the atmosphere I bring:

• Music
• Encouragement
• Play
• Positive reinforcement

When I see a moment that lights up on camera, I vocalize it immediately: “Yes! That’s it! Hold that! More of that!” Clients bloom in response to acknowledgment.

Less Gear, More Presence

I keep my technical gear minimal. Natural light is my favorite medium, and I aim to find locations where it thrives. I do bring seamless backdrops and a studio strobe if we’re going for a particular look, but I never let gear slow us down. My priority is flow and presence.

The Power of Positive Reinforcement

Verbal cues are everything. Clients may walk in unsure, but when they start to hear how good they look—in real time—their confidence skyrockets.

Bonus Tool: The Second Phone

Simple but effective: I always bring a second phone to play music. That way, I can use my main phone for video content, notes, or showing clients inspiration without interrupting the vibe.

Closing Thoughts

Confidence is not something I force out of people. It’s something I create the environment for. With music, movement, the right setting, and psychological presence, confidence becomes inevitable.

That’s what I aim to deliver in every Elevated Realism™ shoot.