I was a nervous wreck.

I haven't been photographed by a professional photographer since grade school. (And holy moly were those photos soooo awkward!)

But hey, I'm an adult now. How awkward could it be? My answer came like a swift blow to my ego: It would be WORSE!

What adult gets their photos taken these days of just them??

Would everyone think I was pretentious?

Would everyone wonder 'Who does she think she is?"

Truth is, I don't love the spotlight. And the thought of having my face blown up online is about as fun as sticking my finger in a wall socket while eating lima beans.

But I knew I had to do it.

I had to be photographed.

Just me, with no one else.

I thought that because I'm comfortable behind the camera I would naturally know how it feels on the other side...no big deal, right?

Until I actually had to do it.

It felt like a BIG freakin' deal.

Sweat. Tears. Fear.

All my insecurities are magnified in my mind when eyes are pointed my way.

They will see my crooked teeth and age spots and wrinkles and gray hairs.....

And it got me thinking that this is how my clients must really feel.

Once that camera started clicking my way my mouth would do these strange smiles and my eyes were like a deer in the headlights. My twitching zombie face was all I could think about. Things were going downhill fast and I just wanted to run away and hide.

#epicfail

At that moment my photographer started talking with me, chatting about life and the joy of being an artist...encouraging me and cheering me on, telling me how beautiful I was and suddenly I started connecting with the playful part of me, forgetting about the camera and simply having fun with my photographer and our teams.

She then showed me the back of her camera.

OMG the pictures were amazing.

I could feel my confidence bubbling up.

I felt like myself.

And my photos showed me ….well…. me.

Can you relate?