How to Overcome Fear and Build Confidence as a Trans Photographer

Lavender Growing in Los Angeles, CA

Introduction

If you’re an introvert like me and you’ve taken your camera out in public for some candid shots of people, places, and things, chances are you’ve felt some fear. Maybe fear about being visible, fear about getting in others' space, or fear of being rejected when asking to take someone’s photo. Depending on the genre of photography you partake in, you may experience more or less instances of fear creeping up when you are doing photography. 

Why Fear is Okay

Firstly, fear in photography is totally okay and even a little healthy! Fear lets us know we are doing something hard, and managing that fear lets us know we are capable of doing hard things. 

As a trans person, going out in public and talking to new people can already be scary. We don’t know if we will be clocked or how others will react to us. Compound that fear with being behind a camera and it can be really easy to find yourself slipping into an anxiety rabbit hole. Here are some tips to help you overcome your fear of being behind the camera.

Tip #1

My first tip would be to solidify your own style as a photographer. By this I don’t mean the style of your photos, but the style of how you speak and interact with others. Do you want to be a photographer who will go to great lengths to get a specific shot? Or are you okay with missing a shot because maybe the timing for the subjects wasn’t ideal? One isn’t necessarily better than the other, it’s just important to know how your personal values align with your personality as a photographer. Once you understand the way you want to come off and present yourself as a photographer, it is much easier to align your behaviors with your goals.

Personally, I am willing to sacrifice getting a shot to ensure the comfort of my subjects and my own comfort. However, I highly respect photographers who prioritize getting the shot, even if it means sacrificing how others think of them. I am of the belief that as long as I take my camera out often, there will be plenty of opportunities to capture a variety of moments, even if I miss out on other ones. 

Remember, consent in photography is key! As long as you are asking for permission before photographing someone or someone’s belongings, you have done your part to ensure respect.

Tip #2

It is important to find a system that works for you. For example, if you know you will be shooting in a very crowded space, it may be helpful to look up some spaces beforehand that you can go to take a few-minute break if you become overstimulated. If it’s helpful, think of what you might say to someone to ask if you can take a photo of them or their pet before you even go out. No need to spend too much time thinking of the perfect thing to say. Spending 5 minutes brainstorming how you want to come off and what you may want to say can be very helpful. 

Tip #3

Keep practicing! If you struggle with fear when asking to photograph people, know it gets easier. If you encounter someone who is less than pleased that you ask to take a photo of them, know that it doesn’t mean anything about you, your identity, or your photography. Some people just prefer not to be photographed-which is totally okay! 

It’s important that you keep looking for opportunities to keep taking the kind of photos you love, even if met with some resistance once in a while. 

Wrapping Up

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. What tips or advice have helped you overcome your fear in photography? Let me know at transphotographynetwork@gmail.com or leave a comment on this post! 

*I use the word “trans” as an umbrella term to account for genderqueer expressions and identities including nonbinary people and gender non-conforming people. I am open to suggestions on updated language!