The Camera Knows: Finding Freedom on Both Sides of the Lens
Amanda Herbert
Headshot Alchemist - look confident and connect easily with expressive headshots. I’ll teach you my proven methods of looking great in photos so you can engage new customers and update your website quickly.
There's a project next week that has my whole being buzzing with excitement. You know that feeling? When something clicks and your heart just knows it's right?
Instead of my usual preparation dance (hello, perfectionism, my old friend), I'm doing something different. Each day, I turn my camera on myself.
Not for social media. Not for my portfolio. Just for me.
It started as an experiment. A way to ready myself for next week's session. But it's becoming something else entirely.
This morning, as I set up my camera, I noticed something. That familiar flutter of uncertainty. The way my shoulders tensed slightly. The quiet voice asking "But what if…?"
And then I realized - this is exactly what my clients feel.
Every day, I'm learning their story from the inside out. Those moments of vulnerability when the lens first turns your way. The awkward laugh that slowly transforms into something real. The way your hands search for somewhere to rest until they finally find home.
My camera's becoming less of a wall and more of a window. Or maybe even a mirror. In my hands, it reflects back not just who we are, but who we're becoming.
Because that's the thing about photography - and life, really. Sometimes we need to step into uncertainty to find our truth. To feel that flutter and keep going anyway.
Next week, when my client arrives, I won't just be a photographer who knows her settings. I'll be someone who understands both sides of the lens. Who's lived the journey from self-conscious to self-aware, one frame at a time.
You know how it is. We all have those moments when we need to see ourselves clearly. When we need someone who understands both the technical and the human side of being seen.
That's what these daily sessions are teaching me. That sometimes, the best way to prepare isn't to perfect everything - it's to practice being perfectly human.
What might change in your story if you had someone behind the lens who's walked this path too?
Mandy ???
Want to explore what's possible on your side of the lens? Let's chat. This free 15-minute discovery call isn't about making decisions—it's about understanding your story and seeing if we're the right fit for each other. No pressure, just conversation.