What Are You Waiting For? Why Showing Up As You Are Matters More Than You Think

People often put off booking a shoot until they’ve lost some weight, they feel more confident, or once things “settle down”

It’s a familiar pattern. That quiet, persistent voice that says: “Not yet. Not like this.”

But here’s the truth. That perfect moment you’re waiting for, it rarely arrives. Life doesn’t pause to hand us clarity, calm, and confidence on a silver platter. More often than not, it’s messy, fast-moving, and unpredictable.

And yet, it’s in that realness that the most honest and meaningful portraits are made.

Portraiture isn’t about perfection. It’s not about shrinking yourself into a more “acceptable” version of yourself or curating something glossy and distant. It’s about presence. About capturing a quiet confidence, a sense of self, a truth that doesn’t rely on filters or flawless timing.

I’ve worked with so many people who felt unsure when they first stepped in front of the camera. But by the end of the session, something shifts. It’s not about vanity or performance. It’s about permission.

Permission to be visible. To be seen as you are.

If you’ve been holding off, waiting until you feel “ready”, maybe now is a good time to ask: What exactly are you waiting for?

Because showing up isn’t something we earn. It’s something we choose.

If this resonates with you, I’d love to have a conversation. No pressure. Just a space to explore what it might mean to show up fully and honestly in your own images.

Curious to see more?
Explore Anna’s other work with corporate professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives.