Five things young athletes can do to feel more confident

I like to start portrait sessions - whether it's with an athlete or a whole team - by asking a simple but important question:

Do you enjoy having your picture taken?

As you can imagine, the majority of athletes I work with say "no."

Frankly, I'm not the biggest fan of having my picture taken either, which is to say that I fully understand where a young athlete is coming from.

A significant part of a successful athlete portrait experience is about connection and helping the young competitor feel confident in front of the camera.

When they don't feel comfortable, that usually leads to mediocre portraits. Definitely not what anyone wants.

Today, I want to share five things young athletes can do during their portrait session with Creative Sports Photography to feel more confident in front of the camera.

Let's dive in:

No. 1 - Treat it like a game

Getting ready for an athlete portrait session isn't really all that different from getting mentally ready to compete in a game or match.

How does your young athlete get themselves mentally ready for a game?

Do they pump music into some high-end headphones? Do they engage in breathing exercises to keep them grounded? Do they have little traditions like drinking a favorite sports drink or watching a get-pumped scene from a favorite movie?

Whatever it is, think about doing it before your athlete portrait session too.

Another thing your family's athlete can do is think back to a time when they felt dominant on the field or court.

It's about doing what it takes to mentally be ready.

No. 2 - Breathing during the session

I'm a huge fan of breathing exercises.

Inhale through the nose. Count to four. Exhale through the mouth. Repeat as needed.

And often during portrait sessions, if I get a sense that the athlete is feeling nervous, flustered, or anxious, I put my camera down and invite them to breathe with me.

It's a proven way to help someone find calm.

If your athlete feels nervous or anxious during the portrait session, he or she can just simply say something to me, and we can pause until the time is right.

No. 3 - Choose a theme word

Focus is more than just a photography term.

It's also a mindset for a young athlete going into a season, a game, and - yes - a portrait session.

If they express some reservation or nervousness about taking part in an athlete portrait session, suggest they find a word or short phrase that can focus their mindset.

Locked in.

Strength.

Faster.

Elite-Level

Then repeat during the photograph session anytime the mind wanders into nerves or anxiety.

We're looking for a word or short phrase that can work as an anchor.

No. 4 - Share with the photographer what you're nervous about

I remember back in my wedding photography days when I would talk with a bride or groom about what could cause them to feel self-conscious.

Was there anything about their appearance or their wedding outfits or anything that might cause them to feel uncomfortable?

There's no better sign that you've chosen the right photographer for any occasion than to feel comfortable sharing with him or her what makes you feel nervous, self-conscious, or anxious.

It's the same with young athletes.

Forget for a moment that I'm a photographer. I'm also a human being who is self-conscious about certain aspects of my own appearance.

I get it. Every photographer should get it.

And going into an athlete portrait session, if I know this about a young athlete, I can do what I can to avoid anything that makes your son or daughter feel self-concious.

And THAT makes for a better portrait experience for everyone.

No. 5 - Make sure you're holding something

This is the most practical suggestion.

Few things make a person feel awkward like not knowing what to do with his or her hands.

If your athlete feels awkward, have them hold something - a lacrosse stick, a baseball glove, your helmet, whatever it might be.

This way, your family's athlete will feel more natural. For most sports, the athletes hold something anyway. And as your athlete portrait photographer, I want the young competitor to feel as natural as possible when we create together these elite-level portraits.

Got any other suggestions? I'd love to hear them. Share them in the comments.

Dave Pidgeon is the owner and chief image maker at Creative Sports Photography, a premier visual production service for athletes. CSP is home to Be Elite - Signature Athlete Portrait Experiences. Dave is based in Lancaster, Pa., and available anywhere.