How to Feel Confident Posting Photos of Yourself (Even the One You're Afraid to Share)

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How to Feel Confident Posting Photos of Yourself (Even the One You're Afraid to Share)

Episode Summary:

Ever stared at a photo of yourself and thought, “I love this… but I could never post it”?
You’re not alone—and you’re not the only one holding back something powerful.

In this episode, Jama Pantel unpacks the fear that comes with showing up fully—especially in photos. Whether it feels too bold, too raw, or too you, there’s a reason that image scares you. And that might be exactly why someone else needs to see it.

Jama shares personal insights from years behind the camera—photographing everyone from CEOs to women who’ve never felt comfortable on camera—and explains why the most vulnerable photos often make the deepest impact.

Timestamps:

00:00 – The viral hook: the photo in your drafts might be exactly what someone else needs
00:30 – Why we overthink the images that show our real selves
00:59 – What clients see when they stop judging and start recognizing themselves
01:45 – Why showing up isn't about being polished—it's about being real
02:08 – If you’re hiding the real image, you’re hiding the real message
02:36 – A quick challenge: revisit the photo you’ve been avoiding
03:10 – How permission, not perfection, builds connection
03:30 – Tools and support to help you feel confident on camera
04:00 – Final message: post the photo, share the moment, lead by example

Key Takeaways:

• That photo you’re scared to post? It might be the most powerful thing you share.
• Real connection comes from honesty—not polish.
• Your audience wants to feel seen, not impressed.
• Confidence on camera isn’t about angles or filters—it’s about showing up as yourself.
• The more you overthink, the more you delay the impact someone else might be waiting for.

SEO Keywords:

feel confident in photos, how to post pictures of yourself, confidence on camera, showing up online, personal brand visibility, camera confidence tips, vulnerable photos

Call to Action:

If this episode gave you that little nudge—go post the photo.
Say the thing. Share the truth.
Own that moment, because someone out there needs you, not your perfect version.

Want help showing up more confidently on camera?
Grab these free resources at https://www.jamapantel.com/:

✔️ Quick Tips for Social Media Portraits
✔️ Natural Light Cheat Sheet
✔️ Strike a Pose Guide
✔️ 30 Days of Personal Brand Prompts

Looking for more in-depth support?
✔️ Watch my pre-recorded course: Show Up Confidently on Camera

Have questions or want to work together?
✔️ Reach out here: www.jamapantel.com/contact

Coming soon: my brand-new Photo Mentor app, built to help you take better photos and feel confident doing it.

https://www.jamapantel.com

Episode Transcript

Jama Pantel (00:00):
You know that photo of you you keep overthinking,
the one sitting in your drafts.
It might be the exact onesomeone else needs to see.
Hey, y'all, it's your podcast,bestie Jama, and today we're
talking about something thatreally happens to so many of us:
the fear of showing up fully.
Specifically, why the photoyou're too scared to post might

(00:21):
actually be the most powerfulthing you could share.
You know the one I'm talkingabout.
The photo you love and love tooverthink.
The one that feels a little toobold, a little too vulnerable
or a little too much like you.
Let's talk about that.
So here's the thing I want tosay right off the bat: the photo
you're too scared to post mightbe the exact one someone else

(00:45):
needs to see, because it's notabout the pose or perfect
lighting or whether your hair iscooperating that day.
It's about presence, it's abouttruth and it's about leading by
example.
I've taken thousands ofportraits.
I've photographed high schoolseniors, ceos, influencers and
women who've never feltcomfortable in front of the

(01:06):
camera, and, time after time,there's one photo in every
session, the one that makes myclient pause, not because it's
bad, but because it's real.
It's honest and maybe even alittle too raw.
It's the photo where they seethemselves more clearly than
they expected to.
And guess what?
That photo is usually the onetheir audience connects with the

(01:28):
most and, if I'm being honest,I usually know which one it is
the second I click that shutter.
So why are we so scared to postthose photos?
Because being seen, reallyseen, can feel like too much,
too exposed, too emotional, tooimperfect.
But here's what I know.

(01:48):
The photo you're overthinking,that's the one that reminds
someone else they're not alone,that confidence doesn't mean
polished and that showing up isabout impact, not the perfect
image.
You're not building a brandjust for show.
You're building it to lead, toinspire, to shift something in
someone else.
And if you're holding back theimage that actually shows who

(02:11):
you are, how are people supposedto connect with you and your
story?
When we hide the images thatcarry meaning, we hide the
messages behind them too.
So if you're sitting on a photothat makes your heart race a
little bit.
That's good.
It means it matters and itmeans it holds weight.
So here's what I want you to do.
Look at the photo again, theone you've been avoiding without

(02:34):
judgment.
Ask yourself what do I see herethat's real?
And challenge yourself.
What if someone else needs thisversion of me more than a
filtered one?
Because we don't always needmore polished content.
Sometimes we need morepermission to feel, to connect,
to relate, and that starts withyou.
If you're still not sure how tofeel confident in the photos

(02:57):
you're taking, I've got someresources that can help you.
They're on my website,jamapantel.
com, and I'll list them in theshow notes.
And be on the lookout for myapp that's going to launch soon,
because that is going to be agame changer for you as well.
So, if this episode gave youthat little nudge today, go post
that photo, the one you've beentoo scared to share.

(03:18):
Say the thing, show the face,own that moment, because someone
out there doesn't need perfect.
They need you exactly as youare, and the truth is the photo
you're afraid to post that mightbe the one that changes
everything for you.
Thanks for listening and, asalways, keep showing up and
living the whole picture.

(03:38):
Until next time.