Just because you cringe at having your photos taken doesn’t mean you need to accept that you’ll never have any good pictures of yourself. There is a way to overcome your camera shyness and feel comfortable enough in front of your photographer to get the photos you want, whether it’s of you and your loved ones or you on your own.

Below are three tips that you can use to conquer your upcoming photo session.

1. Be as comfortable as possible. Take the time to pick out an outfit that suits not only the purpose of the photo session but also one that you feel entirely satisfied wearing. Wear a color that you love and get your hair, and makeup done to give you that extra boost of confidence.

2. Practice does help. Stand in front of a mirror, strike a few poses, get comfortable with your body, and smile. Once you’re feeling better about your appearance, use your smartphone or camera to snap a few shots of yourself to see which angles and poses work best. Your photographer can help you with this on the day, too, but it never hurts to be prepared anyway.

3. Why are you doing this? Sometimes focusing on the camera and the person taking the photos is enough to put anyone off; instead, focus on why you’re doing this shoot in the first place. Are you updating your family albums, or perhaps you’re taking a few great shots for a holiday card? Keep your mind on the result of the shoot instead.

Remember that your photographer does this for a living because they love working with people. They want to help you achieve the best quality images, so have fun with it and trust that your photographer has your best interests at heart.