Let’s start with a bold little truth: the biggest thing standing in your way right now… might be you.

And I say that with all the love in the world, because I’ve been there. I’ve stood exactly where you’re standing—dreaming big but hesitating at every step. Comparing myself to others. Worrying I wasn’t "good enough," “established enough,” or “cool enough” to make a dent in the industry. And let me tell you—none of those thoughts helped me take a single step forward. 

But do you know what did help? Getting honest about where those thoughts came from, learning how to shift them, and giving myself permission to grow into my most confident, creative self—not someone else’s version of success.

I’ve spent years mentoring female photographers, studying psychology, and running my own wedding photography business, and if there’s one thing I want you to know, it’s this: Confidence isn’t about pretending to have it all together—it’s about showing up fully, flaws and all, and trusting that you are enough. That your voice matters. That the way you see the world through your lens is exactly what someone out there wants and needs. 

This blog is here to help you start stepping into that version of you—the one who shows up without apology, grounded in purpose, and confident in her power.

Sound good? Let’s get into it, shall we?

Unbreakable confidence isn’t about knowing all the answers or strutting into a wedding with a megaphone and a clipboard. It’s about resilience. Calm under pressure. Trusting your eye, your instincts, and your ability to create beauty—even when the light’s disappearing and the schedule’s out the window!

Picture this: it’s a wedding day. The timeline’s gone sideways, it’s raining, and the dreamy golden hour spot you’d picked for portraits is now a mud pit. If you’re running on fear and self-doubt, this scenario floods your body with stress. Your brain spirals—“I’m messing this up,” “They’re going to hate the gallery,” “Why am I even doing this?” You freeze, or you overcompensate. Either way, your creativity and confidence take a hit.

Now imagine facing the exact same challenges—but from a place of confidence. Instead of panicking, you pivot. You smile, adapt, problem-solve. You keep calm and carry on creating. Because you’ve built trust in yourself. Because you know who you are and what you’re capable of.

You don’t just stumble into unbreakable confidence—it’s something you build, one intentional choice at a time. Below are five mindset tools I come back to again and again to feel more grounded, creative, and confident—on wedding days, in business, and in life.

Click on this text to start editing and enter your own text with some basic formatting. Just click anywhere outside the text box when you're done to continue working on the rest of your page. Additional elements can be added by clickiTrue confidence comes from knowing yourself—not just as a photographer, but as a person. Your calmness, your compassion, your creativity. The way you see beauty in fleeting moments. Your passion for storytelling. Your dry humour. Your Sunday walks. The songs that lift you. The values that ground you.

Write it all down. Anchor yourself in the things that make you, you. Because when you’re clear on that, no algorithm, client comment, or styled shoot trend can shake you.

And as an artist? Explore what inspires you beyond Instagram. Is it nature? Movement? Colour? Fashion? Interiors? Old films? Travel? Lean into it all. Let it shape your style and give your work meaning. The more self-awareness you build, the less approval you’ll need from anyone else.ng the Add Element + icon displayed when moving your cursor within the block. You can delete an element (e.g. a button) by clicking it and then clicking the bin icon.

Here’s something I wish I’d learned earlier: making mistakes doesn’t make you a failure. It makes you human!

Every time something doesn’t go to plan—whether that’s a flat camera battery or missing a crucial shot during the portraits—you have a choice. You can spiral into shame, or you can say, “Right, lesson learned,” and move forward stronger.

Confidence isn’t just an internal job—it’s also shaped by what’s reflected back at us. The people we surround ourselves with, the conversations we have, the voices we let into our headspace… they all shape how we see ourselves.

And here’s the truth: not everyone deserves a front-row seat in your life.

Years ago, there was someone in my world who told me—repeatedly—that I’d never amount to anything. That I was worthless. When you hear those words enough, you start to believe them. And for a long time, that became part of the story I told myself. Every time I had an idea, that voice would pipe up: “You’re not good enough for this.”

But through my background in psychology and years of personal development, I learned to challenge that narrative. When that old voice creeps in now, I balance it with facts. I remind myself: I’ve travelled solo. I’ve completed university. I ran a children’s charity for over 21 years. I’ve built my own photography business from scratch. I’ve received kind, heartfelt feedback from my couples. I can do this—and so can you.

If you’ve ever felt that wobble before a wedding—heart racing, hands shaking, imposter syndrome hitting hard—it could be that old programming flaring up again. A past comment. A person who didn’t see your potential. A moment that made you feel small.

That’s why it’s vital to surround yourself with what I call boosters, not vampires. Find five people in your world—personal or professional—who lift you up, challenge you in a good way, and make you feel like anything’s possible. People who reflect back your brilliance when you’re struggling to see it yourself.

This one comes straight from the psychology toolbox—and I say that with my mentor hat firmly on. 

In Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), there’s a simple principle: what you focus on, grows. If you constantly picture everything going wrong (“What if the light’s terrible? What if I mess up the timeline? What if they hate their gallery?”), your brain starts scanning for proof that it’s already happening.

But here’s the thing—your brain can’t always tell the difference between what’s real and what’s imagined. That’s why you still jump during horror films. (Don’t even get me started on that one episode of Luther—you know the one. Loft guy. Nightmare fuel.)

So… why not use that brain quirk to your advantage?

Start visualising your confident self. Picture this: you’re standing on a wedding morning. You’re calm. You’re grounded. You’re chatting with the couple, camera in hand, guiding them with ease. You’ve already anticipated the tricky lighting, the last-minute changes, and you’re handling it all like a pro. 

You’re dressed like the best version of yourself—whatever that means for you—and you’re owning the space.

When I started using visualisation before weddings, I noticed a shift. I stopped reacting and started responding. I went in prepared and grounded, not wired and overwhelmed. I wasn’t perfect (who is?), but I felt in control. And that mental rehearsal became a reality.

The more you return to that mental image—the more confident, capable you—the more natural it becomes. Eventually, it’s not just a visualisation. It’s who you are.

So go on, close your eyes and give it a go. You might be surprised how powerful your imagination really is.

Here’s a secret: confident people don’t know everything. They just keep learning. They ask questions. They try new things. They grow.

So if there’s a part of your business that makes you feel unsure—your pricing, your posing, your flash photography—lean in. Take a course, read a book, and ask for help. Because every time you expand your skills, you expand your sense of self. And that feeds into your confidence, layer by layer. Whether it’s learning a new technique or just saying yes to a new creative project, keep growing.