Relaxation Techniques for the Shutter-Shy

So you hate to be photographed?

Here are a few tips from professional photographers on how you can get over your fears and see better results on film.

* Loosen up before the first shot is taken. Do anything you can to keep from going rigid: rub your arms, rub your face. Take deep breaths and blow out vigorously.

* Ignore the camera. If you can, make it invisible and relate to the photographer, not the box.

* Do not practice your smile beforehand. A practiced smile is a phony smile. The camera can see the difference.

* Allow the photographer--amateur or no--to take a lot of pictures. This way, the best ones can be chosen and the rest can be trashed.

* If it’s a long photo session, insist on getting up and moving around. Shake your limbs.

* Change body position, even if only slightly: drop your shoulder, move you legs.

* Convince yourself that this is fun. You can do that, the same way you convinced yourself you look bad.