SPEAKING AND WORKSHOPS
CONFIDENCE, PRESENCE AND BEING SEEN
Engaging talks and practical workshops that help people feel more comfortable, confident and like themselves when they are being seen.
Confidence is not something you either have or you do not
Even the most accomplished and outwardly confident person can become deeply self-conscious when a camera appears.
I have seen it in families, entrepreneurs, senior business leaders, CEOs and high-profile private clients. The circumstances may be different, but the feeling is remarkably similar: suddenly being seen can make us question how we stand, what to do with our hands and whether we look like ourselves at all.
Through my talks and workshops, I explore what happens to our confidence when we feel observed and share practical ways to feel more comfortable, composed and present.
Who I work with
My talks and workshops can be adapted for community audiences, professional organisations and private events.
- Women’s Institutes and community organisations
- Women’s and professional networks
- Businesses and corporate teams
- Conferences and leadership events
- Charities and fundraising events
- Parent communities and schools
- Private members’ clubs
- Groups supporting women through midlife and change
Each session is shaped around the audience, the setting and what the organiser would like people to take away.
Why being seen can feel so difficult
Most people who say they hate being photographed are not really talking about the camera. They are talking about how vulnerable it feels to be seen.
We become conscious of our bodies, compare ourselves with an image in our heads and worry that the resulting photograph will confirm everything we already criticise about ourselves.
That response can affect more than photographs. It can influence whether we put ourselves forward professionally, step into family pictures or allow ourselves to take up space.
My sessions help people understand that response and approach being seen differently.
Talks and workshops
The Confidence to Be Seen
Why do capable, confident people become uncomfortable as soon as a camera appears?
A warm, practical and engaging talk exploring self-perception, body language and what changes when we know we are being observed. Through relatable stories and live demonstrations, attendees discover that looking confident is not about being naturally photogenic or learning artificial poses. It is a skill that can be learned.
Best for: Women’s groups, Women’s Institutes, charities, private events and community organisations
Visible Confidence and Presence in Business
Professional visibility is now part of working life, but being visible can feel uncomfortable even for highly accomplished people.
This session helps professionals communicate confidence, warmth and credibility in photographs, presentations, networking situations and online, without feeling as though they are performing or pretending to be someone else.
Best for: Businesses, professional networks, conferences, leadership programmes and corporate women’s groups
Do Not Disappear from Your Family Story
In many families, one person records everything but appears in very little.
This thought-provoking talk explores why women so often remain behind the camera, why they postpone being photographed and why their families will never view those images with the same critical eyes.
It is not about looking perfect. It is about being present.
Best for: Women’s groups, parent communities, schools, charities and family-focused events
What to expect
1. A session shaped around your audience
We begin with a conversation about your organisation, the people attending and what you would like them to experience.
2. Stories and honest conversation
I share insights drawn from years of photographing people with varying levels of confidence in front of the camera.
3. Practical demonstrations
Depending on the format, sessions can include posture, weight distribution, hand placement, expression, movement and confident professional presence.
4. Something people can use immediately
Attendees leave with practical techniques and a different understanding of what it means to feel comfortable being seen.
Talks can be delivered as shorter speaker sessions, full-length talks or more interactive workshops.
About Jo Robbens
I am a photographer and speaker specialising in confidence and presence in front of the camera.
Throughout my career, I have photographed families, entrepreneurs, senior business leaders, CEOs and high-profile private clients. I have also helped clients prepare for important public appearances and red-carpet occasions.
My approach is warm, honest and practical. I create an environment in which people can participate, laugh and recognise their own experiences without feeling exposed.
Based in Surrey, I speak at events across the UK and internationally.
Frequently asked questions
My talks focus on confidence, presence and what happens to us when we feel observed. Current sessions include:
- The Confidence to Be Seen
- Visible Confidence and Presence in Business
- Do Not Disappear from Your Family Story
Each one is shaped around your audience and what you would like people to take away.
Sessions can be adapted for community audiences, professional organisations and private events, including Women’s Institutes, professional networks, corporate teams, conferences, charities, schools, parent communities and private members’ clubs.
Talks can be delivered as shorter speaker sessions, full-length talks or more interactive workshops. We will agree the format that best suits your event when we first talk.
Yes. Every session begins with a conversation about your organisation, the people attending and what you would like them to experience, and is shaped around the audience and setting.
They can be. Depending on the format, sessions can include practical demonstrations of posture, weight distribution, hand placement, expression and movement.
The atmosphere is warm and relaxed, so people can take part, laugh and recognise their own experiences without feeling exposed.
Yes. Visible Confidence and Presence in Business is designed for businesses, professional networks, conferences and leadership programmes, helping people communicate confidence, warmth and credibility in photographs, presentations, networking situations and online.
Yes. I am based in Surrey and speak at events across the UK and internationally.
Tell me a little about your event, your audience and your preferred dates, and I will come back to you with availability and fees for the format that suits you best.