Fear of having your picture taken (ipovlopsychophobia)

Ipovlopsychophobia is said to mean a fear of having your picture taken. It might show up as ducking out of group photos, hiding behind others at weddings, or feeling tense whenever a phone camera points your way.

About this phobia

The term was found on a Simple English Wikipedia list only, and it looks like an invented word. The feeling it describes is far more familiar than the word itself. Camera shyness often links to self-consciousness, social anxiety or a fear of being looked at.

What it feels like

• Covering the face or turning away when a camera appears
• Offering to take the photo so as not to be in it
• Worrying about where pictures might be shared afterwards

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is it normal to hate having my photo taken?

Many people dislike being photographed, and it is not usually a sign of anything serious. It becomes more of an issue if it means missing events or feeling upset for days afterwards. In that case it is worth exploring what sits underneath the worry.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices