If you hate having their picture taken, you’re not alone. For many, it’s their worst nightmare. Whether you’re uncomfortable with your weight, or your looks, or if you just don’t like the way you look in photos, I’m here to tell you that someday you will wish you had thrown those insecurities aside and taken those pictures.
These days it’s easier than ever to get into the habit of taking photos. We all have a camera in our pockets. With the emergence of camera phones and social media, taking pictures can be simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Self-doubt and insecurity don’t disappear just because the act of taking a photo has become so much more accessible. So today, I’m going to give you three reasons why you need to take more pictures and a few tips to help you feel more comfortable in your photos.
For Yourself
The only thing we can be sure of in life is that things are constantly changing. Every day our kids are growing up. Our loved ones are aging. As the years pass by, friends come and go from our lives. We leave behind our old homes and move on to something new. One thing that can bring comfort when we feel overwhelmed about all that has changed is taking time to revisit what once was. Reminiscing about those we’ve loved and the places we’ve been are the best way to remember the good times of our lives. As a mom, I am intimately aware of the passage of time and how quickly things change. One day my kids had broad toothless smiles, soft round baby faces, and fuzzy nap-induced bed-head. Now they’re growing older, and those babies have become big kids and teenagers, and the photos I have with them from those baby years are so incredibly precious to me. I find great joy and comfort looking back at those photos of my kids, our life, and the things and people who shaped us and made us the family we are today.
For Your Kids
Have you ever sat down and looked at photos from your childhood? For those of us who were lucky enough to have had a happy childhood, there’s just something about looking back and seeing a photo of ourselves as a baby with people who loved us. Studies show that most people have vague childhood memories from the age of 2. However, true clear memories usually begin at around age 7. So it's vitally important to preserve those early years in photos. So snap a photo when you’re taking those family vacations or spending a lazy Sunday afternoon snuggled up on the couch watching television! Someday your children will look back on these moments and remember that they were loved, even if they don’t remember the cave tour you took them on in Ohio or the movie you watched on that lazy afternoon. Still, looking back at the photos of those moments, they’ll feel how much they were loved, and that’s the most important part.
To Tell Your Story
Take a moment to think about your home. What story does your house tell to those who enter? Does it tell the story of someone who loves to travel? Someone who spends their weekends at the ball field watching their kids play? Or someone building a home with the love of their life? I love decorating my home with photographs. The photos you choose to decorate your home tell your guests about the adventures you’ve had and the people you love. Some of my favorite images to display in my home are photos I’ve captured of myself and my family on our family vacations. So when you’re visiting the Grand Canyon or standing on the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building, or getting a hug from Mickey Mouse, don’t forget to take those photos! Printing and framing photos may seem old-fashioned, but I believe it’s never out of style to decorate your home with memories that make you feel good. Seeing those pictures every day creates a space that is filled with comfort, joy, and peacefulness, and for me, that is an essential aspect of a home.
How to Overcome Camera Shyness
- Practice! Get out your camera phone and practice taking photos of yourself with different facial expressions, different lighting, and from different angles. Practice taking videos of yourself, so you learn to hold yourself on camera in ways that make you feel comfortable and confident!
- Embrace your imperfections. I know this is easier said than done, but these days the body positivity movement is filled with people who have embraced their supposed flaws and said “this is me” to the world. An excellent place to start is by reminding yourself that no one is perfect. Even the most beautiful Instagram models have flaws. So when you catch yourself focusing on a scar you hate or the extra weight around your tummy that you wish wasn’t there, remember that all of us are flawed, and those flaws are what make us beautifully unique!
- Use a filter. This tip might be a bit controversial, but if you just can’t make the jump to feeling comfortable in photographs, then try using a photo filter to give you that extra boost of confidence you need to take more photos. As time goes on, focus on using lighter and lighter filters until you get to the point that you feel confident taking pictures just as you are.
- Work with a professional! Working with a professional photographer is the best way to overcome camera shyness. Tell your photographer what you’re feeling insecure about before your session, and they can work with you to minimize those insecurities. Professional photographers are experts in posing, composition, and editing to create the most flattering image of their subject.
Now, there is no time like the present to get started capturing your memories in photographs! Give us a call today to set up your Forever Memories photo session, and we will be thrilled to help you on your way!
