I often speak about clients being nervous before their photo-shoot and I guess that it’s very easy for me to say that being safe and hidden the other side of the camera. Deep down, we all have our own insecurities no matter how well we mask them. No matter who we are or what we look like we always focus on the flaws and the aspects that we wish that we could change. The way we perceive ourselves is a tricky thing and if I’m being completely honest with you all here, I could stand to lose a few pounds.
As a headshot photographer I often find myself thinking about the way we perceive ourselves, each individuals self image and how it differs from the way that everyone around us sees us.
How many of us have been presented with an image of ourselves amongst friends or family and rather than focusing on how happy everybody looks or remembering how much fun that day was it’s as if our eyes are naturally trained to zoom in and analyse every possible flaw looking back at us. Why is it we can see the others in the photo and smile at how great and happy they look but looking at ourselves we see the epitome of all our flaws and imperfections? And you know what the strange thing is? You are the only one that really notices – no one else is analysing that picture to pick out your flaws, to them it’s just their friend or family member.
In the same way our eyes seem to have been trained to seek out our insecurities I believe that we can train the mind to look beyond these points. I’m sure the majority of us have been through some event or another in our lives that make us realise how short and precious life really is. Try not to get so preoccupied and hung-up on the little details, look at these photos as evidence of the fun-filled life that you are living. Don’t let your perceived flaws overshadow and outweigh the actual content of the photograph.
It’s time to zoom out and see the bigger picture. This is who we are and we have to work with what we’ve got! What we have is right now and it’s important to just be in the moment and to be content with it. I am aiming to lose a few pounds in 2014 but I won’t be avoiding photographs until I do so. I want to document my life and look back on these photos remembering the way I loved, laughed and enjoyed every moment that I was surrounded by the people I care about.
Stop criticising yourself, because from where I’m standing you look so uniquely you and that’s just who you should be!
