The time is now. For what? For photos. That include you. I don't know why, but I always feel like it's women who read blogs and internet articles. That sounds sexist, and I know it's not true. My husband and son read things on the internet all the time but it seems like it's my girlfriends who always bring up what they most recently read, which probably makes me think that. Being a photographer and a women, I think I read entirely too many blogs, and girl power articles. I don't know where the hook is, or exactly how I end up seeing soooo many, but the point is, I, like you, have read many an article discussing the myriad of reasons to document your life with pictures.

The important part is to just be in them. This doesn't just apply to women though. I applies to men as well; to all people really. As photographers we often encourage you to spend the money to get professional portraits taken, and we are all aware of the hurdles people face in doing so...the costs and time commitments involved in hiring a pro etc. But here's a thing we as people don't discuss that often, except with our nearest and dearest. The fact that most people feel uncomfortable having their picture taken. I feel like it's not openly discussed much mainly because people don't like discussing things that make them uncomfortable. Yeah, you may have heard your mom say a hundred times over that she hates having her picture taken, as she makes a mad dash to avoid it. But she doesn't want to talk about how she thinks her arms look pudgy or her nose is too big. So we don't discuss it. As I said, it's not just women. Men just as often aren't proud of their looks either. They may wish to be in better shape or have more hair. It makes me sad because so many people are missing out on being a part of the documentary of their life; always behind the camera, never in front. They don't want to discuss it, they "know" they look bad so they don't even consider that a professional might have a few tricks up their sleeve to bring out the very best in them. Calling them tricks is fair, because yeah, we totally use tricks of posing and lighting to hide and accentuate things all the time. All you have to do is tell us what you're uncomfortable about.

Here's another thing you may have never thought of...another reason people often don't like the way they look in photos is because it's not what they are used to seeing. When we look at ourselves, most of us are looking in a mirror. This, of course, is the opposite of how the world sees us, but we don't think of it that way. We don't think twice about it once we walk away from the mirror, always in the back of our mind that my face to me, doesn't look the same as it does to you. No one does that. It's second nature to know what we look like in the mirror and KNOW that's what we look like. When we get our photos taken and see ourselves from the vantage point of the rest of the world sometimes it doesn't seem to look quite right, and we can't put our finger on it. Guess what else? Unless you are among the rarest of rare individuals with perfectly symmetrical faces, your left side and right side aren't the same. Nope. And, yes, one side does photograph better than the other. That's life.

All of these things shouldn't keep us from wanting to be photographed but they do. Whether it's one little insecurity or 100 doesn't make much difference. The outcome is the same. We shy away from moments we should be participating in. I am guilty of it. I really do like having my picture taken. I want to be present and in the moment and a part of it. Its always after that I hate them. In fact, it's very much the same for my day to day life. I get dressed in the morning. I look at myself in the mirror and think I look acceptable for conquering the world. Then I see my self in a store window and start questioning what I was thinking. Too late to change! Or, is it??

I did it. I'm doing it. And you should, too. Yeah of course, there's the personal growth aspect if you want to take it that way. We can always work harder at our diet or exercise, or in my case, try to get better at picking out fashionable clothes, but that's not what I mean. I mean, I am the youngest I am ever going to be. Shoot, I may be the thinnest I'm ever going to be again in my life. I've put on a few pounds in the last couple years and I don't want to think I'm the best I'll ever be, but maybe I am. I may be 29 for the rest of my life but sooner or later I'm going to look 42. ;) And with that in mind, my kids will never be this young again. Or my husband. This opportunity may never come around again. That holiday only comes once a year. Be brave. Own it. And rock it to the best of your ability. In 15, 20, 50 years your kids and grandkids won't care about your muffin top, big nose, thick glasses, lack of hair, or poor fashion sense. They will just be thrilled to have photos of you. Professional grade portraits or snapshots, be there.

We haven't had proper family photos since my middle son, who is 10, was one year old. LOL, I use the term "proper" here verrrry loosely. There was actually one that I don't have in my house, but was up on the wall at my husband's grandmother's house, in which my button up shirt had a total gap between the buttons, a front row seat to my peep show. I noticed it last year. Face palm!! But you know who really should have been embarrassed? The photographer who took and sold it to me. I was just looking at my backwards face! I digress. I drug the crew out for family photos. I've been wanting them for a few years and husband needed one for work so I suckered everyone into making an appearance, even far away college son. Here it is. Our outfits aren't very coordinated, meh. I was victim and perpetrator. Sigh. And I went into it doing things that I know as a photographer aren't the greatest...sleeves are your friends people, but I was being practical. It's hot out. I'm under pressure trying to shoot and pose myself, along with the rest of them, in a very public place....blah blah blah. So they aren't perfect. And that's okay. We were present and we have these memories to hold onto for 10 more years until I make us do it again. Just kidding. It will never be that long again. Because I'm owning the good, the bad and the ugly.

PS - I have to give a special shout out and thank you to eldest son, who took some of the ones of hubs and me. :)