But the Camera Steals My Soul....

In my whole life, I have only ever had one photo taken of me that I actually like, and I happen to be up-side-down in it. It is said that we don't like to look at photos of ourselves because we are used to seeing ourselves only in mirrors, which show us an image that is opposite of what we see in photos, and that even though we appear to be mostly symmetrical, we actually are all slightly off, causing us to be unfamiliar with the true, non-mirror image of ourselves that we see in photos. Plus, we all know that cameras add ten pounds.
According to some Native Americans, each time your photo is taken, it steals part of your soul. I feel like that sometimes when I am taking a photo for this blog. It's like taking a piece of myself and putting it out there for the whole world to judge and possibly discard or ignore. I generally take 20 or 30 photos of each outfit that I share in order to find just one that I think is decent, and I always look at them and say, "Am I really that short?" Worse yet, is having someone else take my photo. Totally uncomfortable. I can stand in front of 50 or 100 students and give a lecture, but put a camera in the back of the room, and I fall all to pieces. I have to give credit where credit is due. In this case, models are tougher than me.

Then again, there is something to be said for a really great photographer. I personally think that all women should hunt one down during their lives and have a really amazing photo of themselves taken to share with family and friends. It may cost a small fortune, but it is well worth it just for the boost it will give your self-esteem. Mine makes me look like Ophelia, and I loved it so much, I actually had a great big one printed for myself. (It's currently hanging in my dining room.) I like to look at me looking good. Yup, I'm goofy like that. Of course, it helps that I share the photo with my husband looking handsome. Then again, that rat photographs well pretty much all of the time.


Courtesy of Nicole Renee Photography LLC, Marinette WI