Great post, but where are the pictures of you?
I captured some gorgeous, candid pictures of my family last week and posted them generously. Close ups of my kids grinning and frowning, my husband walking with them up a path, messy hair, and dirty feet. But something was conspicuously missing from all them: candid pictures of me.
Last fall, I made a promise to keep Mindy in the pictures, but I’ve struggled to keep it since then. It is true that I tend to be the picture-taker, but cell phone cameras allow for selfies and my husband snapped a few of me recently. I started to upload them to my dropbox recently, though, and couldn’t hit “download.” And I realized I wasn’t honoring my promise.
I look at pictures of myself recently and all I can see is a pudgy middle and multiple chins. If I can crop or edit imperfections (I’ve never actually used this tool), posting them feels more appealing. For example, I opted not to post this full body photo of myself because the quality wouldn’t allow me to crop to my face.
In the photos below, I quickly posted a candid of my adorable daughter on our boat ride, but it’s difficult to post the picture of me on the right. I’ll still want to see these candid, imperfect pictures of my daughter, no matter her age, but what will she think if she never sees imperfect photos of me?
My own self-image resurfaced for me again recently, as I’ve begun a new exercise routine with my husband, increased my water intake, and worked on eating better. I am trying to frame this as a goal to feel better, to have more energy, and to take better care of myself. These are things my kids can relate to and I want them to think of their bodies not as something to fight or control, but as an amazing part of themselves that they can care for, feel good in, and enjoy being active in. I don’t want to focus on Mommy wanting to lose weight or look better because these things have never helped me feel good about my body or happy in my own skin.
I’m going to take inspiration from my friend Erin Margolin and put on that bathing suit and swim and run and play with kids, despite my rubbing thighs and stretch marks. I’ll refuse to let the scale determine my mood (thank you Metamorfit) or hoard “before” and “after” pictures, declaring “I never want to look like that again!” Instead, I hope to celebrate the way I feel, the things I can enjoy doing, and new goals I can achieve with improved health and energy.
And I won’t leave out pictures of me, thinking I’m unworthy or too heavy or un-photogenic, whatever my weight or age.
I am really good at taking photos of myself. Otherwise, all our pics would be of our daughter and a few of my hubby!
I am usually the one taking the pictures…so I am not in very many.
I too am quite self conscious and hate being in pictures. I want to get over this, because I want to preserve the happy times with my kids and family.
I am seriously lacking in the photos of me department. I always think I look horrible. Now as I look back at pics friends posted from HS I think to myself “wow I remember that day, wish I had sucked it up and got in the picture…” almost makes me think I was never apart of that moment. I always worry what if something were to happen to me, I have no pictures of just me or me with the kids. Nothing for them to look at and be able to visualize a memory.
This is a good reminder. My two oldest can actually use my digital camera pretty well. I just have so much fun snapping photos I don’t think to hand it off and get in the action!
My husband doesn’t think to take pictures very often so there aren’t a lot of pictures of me. When I had my first son, my mom stayed with us for 3 weeks and was always grabbing my camera and snapping pics. I’ve noticed a huge difference in the amount of pictures the second time around. It’s so sad but everyone is busier with 2 kids in the house.
I’m rarely in photos either. I’ve had to make a conscious effort to get hubby to take some of me and the kids, and I’ve also gotten really brave in asking strangers to take photos for me. I’m happy to return the favor!
I am the photographer of the family so there are not a whole lot of pictures of me. When my hubby does get the camera few of the pictures are in focus, ha ha. I’ll have to teach my kids once they are big enough how to take pictures.
I think this is something we all struggle with! I love taking pictures of my daughter, but I hate being in the pictures with her 🙁 But, it makes me sad because when she is older I want her to be able to look back at all the fun times that mommy and her had!!