Dear women I have photographed,
I understand that some of you have feelings of trepidation as I lift my oversized camera to my eye to click the shutter. You’ve had enough “bad” photos of yourself to feel that the odds are against you. Not to mention your arms are too fat/legs are too skinny/eyes are too big or little/teeth are crooked/hair is frizzy/lips are thin/neck is drooping/chin(s?) are bulging/booty is too round/booty is nonexistent/fill-in-your-own-neuroses here and you’re worried might have applied just a little too much eyeliner. I get that. I really do. Why do you think I’m always behind the camera.
But if any of that sounds at all familiar to you, I wanted to tell you what it looks like on my end of the camera. I’ve learned a few things about lighting and posing, and even do my best to encourage you so that you might – for at least a couple seconds – feel good about yourself. But the truth is when I am looking at you through my camera lens, I think you are absolutely beautiful. Cross my heart.
If you’ve just had a baby, and you’re note quite fitting into your pre-pregnancy jeans yet – first of all – who would? And secondly, you just carried a life inside you for months. You are feeling exhausted and a least a little overwhelmed. But you are stunning. Truly.
If it’s your wedding day, you’ve probably spent hours getting ready and (over)thinking every. little. detail. You probably feel pretty – beautiful even. As you should. The man you are in love with has chosen you from among every other woman he’s ever known to promise to spend the rest of his living days with. Even if you were in sweats and your hair in a ponytail, that fact alone should make you feel incredible.
If you’re having a photo taken because you’ve gotten a new job, or you want a new job, you may be excited and a little nervous. You may be wondering if you chose the right shirt. But I think it takes alot of courage to look for and then start a new job, and that is beautiful.
If you are having family photos taken, and you’d really rather stick this one out but it is your family after all, so you hide yourself behind your three kids in hopes that they’ll minimize that part you’re convinced is too big, what I’m seeing is a mom who is working her tail off trying to raise decent little people, all while managing to orchestrate coordinated clothing and combed hair, and promising dinner at a favorite restaurant if the kids would JUST SMILE. I think you’re absolutely lovely, and your kids are never as badly behaved as you think they are.
If you’re a high school senior, you are incredibly full of life and potential. It’s like you’re a ball of walking opportunity. And even though you don’t feel like it somedays, you are breathtaking. Believe it or not, you’ll get even more pretty as the years go by – even if you gain a few pounds, even if (when) you get crow’s feet, even if life doesn’t feel like it went as planned. You are and will be gorgeous.
Whatever the reason you’ve come me, I promise you if I’ve ever taken your photo, I think you’re beautiful. My hope is that after seeing your photos, maybe you’ll start to believe it, too.
