Today's insecurity is a long-held one. I hate having my photo taken. Something happens between my face and the camera which means I end up looking nothing like myself. I pull daft expressions. I have my eyes permanently shut. And I look very grumpy, even though my brain thinks I'm smiling.
Yesterday, I had some promo photos taken. Despite my fear and hatred - and because portrait painters are
so 18th century - I thought it was about time.
So, we went up to Plymouth Hoe, one of my favourite places, and I listened to the sea lapping against the small bit of beach Plymouth still has (there's a lot of concrete along the shoreline), and I
almost forgot to be nervous. The photographer said 'Good' quite a lot, but I'm not sure whether it was because the photos looked good or he was just glad I hadn't broken his camera.
Now all I have to do is wait for the photos to appear in my inbox...
I'll be using them on this blog, on my
Goodreads profile and on my
Facebook page, so you'll all be able to see them... Excuse me, I'm off to have a panic attack!
UPDATED: I've seen the photos. That's all I'm prepared to say at the moment. Although you can help cheer me up by checking out my Goodreads and Facebook links ;-)
Like you, I do not enjoy being photographed. No matter whether I think I look good or terrible on any given day, my photos are not flattering. There's the rare exception, but they are few and far between. I've been wondering when I should go get actual professional photos for promotional stuff. Not looking forward to it! I hope your photos turned out great! The setting sounds gorgeous. Can't wait to see how they turn out.
ReplyDeleteShannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z
Some people take such natural photos, each and every time. I'm so jealous of those people!
DeleteDid you ever see the episode of Friends where Chandler has to have his photo taken? That is what this post reminded me of lol! I am sure they won't be as bad as you think!
ReplyDeleteThe Hoe is lovely, but I haven't been for a while. Silly really, as it's not too far away from me!
Yes, it's exactly like the Chandler thing, unfortunately.
DeleteWhereabouts do you live?
I live near Exeter :D
DeleteExeter's lovely too. Lots of old buildings that sadly no longer exist in Plymouth.
DeleteI know all about this one. I have some issues with my teeth so I tend to keep my mouth closes, but then I look miserable - it's hard to smile without opening your mouth!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing your pictures. I bet they'll be great.
Your profile pic looks great, Sarah. Thanks for the vote of support, but no... Imagine me screaming with horror and running around the house - or at least I would've done, if I didn't have a bit of a hangover this morning :-)
DeleteOh, I know what you mean. I have issues with one side of my face, my teeth, too. Such vanity. When I take self-portraits, I take about 100 then find only 1 or 2 that look okay.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll look wonderful in your portrait. Great to have a professional do it, too. Can't wait to see it!
Perhaps I should have insisted on 100s - I've only got the choice of about 15. Hubby's chosen 2 that look 'not the worst' - in fact he looked first and warned me.
DeleteI am sure you will look good in the snaps, if that side profile is anything to go by.
ReplyDeleteIt's an art, posing, the more you do, the better you get at it. My kind of buck teeth means I never laugh in my snaps unless its impromptu.
I've already asked if I can have another shoot. Yes, they were bad! :-D
DeleteI hear you! I dread having my picture taken. I've been working on it, but there is stillsomething about seeing that flash, plus I always thyink I look a thousand times fatter than I am. Will visit your FB and Goodreads tonight after work. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks in advance for checking out the links.
DeleteI want to see the photos:) I love your FB page and I'm going to have to figure out how to make mine as good as yours. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I'm brave enough to make these public! Thanks for checking out my Facebook.
Deletei don't like it either.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be a common problem. Don't you feel envious of those women who happily have their photos taken?
DeleteUgh. I hate that, too. I'm looking forward to seeing yours, though. :)
ReplyDeleteAre you still up for doing an interview with me? Can I email you?
I'll email you, Rachel!
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, I don't know who likes to have their picture taken. I feel like just sending them a pic of Angelina Jolie and sayin', "This is what I look like. Trust me!"
ReplyDeleteNow, that's an idea... :-)
DeleteI, too, hate having my photo taken. I totally agree that something happens the instant I get in front of a camera. Pictures never turn out. I am usually the only one who can't look "natural" in them. Now you know why I use my feet as an avatar!
ReplyDeleteYour shoes are lovely. I'd use my feet, but they're no more photogenic than the rest of me :-D
DeleteHa! Looking forward to seeing those pics - I bet they're fine! I'm not a great fan of photos of myself, but worst of all is hearing my voice on tape. Yeuuuuuch!
ReplyDeleteOooh, yes, the voice on tape thing is bad too. When Radio 4 start inviting us for interviews, we'll have a whole other insecurity to post about!
DeleteI went to your links but didn't see any pics except for the one you have now on your blog ...
ReplyDeleteBecause I'm not using them. I can't. They are bad. Nice photographer has just said we can start over in a different location. So I'm feeling a bit happier. The author pic reveal will be some other day.
DeleteI think that most people hate having their photo taken. I know I do. I'm looking forward to seeing them and if that lovely view is anything to go by then they'll be amazing.
ReplyDeleteMy kids will do anything to get in front of the camera - I wish I had that confidence! I may choose the least awful to share, but even the sea didn't look that good.
DeleteIt all started to go wrong when Smeaton's Tower (the lighthouse on the Hoe) had scaffolding all round it, and that was the shot I really wanted.
I think that we are all our worst critics. My husbands favorite picture of me, I think is absolutely horrible. I hope your next shoot goes better.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jessica - I'm going to ask for candles and a dark corner in a cafe next time :-)
DeleteI'm not really keen on having my photo taken either, but as I have my own personal photographer who is brilliant (my lovely fiance) the process isn't usually too painful.
ReplyDeleteWill check out the links.
I can see how having a fiance photographer would be an advantage!
DeleteWe are our own harshest critiques especially when it comes to Photos of ourselves. I'm sure you look beautiful!
ReplyDeleteTake comfort... by the time it is turned into a thumbnail on FB and Godreads no one will recognize you anyway! I also hate having photos. It instantly makes me self-conscious because all I see are my flaws
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point about the thumbnail size!
DeleteI'm sure the pics are WONDERFUL, and am looking forward to checking them out... thanks for being real :)
ReplyDeleteIn this situation I'd prefer to be super model than real, but I guess I don't get to choose lol
DeleteSometimes I get very curious about what someone looks like if I talk to them online enough or visit their blog, so I think it's a good thing. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm all in favour of photos, just not photos of me! :-) Soon, though, very soon...
DeleteThat's something I still need to do, get a pro photo taken. I should do it before I age much more. lol I don't really like having my photo taken either.
ReplyDeleteGood luck :-)
DeleteI hate having my picture taken too... and judging by the comments you've received, neither of us are alone. =)
ReplyDeleteIf I could only figure out Photoshop, I'd be happier!
DeleteI'm not on Facebook so I'll go check Goodreads. And I can relate! Even my promotional photo doesn't really show my face.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alex. I just had to go and check your blog. I might steal the in-shadows look on your About Me page - that's so cool!
DeleteI like that you went to Plymouth Hoe for the photo shoot. Cameras do strange things to reality, though I'm sure you are your harshest critic.
ReplyDeletexoRobyn
Even the Hoe didn't look it's best! I'm crossing my fingers for Take Two.
DeleteOh cool! I'm headed over now....
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Deletei'm sure they're fine! be you! and be proud! we like what you're made of, forget everybody else =)
ReplyDeleteand plymouth ROCKS! (hee hee, i'm from there)
Thanks Tara! And Plymouth is a great city!
DeleteI bet they turned out really well! I don't like having my picture taken, either. However, I know that there are things that I nitpick about that others don't even notice. I hope that you share them!
ReplyDeleteThese are the kind of pictures you'd step back from in horror! I've scheduled a haircut before the next set are taken. I think I might just keep this set to myself, as a reminder of how wrong things can go sometimes lol
DeleteJust stopping back by to let you know that I've tagged you for the Lucky 7 Meme over at my blog!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'll pop over!
DeleteProbably not as bad as you think it is... it's difficult to be objective about photos because others may like your photo but you feel it's a no-no...
ReplyDeleteI am not a photogenic person, so I totally get your insecurity! My pic is a couple of years old, and I've been meaning to get new ones for MONTHS, and just haven't been able to talk myself into it.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to see your pics!
I know how you feel. I always end up looking crazy. But Good luck with the pictures.
ReplyDeleteNew photos - how exciting... I'm like you - I dislike taking photos
ReplyDelete