I have disliked having my picture taken since I was in grade school. Maybe it was the crooked bangs that my
Mother cut but I do not remember ever being comfortable in front of a camera.
I have a handful of pics that I do like from my 20’s and 30’s but that is pretty much it.
I will add that I resent it when I have said that I do not want to be in a pic and am pushed and
often the pic is taken while I am trying to politely say no.
I have often left the situation and taken a walk until this part of the event is over.
This is coming up due to D’s wedding–very small but she does want pics.
I am ok with some and know the day is for them and not me.
Just wondering how others feel about finding their picture on a Facebook page without
any desire on their part to be there and so on.
I hate it. I think I have a bit of body dysmorphic type stuff going on- but I am much cuter and thinner in my head than I am in photos. I am always a bit surprised at what I look like in a picture.
My daughters will take selfies in a silly way - to show their reaction to something by text etc… and I would never dream of doing that. I never once considered putting my picture in a avatar for a game or discussion board. I certainly wouldn’t have any issues with my picture being made for a wedding -but wouldn’t put the ones with me in them on display.
I know it is a bit strange but not really sure what to do about it.
Having your face posted on FB against your wishes isn’t right. I guess by now you’ve gotten an expert at turning your head.
My mom never liked her picture taken. Still, I encouraged her to join in some fun at Disneyworld, where my son -then young- wanted a picture where we all dressed up in pirate type customs. Pictures were taken in a photo shop, and we bought the best of the photos. It turned out great.
There is a big difference between random photos and those taken by professionals. At a wedding, you will be looking great. I’m sure at least one of the photos will remain a favorite of yours.
Remember that when you look at pictures you tend to focus on you and all the physical flaws you think you have.
Other people viewing the same picture of you see a friend or mother or wife whom they wanted in the picture so they could remember a good time. I’m always happy that others even want me in their pictures!
I hate having my picture taken, but not nearly as much as my sister did. She passed away last year when her daughter was 8 months pregnant, and there just aren’t pictures of my sister. I’m not sure why it wasn’t urgent, but we all knew how she was. Now she has two granddaughters she never met, and they will not know what she looked like because there just aren’t pictures of her. I hate that and it adds to the sadness for everyone.
I don’t like having my picture taken, either, because I’m old and fat and was never attractive even when I was young (actually, especially when I was young, thanks to 25 years of extreme acne).
But my daughter’s wedding website is up, and there are lots of pictures there of her and her fiance. And every picture that includes family members is of people from HIS family. There isn’t a single photo of the two of them with me or other members of my family because no such photos exist.
So I’m going to suck it up and go along with whatever the photographer asks me to do at the wedding. And perhaps I might even like some of the results.
My family knows I hate being in pictures, but I, too, have my S’s wedding coming up and I will smile and hope for the best! I do photograph better with some make-up on and that will be professionally done for the wedding, so there is hope!
Not a big fan here, either. But D1’s long time boyfriend emailed me today to ask to call me on the phone tonight. Has not happened before – I suspect I MIGHT be in some upcoming wedding photos.
I hate having my photo taken.mostly due to bullying about my looks (“look, a dog walking another dog!”). Not good for someone who performs weddings and baptisms. I was horrified at a baseball game when my face appeared on the Jumbotron.
But as others have said your daughter will want a photo or a few for the weddding. Find a way to use self talk to get you through the ordeal.
My sister told me her kids won’t send photos of their young kids because of people reposting them. They will send me emails though- I don’t do Facebook except for rare viewings of others’ postings. They don’t want images of their kids in the public eye and I can’t blame them.
That is different than not wanting any photos of yourself. Bride’s mom- please let yourself be in those photos. Decades later they will be of interest to those future generations, long after you’re gone. My brother’s wedding photos were taken only six months before my mom unexpectedly died in her 50’s of a heart attack- no more chances to see her in person. Likewise a snapshot of my now 90 year old father may be my last one of him. It is interesting to see old photos of long dead relatives- seeing family features, where you got yours…
Like many, I suspect this is more of an issue for me now at 50 than before. BUT I would never want my daughter to feel so flawed that she shyed away from pictures. That would break my heart. So…
EDITED TO ADD: Even if my child had been burned in a fire or had a facial deformity I would want pictures of her. I, as someone who loves her, would see the HER in her pictures.
Yes, please be in the pictures. My handsome father has banned pictures for many, many years due to bad photographers not adjusting for his darker complexion. (There are tons of great photos from his younger days.) I treasure our photos together at my wedding 30+ years ago and he posed nicely for my sisters’ weddings also. He is now has Stage 4 cancer and I regret that there are no photos of him with any of the grandchildren or with the family.
I had to get over myself and learn to take good pictures of myself so that my children aren’t someday wishing they could see my face when I’m not here.
I hate having my picture taken. My profile picture on Facebook is of my dog, and I don’t have a picture on LinkedIn. I just got a passport photo taken and I look even more horrible than usual. I usually untag myself in Facebook pictures that other people take.
I don’t like it either. But I’ve come around now that I’m older. The pictures I used to think were awful (from my 20s, 30s, 40s), now look much more acceptable. In ten years, I’ll probably think current pictures aren’t that bad.
Plus - photoshop! Sometimes the tiniest of tweaks to a dark under eye shadow or growing out roots will fix a picture.
On Facebook I have something set where I can review photos I’m tagged in before allowing them to post to my timeline. Yeah, some of those have been pretty bad.
My main reason for hating photos is that although I’ve been successful in many areas of my life, I have fought the weight battle unsuccessfully for decades and the photos are a reminder of that failure.
Oh, I hate it. I’ll suffer through the group picture and then shut myself in the bathroom to cry. My FIL is a phototaking machine and could not be convinced that I wouldn’t be coaxed into enjoying it (he makes you open gifts in slow mo, taking pictures closeup of your reaction) . It was my DH and BILs combined sneakiness that “broke” the camera one year, and it was bliss.
I see clothes I loved, and see that really they are poorly fitted and not as nice as I thought. I’m not fat, but awkwardly shaped and getting moreso. I can’t smile right (my family always coaches me, so much help…) . I have an awkard, Grant Wood face. So when I know there will be pictures, I decide if I want to try and look nice, or just wear somehing I already hate! It doesn’t help that my SILs are both considerably younger and traffic-stopping pretty. And size 2.
DH has taken photos I love, because I trust him. But otherwise, ugh, no. Pity on the photo-challenged, please!
My grandmother hated being photographed, too. Now that I’m older, I understand how she felt, but I just think about the fact that I don’t have many pictures of me and Grandmother. I would give anything if I had a few more. So I just smile and take off my glasses when there’s a photographer around!
I would give anything if I had a few more. So I just smile and take off my glasses when there’s a photographer around!