Our S hates being photographed and we have very few photos of him. Our D is slightly better but also quite reticent about being in photos. We have fewer family photos than most folks I know. I’m not a great fan of being in pictures but do like seeing photos of people I know and like.
I hate it, but since I am the family archivist of our digital photo collection, I have recently come to the realization that I have pretty much erased myself from the last several years of my kids photo memories. Looking through our collection, I see pictures of them and their Dad, but pictures of me are few and far between. I’ve started to be more open to getting my photo taken because I want them to have memories of ME and the good times we had. They see me everyday and know what I look like so why should I be so vain to exclude myself from their memories because I’m not 25 anymore? They’re not going to be showing the photos to their kids in 20 years and thinking - “Wow! Mom looked so gross!” And the grandkids will hopefully be thinking - “Wow! Grandma looks so young!”.
Whenever my daughter takes me to Disney World I avoid photos with characters, If she does talk me into it, I make sure she also has a few poses alone with the character.
I had my photo ID taken today for a volunteer position name tag. It’s so bad it’s almost worth “losing” it and paying the replacement cost…
^so funny
My license pic is horrid–my Kaiser Health pic is worse.
When I checked in the clinic the other day the person said, “nice pic”
I said wow and she said oh–well you were smiling! so I guess that is something.
It is the current reality, photos being frequent and everywhere.
Previously, I felt awkward about photos being taken of me, as it seem show offish somehow. I was also a victim of bad bang cuts as a child, bisecting my high forehead at an angle. My dad was a careful photographer of nature and took gorgeous photos of the mountain west. I have returned to some of those places, and thought so what, the rocks are still there and spectacular, but those people and the times are long gone, and that is what I’d rather see from 1968 or so. He’d take a few perfunctory family photos, so there are few of me or my siblings around.
A few years back I took two Thai grad students on a tour of Arizona. Their goal? Photos of themselves at every opportunity, every single Grand Canyon look out and every monument and vista, from every angle. They were beautiful young women, generous in spirit, and wanted me in many of those photos as well. So I went along with the fun, and lost my camera shy tendencies. An old boyfriend was amazed at the transformation and how many photos he sees of me on FB. My smile can still be awkward at times, and I’m always working at keeping my backside out of photos. But it is not so bad.
Update: I will be in wedding pictures. 
intparent heads off to the MOB dress threads
Oh, I really don’t like to get my picture taken. I’m much better looking in my imagination!
I have very, very few pictures of myself. On purpose. I’m the one behind the camera, taking the family pictures.
There are pro photographers who know how to pose people for flatering portraits. Sometimes it is just the angle of the chin, arm position, body lean that makes the photo. The poses may feel a little awkward but the photos are really nice.
Edit - Sue Bryce is a photographer who shows this excellent skill.
I love you guys.
Ok–so about 8 years ago I went to a professional photographer through a Groupon. Did research and looked good enough. OH MY–she tried and tried and just could not get anything really nice. I chose one and framed it for H as he had only a snap of me in his office. Ok. fast forward. I found it in his office drawer as he really did not like it. It was so unattractive that all I did was laugh.
Some of us are just not camera beautiful. I know someone who is now 70 and she posts frequent pics of her both now and in the past of all ages. Truth is she is so photogenic that her bad pics are just lovely.
D says this woman is nostalgic for the past. I know that she is vain but gads she is so gorgeous on camera.
I like to think I look better in person than on camera. I’ve had photos taken of me, even professional ones. They’re ok, but I much prefer looking at photos of loved ones–my kids and H. Im just not into photos of me–with others ok but not just me.
Wellspring–thank you. This is my new goal.
Go ahead and take all that you want. As long as I never have to look at them I will be just fine.
I think you were being humorous but now I realize that it is ME looking at them that is distressing.
So, Ok, as long as I never look (and I am capable of this completely) then maybe I can just let it all
go. D and H and so on can choose what they want to keep and maybe some night after bottle or 2 or 3 of
wine I will take a glance. But maybe I never will look and feel much better about the day when the
flashes are going off.
Really something new to think about.
Sighing as this is possible!!!
I hate getting pictures taken of me. They always seem to be with my eyes closed, a pathetic attempt at a smile on my face, and my butt is definitely not that fat!! 
I sure hope I look better in real life. My family is really photogenic. Husband and kids are gorgeous, and I generally ruin the picture (except on a lucky good hair day).
I took the worst picture ever for my company ID, which I have to wear around my neck quite often. It was in the morning, after I had worked all night, and they took a close in shot. It’s awful. I keep thinking I want to lose that ID, but then they’ll just send me another, because they have the picture on file. Ahhhh! What’s worse, is that in five years, I’ll probably think that was a pretty good picture in comparison. I really hate people taking pictures of me.
I also agree with the photoshop option. It doesn’t take an expert to mess a bit with shadows to hide a double chin, or slice a couple of inches off a waistline! You can even do this to copies of professional photos by scanning at a high resolution and doing the photoshopping yourself - or ask a friend - lots of people are good at it these days. Just wish I good enough to add cheekbones, take the round ball off the end of my nose, and plump my lips (I don’t even have an upper lip!).
Have any of you tried taking selfies to see what pose, angle, or lighting shows your best self? I’ve taken some recently to document changing hair colors, and it’s really awkward and strange. I’m noticing things I didn’t realize, like how I smile crooked. It has helped me figure out I like closed mouth smiles and making sure my eyes are popped open to counteract the droopy eyelids.
Absolutely hate it. I avoid group photos by volunteering to take the picture, my kids say they will have no proof I exsisted and that you can’t actually believe that we went on holiday anywhere because there are no people in my pictures, I could have lifted my photos straight off the internet.
I assume that if a person is willing to pose for a picture these days they are consenting to the possibility it will appear on some form of social media.
Most of my friends and family know better than to challenge me about my not wanting to be in the picture. I periodically relent and will agree to a photo depending on the occassion.
And then there is the H who oh so innocently posts a picture of the beautiful glacier in Iceland that you
just happen to be in front of… and even admitted after a huge argument that it was not the least bit
flattering of me. Tonight he renewed his oath that he will not post a picture of me without my consent again.
No, I haven’t tried to take selfies. Not brave enough. Easier to just avoid getting my picture taken!
I have also come around now that I am older and those pictures of the young me that made me cringe look pretty darn good today. I have just accepted what I look like after all these years.
For the wedding, you do have some control. You get to wear the best outfit and get your hair and make up done. Many photos will be posed, so you can offer up a preferred side or hide behind other people or in a group. You could ask the photographer to work with you to get flattering shots. He can fix up the photos afterwards, too.
And, of course, it is really about the bride and groom. You can be in soft focus near them.
I don’t mind having pictures taken of me at all- and I do lots of selfies. I don’t think I’m particularly vain, but I like to remember my mood and places I’ve been. I’m a runner, and taking a #sweatieselfie after a run or race is a “thing”. If a picture is bad or my eyes or shut, I just laugh about it. Selfies are actually great for figuring out what you like best in terms of angles or expressions.
I take a lot of pictures. But I don’t like people to be in them.