So Many Thoughts
So Many Thoughts
A few months ago, Miho Grant, a friend and super talented local photographer, reached out to see if I would be interested in new photos. Miho was the magic behind the original images on my website so I jumped at the chance to work with her again.
And wow! Miho delivered yet again- I LOVE all the images she took. I can’t wait to update my website and to have some fresh and fun photos to share on social media.
I knew I would love the end result of my photos but I still hesitated when Miho reached out.
Why?
Because I knew the work I would do to feel camera ready.
Last year, when friends complimented me on Miho’s photos I was quick to tell the truth. My photos looked great because they were taken by a wonderful photographer with an artistic eye who shoots with a fancy camera and edits with professional skill.
AND because I did a lot to look the way I did in front of the camera.
Both last year and this, the process took days. I wanted to wear a summer dress because I love wearing dresses and color so in order to do this, I got a spray tan. After some faulty eye brow waxing in my 20s, my eyebrows aren’t the greatest so I made an appointment for henna brows with the amazing Kristen at my most favorite place, Luminous: For Beauty, Skin & Soul . I got my hair cut and colored by my favorite stylist, Samantha at Self Indulgence. I had my nails done at Daisy. The day of my photos I went to Moxie for a blowout because after decades of trying, I have acknowledged that I can not successfully blow out the back of my hair. And the most generous soul and friend, Erika, met me bright and early to do my makeup.
I am exhausted even writing out this paragraph.
And the point of all of this was so that I would look ‘natural’ in front of the camera. I didn’t even want to look glamorous. Nope- the way I like to look in pictures is the way I look every day but I know in order to achieve that look when being professionally photographed, work needed to be done behind the scenes.
As a fifty year old mom of two teen girls, I have been thinking a lot about my decision to do all of this- twice. I spend so much time telling the girls that they are beautiful just the way they are. Telling them that all famous, gorgeous people have teams behind them to create the looks they share with the world. Telling them that social media is a highlight reel, not reality.
But then, I also know that in this world, even though I am writer who writes primarily about words, in order to market my writing, I need images. And I need to feel proud of the images I share. And I know that if I didn’t do at least some of the work I did, I would find flaws in how I looked and I would be hesitant to share my pictures.
See the conundrum?
I was inspired to keep thinking about all of this after watching a video clip of Janelle Monae that my friend Ginny shared the other day. In the clip, Monae talks about how her body has changed and that in the past, she would be dieting, exercising and running to get back to where she once was. Instead she says,
“I’m just like no. No. We here. This is where we are. We are not about to be utilizing life to try be an old version of ourselves. No matter how celebrated that version of myself was. I’m here. I’m here.” -Janelle Monae
Phew. Ok- Janelle. I love this and also… when you look at Janelle’s social media feed, she 100% had a team of people work for hours to create most of the looks that she shares.
So where does this leave us?
It leaves me more confused than ever but also more inspired to keep sharing and talking and telling the truth.
As always, I love to write but what I love more is to talk about the writing I have done :), so please share your thoughts!
Maybe we can figure this all out together?