Okay, let’s just put it out there.
I HATE TAKING PICTURES OF MYSELF!!
Can I get an AMEN!! Hallelujah!
You see, how I see myself in the mirror is NOT what I see on the computer screen after I download pictures of myself.
I see my big nose, my overbite that $-braces-$ didn’t even fix b/c I have tongue thrust, my crooked teeth from said tongue thrust, my tiny lips, my eh skin, my lack of eyebrows that I have never figured out how to fill-in, and those premature wrinkles around my eyes from not wearing sunglasses and squinting into a camera for most of my adult life.
And that’s just my face.
Even Beth said that we are our own worst critics. Well, that is so true. I have pictures of myself that I delete out of Lightroom quicker than you can say “keystroke” because I just don’t like looking at them.
Having said that, I’m trying to take more pictures of myself. Weird, right?
I just think that moms, especially, forget themselves once they have a baby or two hanging from their hip. They are constantly saying, “No, I don’t have makeup on,” or “Wait, I still have the extra baby weight,” or “Oh, s/he’s much cuter than I am.”
But what will our kids see when they are older and looking back at pictures from their childhood? Will they see a family? Or will they just see pictures of themselves with invisible parents?
Challenge yourself to take more pictures of YOU! Take pictures of you with your kids. Put your camera DOWN – I mean, on the counter, set the timer, and take pictures of you making cookies with your kids. Hand the camera over to daddy every once in a while. Give it to the grandparents when they come to visit. Don’t forget … you are the reason your kids have a childhood. Be a part of it!
Excuse me a moment while I step down off of my soapbox …
sorry ’bout that
Now, go visit the other YOU’s all over the internets. Stat!
sorry again. once I start being bossy, I just can’t stop.
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
these are beautiful…absolutely beautiful….
Keli! I was looking forward to seeing what you’d come up with. You didn’t disappoint! YOU are lovely and your photos are lovely and your daughter is lovely.
You are so beautiful and your editing is amazing. I love it so much. And your daughter is so sweet. I could go on for days, really, but then you’d probably get a big head and start posting nothing but pictures of yourself. Ha!
You’re post is so true, though. We, as moms, really need to try and be IN the pictures. My husband is so good about swiping my camera and making sure I’m in some. Even if he sucks and takes the worst, out of focus shots most of the time.
And now I think I’ll cry. Maybe it’s your post, or maybe it’s because Twitter is down.
I love love the ones of you and E! So precious. I’ve been doing a weekly challenge called “Where’s Mom?” that puts us moms in front of the camera instead of behind it. It’s definitely a stretch for me b/c I also don’t like being in front but I also don’t want to regret not being captured in our every day moments.
what are you talking about? YOU ARE STUNNING! Great post! What is the editing preset in the 2nd photo?
Oh I loved these so much!! Definitely my favorite of the week. :)
You are gorgeous and your photos are AMAZING like always.
Beautiful. I totally understand the sentiment too…it’s rough. We are by far our toughest critics.
But these photos are amazing, your children are lucky.
First of all, this post is beautiful, and not just because of the pictures. I agree with you so much, even though I don’t have children yet, I always try to get myself into pictures on different trips and events just to have that memory. Oh, and also, you are beautiful and your photos are beautiful, so..this post is beautiful :)
This is an amazing post. You and your kids are beautiful, and your thoughts really resonate with me, even though I don’t have children yet.
Beautiful pictures. But even more beautiful is the post. Thanks for the reminder.
Beautiful post…that second to last shot is awesome!
AMEN! Hallelujah!
And…”You see, how I see myself in the mirror is NOT what I see on the computer screen after I download pictures of myself.”
I so agree!
Wow! I love your pictures. I would never think of taking a picture of an arm, but yours is AWESOME!! I also LOVE the two shots of you with a sleeping child.
WONderful photos! And I needed your soapbox lecture – you are right! My mom was in very few of my childhood pictures, and I admit I had to start wondering if she was really around (I know that she was, but you know). Thanks for the reminder.
I love your shots! I was just home, looking through old photos and found one of my mom with me on my swing set. She wasn’t looking at the camera, so i really don’t know what she looked like then! Crazy… I want my kids to remember me when I was young and cute:-) Great post.
AMEN!
You’re so right in saying we put ourselves second (or third, or fourth, etc…) and I am guilty of not taking more pics of myself b/c I still have some weight to lose. Luckily, the hubby has gotten to be more fond of his camera so now I’m more in front of his than behind mine. Still, I don’t like seeing myself these days either.
GREAT pictures and you’re beautiful as is your daughter! Love the editing effects you did. What did you use for the second photo?
Ugh! The picture of you two sleeping is SO STINKING AWESOME!
Amen!! Your photos turned out awesome!! I need a remote.
So very true. Great post. And lovely photos!
All wonderful captures, as always! But I love the one of you sleeping with your baby, your bench shot (which I loved the first time I saw it), and that last one where we get to see your whole face. Beautiful!
You are GORGEOUS, these photos are gorgeous and I love this post because it is so true. It’s so important to make sure we’re also present in the documentation of our lives. Thanks for sharing!
OMG…You are so beautiful…These have to be my favourites…This post was absolutely perfect! Xx
These are beautiful. YOU are beautiful. I can’t decide which one’s my favorite – the one of you and your daughter sleeping OR the one with your fingers to your lips while E is sleeping. Well done.
I love your pictures. The one of you shushing so baby can sleep… so cute! And the first one is great! And you are so right! Where is mom in all those pictures? Very inspiring.
You are totally right. Also, your shots are beautiful :)
You are just about the cutest mom I’ve ever seen. Great post… you are so clever and witty!! You are so right… I am trying to pass the camera off to my kids now so I can be present in pictures for my precious grand kids! Ha… I have been told I look like Sarah Palin a time or two or thousands!! I had the glasses first… I swear!
awww…such sweet captures!
Amen! Your pictures are beautiful, as are you. You are right. We need to make sure we exist in the pictures of our kid’s childhoods. They love us despite all the “flaws” we see in ourselves.
Not only are your pictures wonderful but your words are as well. Thank you for your post.
I so understand what you mean about what you see in the mirror is not what you see in a picture and I don’t get it. Sometimes (not often), I think I look pretty darn good in the mirror. If you take a picture at that moment, I can promise you that I won’t look the same. That’s life I guess. You though are adorable. You look amazingly young to have kids. Truly, you look like a teenager. Especially in that last picture.
I love the photos and your editing. Great job :)