Jenn's Contribution to Jen's Photo Post (with a twist)

Jen on the Edge challenged her readers to take photos of themselves over the holidays. It is important to note that she did NOT say "take photos of the rest of the family so that you never have to be in any photos yourself because you're not as thin/young/beautiful as you'd like to be."

Out of the trio of the above excuses (not thin/young/beautiful enough) for remaining behind the lens, rather than in front of it, the "not thin" one is my bugaboo. I really don't mind (so far) getting older and I actually think I'm pretty (enough), but I haven't been as thin as I'd prefer to be since I was 107 lbs. for a couple of months in 1984; I wasn't really eating then, which is not a successful long-term weight management technique, so those days are long gone.

Somewhere in the recesses of my mind though, has always been the knowledge that someday I would want photographic evidence that I was part of my own life--which means I do have plenty of pictures of me with my kids and my friends--not quite as many with my husband because somebody has to hold the camera, but enough.

One thing most of the pictures of me have in common is that they're pretty flattering. A well-placed child can hide quite a bit and since I have four . . .! I tend to exercise a lot of editorial control and with the advent of digital, well, there's really no reason for a "bad" photo to exist.

Back in July of 2008, I wrote this post (which I would love you to click through to read because it is one of my favorites) about photos and vanity. It's about a photo that was a bit of a life-changer for me.

 On to the holiday photo . . .

I didn't take one.

In my defense, I didn't really take any photos at Christmas. My oldest daughter wasn't home and my husband was sick on Christmas day. My home-from-college sons were gone a lot and time just got away from me.

However . . .

This last weekend my Mr. Fix-it, Social Butterfly and I went down to the beach one afternoon and I took my camera. I made sure I was not just on the shooting end of the camera, but in the viewfinder as well.

The result is two of my favorite photos ever, with two of my favorite people.

I wasn't planning on being in front of a camera when I put on yoga pants and a t-shirt in the morning, and I don't really have the type of hair that is improved by being windblown, but I've learned to relax a little on those things.

I think I might be growing up.

 

 

Comments

[Jen on the Edge]

These photos are great!

[Busy Bee Suz]

You are growing up BIG TIME!! The photos are amazing and will be family treasures. I remember the older post, and it has actually inspired me to BE in more photos with my kids...even if I wasn't up to looking my best. Life happens...whether we are ready for it or not.
Love this post! And the most recent photos are amazing!!

[zain ul hai saleem]

In an African Safari, A LION suddenly jumped on Americans Wife.
WIFE:-Shoot him! Shoot him!
American:- Yes Yes. I’m changing d battery of my camera. :-)

[kellyg]

Oh, the "not thin enough" excuse. That's my bugaboo, too. Like you I use the kids to sort of hide behind. But that only works for the posed/staged pictures. It's the spontaneous ones that make me cringe.

But like the linked post, I'm trying to let my vanity go and keep those pictures that are truly good pictures even if I don't look so good in them.

I really like the photo of you and SB. It's a great shot.

[gary rith]

Oh yes indeed, awesome family photos :) ps--your daughter is TALL!

[Tammy]

Great photos! My challenge is that I seem to be the only one who picks up and uses a camera at family functions, therefore rarely being in a photo.

[Julie]

great pics

[Smalltown Me]

Beautiful pictures and beautiful people!

[Cassi Renee]

The two above are great pictures, but I agree with your friend about the 2008 photo as well. You look really happy, and it's such a warm, loving, shot.

I have a photo of myself with my daughter that I've been tempted to delete as well because I don't like the way I look. But I love the way she's leaning on me, so although I don't post it, I also don't delete it.

[Jenn3128]

Those are awesome pics! You might have problems with your windblown hair, but with a great color like yours nobody is going to notice!

[Green Girl In Wisconsin]

Having been lucky enough to meet you IRL, I can say you ARE gorgeous, these photos do not do justice to your awesome personality and hair and smile, but I do like both of these shots because HEY, you're a California Girl on the BEACH with people you adore;)

[alison]

Those are GREAT photos.

[magpie]

both pictures are great!

[Kay]

Great pictures Jenn! What memories you will always have now of that day.

[Jocelyn]

And the thing is, these photos are GORGEOUS, which completely undercuts your worries about your own appearance. That is, your hair looks better because it's windblown--you look natural and like YOU GO OUT INTO NATURE. Hee. Keep handing the camera over to others. You are worth capturing.

[Jenrantsraves]

Those are great! There are very few pictures of me, just because I am always the one taking pictures. My parents take some, but they don't know how to edit, so I often have red eye, or blinked, or who knows what!

[Karen (formerly kcinnova)]

Ah, yes, I remember your earlier post. :) I'm glad you didn't delete that photo.
I'm still trying but hopefully I'm growing up, too. Or perhaps I just finally realized that my kids are too thin for me to hide behind.

[Janet]

Lovely shots, glad you participated!

[Vanessa]

LOVE beach pictures and you are all beautiful!

[Kim Kasch]

Those are great pics :)

[Elisabeth]

I much prefer photos that are real, as yours certainly are, and beautiful to boot. I'm here through a circuitous path beginning with Rubye Jack. I'm fascinated by you observations on that earlier post, your favourite.

It's the pressure we feel as women to stay forever young I suspect that gets in the way of recording our images and it's a nuisance. As yo say it's better far to keep images of our lives available for posterity.

I'm pleased to meet you, Jenn.

[Patience]

You look so relaxed and happy! I think windblown hair looks great on you.

[Brightside-Susan]

Wonderful photos and the light is so special.

[lanes]

I like the whole concept of taking and keeping pictures even when they aren't "perfect" -- I think it's important for many reasons. I also know that I struggle with not immediately deleting unflattering photos! The struggle continues.

P.S. I like that you and the fam look so happy!

[Michelle]

You and your daughter are like twins! She is a spitting image of you! I've always thought so but that last picture...WOW!!!

[mom taxi julie]

Some pictures taken years ago that I might have thought were bad are a lot of fun to look at now. Funny how that works! I'm a big picture lover though :)

[JCK (Motherscribe)]

These really are amazing photos, Jenn. I hadn't seen the one of your and Mr. Fix-it. That's a framed one! Lovely.

[Susan @ A Slice of my Life]

I think these are both awesome pictures. You look so relaxed, happy and beautiful. (Yes you do!) I agree they need to be framed and placed in your home.