I hate that word.
What is that?! Photogenic.
What, some people are just meant to live a life of shitty pictures?
HECK NO.
To me there’s no such thing as photogenic or not photogenic.
There’s good photographers and bad photographers.
That means, if you’ve ever been photographed by a pro and hated your pictures, it’s on them! A great photographer will guide you from your first meeting, to wardrobe, styling, hair and makeup, concepts, all the way to posing to flatter your body shape, keeping the right expression and looking the right way.
Then they’re supposed to LISTEN TO YOU; hear you out and make sure that your personality and purpose shows in these images. They’re supposed to hear you out, ask you why you’re braving the camera, what you hope to get out of it.
And sometimes – it’s just a matter of vibes. Believe it or not, liking your photographer and their personality is more important than the technical aspects. Because if you don’t feel comfortable enough to laugh and be silly, but more importantly, to speak up when you don’t like something (like, hey, I actually don’t part my hair that way, or I actually hate that backdrop) – you’re just not going to be on the same page.
I say this all the time and I’ll say it a million times – every woman is beautiful. Every woman can and SHOULD have beautiful photographs. But it’s MORE than that – you should EXPERIENCE a photoshoot that empowers you to see yourself in a different light.
It just never ceases to amaze me how uniquely each woman blossoms and transforms in front of my camera. The shy quiet girl gives me a look so smoldering it could melt glaciers; the loud fun extrovert looks so deeply into that camera that you swear you can see her soul and everything she endured to get to this moment; the hustling girlboss twirls and lets loose in a flowy dress that makes her feel like a goddess; the tired mom remembers what an incredible woman she is…
So when the time comes to get pictures taken – please remember. You are already exactly the kind of woman you need to be. All you have to do is find a photographer willing to SEE YOU. REALLY SEE YOU.
Devin Gregory says
Hey! Commenting on here for the March giveaway! Would love to win because I’m pregnant and would love a photoshoot of the baby and me!
Melissa says
Beautiful! Great photos!
Melissa says
Soo beautiful!
Kimberly says
Love this blog and the advice! I always thought I was the one who was not photogenic.
Laura says
I love the way you make me see things in a new light!
Amanda says
Beautiful! She is amazing and you captured that on film!
Irina Bondarev says
When I think of you, one phrase comes to mind… “make sure you’re in the pictures”! And that hit home for me especially since becoming a mama. I use to run away from the camera. Unless I was made up and looking 110%. But now I force myself in picture no matter how “terrible” I look. Because when my girls look back, I want them to see me there and see how much joy and absolute happiness they brought to my life! ❤️ If I would win, I’d love to do a monther/daughter shoot and have professional pictures of us to last a lifetime!
Emily Graham says
I love reading your posts! This one stands out the most to me because way back when I last had my picture taken (about 6 years ago) I wasn’t a fan of the pictures that were taken and sent to me. The one picture I did like was never given to me. I didn’t feel pretty, didn’t like the editing, and just plain didn’t like the pictures. I didn’t feel all that relaxed during my photos. Your posts make me realize how much better it could have gone and how I should feel about photos. It’s made me want to be in photographs more and hand over my camera so that I can be.
Thank you for your inspiring posts!
Emily Graham says
You are so talented! You are changing the world one picture a lot a time. We need more people like u to uplift our girls! Can’t wait to take pictures with my girls. March giveaway here I come 😉
Yessica Schott says
So beautiful!
Teresa Bonawitz says
I have said my whole life that I am not photogenic. Thank you for this blog. I want to see myself in pictures and relive memories. I want to see how others see me!