Right at the end of Steph’s recent family session, just as the sun was disappearing behind the trees, I got in a couple of quick last shots of her by herself. (And I mean really quick because there were three hungry, tired little people and one very patient husband waiting for her in the car) But I digress. Lemme repeat the most important part…she was BY HERSELF.
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I put it to you – when was the last time someone took a photo of you and just you? One in which your children or partner are not begrudgingly squished up beside you or which doesn’t see you as part of a group or on a family holiday celebrating the existence of an inanimate object? (Ahem, commemorative shot in front of the Big Banana anyone?) One that doesn’t see you donning virtual bunny ears or novelty glasses? (Snapchat has a lot to answer for!) When was the last time you were captured in an image that you didn’t have to request was taken, thus instantly rendering it forced and unnatural?
Can you even remember? I was trying to think back myself and was hit with a huge blank. The most recent individual, non-requested, natural photo I could recall was a decade ago on my wedding day. Ouch.
We do need to exist in photos. It’s something that’s said all the time. But it shouldn’t just mean appearing in pictures propped up by partners and children – we should be captured by ourselves because aren’t we important too?
How will your face be remembered long after you’ve gone?
It doesn’t need to be anything epic or amazing. Sometimes it’s the seemingly benign, very ordinary times captured that hold the most value when you look back in years to come. Whether or not you’re wearing makeup or you’re still carrying the baby weight you gained a decade ago, it really doesn’t matter; if someone wants to take your photo, please let them…lest you leave nothing behind but selfies with digital bunny ears 😉
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