The photos got inside my head!
Yes this is something I heard very recently – “the photos got inside my head”! So my last blog was on what we think of ourselves when we look in the mirror, or see ourselves in a photograph. Following on from this, I heard an interesting story recently from a lady I know.
She and her family went on a holiday cruise earlier in the year. There were photograph opportunities organised for families and guests on board. In no uncertain terms, she relayed how it was the worst photoshoot experience she had ever had, and without all the detail, she hadn’t enjoyed the experience and hated the results.
BUT my biggest concern was when she then said that the photographs ‘got inside my head’ and made her seriously doubt about how she looked. On their return, she went on a strict diet (because of how she felt) and did a family shoot at home using her phone and tripod. This was to re-assure herself that she didn’t look quite so bad.
Now I will often tell people, they may from time to time see images of themselves they’re not keen on, but it DOESN’T mean you can’t take a good one. This is to help them understand that often there are reasons and elements in a photograph that were outside their responsibility or control.
In a very early blog, I questioned the common saying ‘the camera never lies’. I still say this saying is not strictly true. Bear this in mind as you read…
Her story really troubled me and I found myself with all sorts of questions.
- Did the shipping company use professional photographers?
- How had they got the lights set?
- Had they got the right angles for people?
- Importantly, did the families and guests have an enjoyable experience?
Perhaps the photographers were rushed themselves if they had a lot of people to get through? However ‘conveyer belt’ photography is rarely going to achieve good results. If they were rushed, there was not going to be much opportunity for people to have a good experience.
From the information I was given the results of the images were far from flattering or accurate. However, whatever the photographers did or didn’t get right, it was how this particular lady was left feeling, when she stated – “the photos got inside my head”!
BUT as I mentioned earlier, it was the effect the results had on someones view of themselves.
Many people could see this as a reason to never want to be photographed again. While understandable, is perfectly avoidable.
So following on from last months blog, this is an interesting story of how we see ourselves in photographs. Perhaps it’s simply a knowledge thing, so ‘non photographers’ get some idea why some photographs are not particularly appealing.
Why do I bang on about the importance of lighting, angles and an enjoyable experience?
Because they are such important factors to achieving images you’ll love.
Have you ever had a similar experience?
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Don’t forget, the You Tube channel has tips for being photographed running up to Christmas available 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/@love-your-image
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NEWS – Watch this space!
With the new year just around the corner – I plan to merge Love Your Image with Penny Morgan Photography.
More news on this coming soon 🙂
