Get in the Picture: Why Being Photographed is an Act of Self-Love
"Oh, no, not me!" "I hate having my picture taken." "You all go ahead, I'll just take it."
How many of us have said these words? I have heard so many people—dear friends, family, and patients—voice this same feeling. That moment a camera appears, and we are suddenly filled with a desire to duck, hide, or become invisible.
We are so quick to find our flaws. We focus on the wrinkles, the angle, the outfit, or the "extra" pounds, and we decide that the person in the lens isn't worth capturing.
But I want to offer a different perspective. A more compassionate one. What if we're not just avoiding a photo, but accidentally erasing ourselves from our own life stories?
For Our Loved Ones: Leaving a Legacy of You
One of the most important reasons to get in the picture has little to do with us right now, and everything to do with the future. It is important to leave memories for our loved ones.
Think about the photos you cherish of the people you love. When you look at an old picture of your mother, your grandmother, or a dear friend, are you checking if their hair was perfect? Are you criticising their smile?
Of course not. You are searching for their essence. You are looking for their joy, their warmth, their spirit. You are just so grateful to have a tangible piece of them, a moment of their life captured forever.
When our loved ones look back at our photos, they will not be looking for perfection. They will be looking for us. If we are always the one taking the photo, we are leaving a blank space where we are supposed to be.
For Our Loved Ones: The Example We Set
Beyond legacy, there is the powerful, in-the-moment example we set. This is especially crucial for those of us with children, but it applies to any young person in our lives. It is so important to set a good example.
Our children and the young people around us are sponges, and they learn not from our lectures, but from our actions. When a camera comes out and they see us shrink, criticise ourselves, or say, "I look terrible," what are we teaching them?
We are teaching them that our value is tied to our physical appearance.
We are teaching them that self-criticism is normal.
We are teaching them that you should hide if you don't feel "perfect."
What if, instead, we took the picture? What if we smiled and showed them that we are happy to be part of the memory, as we are, in this moment? What if we modeled what it looks like to love and accept ourselves, "flaws" and all? That is a lesson that will last them a lifetime.
The Shift: From Criticism to Compassion
This isn't easy. It requires a conscious shift in our thinking. It is not about being perfect, but it is about having some compassion and self-love.
The next time you feel the urge to hide, I invite you to pause and try this:
Acknowledge the feeling: "I feel uncomfortable right now, and that's okay."
Challenge the thought: Your thought is, "I don't like how I look." The truth is, "This moment is about connection, not appearance."
Shift your focus: Instead of focusing on the things we don't like, let's focus on all the wonderful things about us.
You are not just your body. We are more than our physical body. We are a collection of our kindness, our laughter, our intelligence, our resilience, and the love we give. Beauty truly comes from within, and that is what shines brightest in a photograph taken with love.
This is the difference between sitting on the edge wrapped in a towel, and getting in your swim wear, jumping in the water, and enjoying the moment. It’s about choosing to play, laugh, and have fun instead of letting self-criticism steal another memory from you.
So please, get in the picture. The people who love you, and the future version of yourself, will be so deeply grateful that you did.