Family portraits

It's weird -- they say the 'stars' don't look as good in real-life -- they have their photos digitally improved. My problem is the opposite -- I look awful in photographs when I'm pretty okay looking in real-life. I cannot bear to look at myself in photos and keep the taking of them to the minimum but I know I look pretty good when I look in the mirror -- clearly the camera does lie lol.

Am just the same,hate photos and hate mirrors as well

I don’t mind my photo being taken , I don’t always come out well but so what. We have loads and loads of family photos and it’s wonderful to look back on them. My children and gc also like to see them it’s part of their family history and shows who in this generation looks like someone from a few generations back.

Seems most women dislike photos of themselves, but I think we have to remember that we are being super-critical when we look at ourselves in photos, in the mirror or catch a glimpse in a shop window.

I have often said of a photo of myself that it is dreadful, but others don't see it like that. And I have often genuinely been unable to understand why a friend or sister has disliked a photo of herself.

I don't think the world at large will be impoverished in any way by not having a picture of me, looking like guy the gorilla in earrings preserved for posterity.

I don’t photograph well and am shocked by what I look like on FaceTime ( pretty awful) but I would love a decent family photo. There aren’t many of us, just us, the children and 2 grandchildren but I think i always spoil the photo. Its a shame we are so hard on ourselves.
MissA

I second what Direne3 says. I have been practising seeing myself as others see me on my phone for year or s now, and because I only ever round to doing it in the evening directly under a powerful LED floor light, I don’t look my best - the light shows up all the wrinkles and saggy bits where I’ve lost weight ( I’d rather it had gone from my bingo wings, but you can’t have it all ... ). And I look just like my mother! But I’m now much more familiar with what I look like in real life, and the initial horror has given way to a much more appreciative acceptance. I have also made a point of looking at friends if I’m with them in a lift with mirror walls, and have been struck how odd and misshapen they look, even though they look ‘normal’ the right way round, and that’s helped too. None of is perfectly symmetrical, after all, so we’re all in this together!

I don't mind being photographed at all, even though I don't always look my best. But last year, when I was trying to find a photo to show my DIL, I noticed how few of the family photos I was actually in. The reason being I was usually the one taking the photo! So this year I am hoping to organise a big family photoshoot to celebrate our anniversary. The style of portrait photography is much more relaxed these days, and I'll try to make it fun for all the family, and include their individual family groups as well, or whatever they would like.

I think it's important for future generations to have family photos. I have so often heard people say 'I wish we had taken more photos of our children/parents/grandparents'. And it's equally important to make a note of who the people in the photos are. It's so frustrating to find a photo of a past generation and have no idea who they are!

Do try to summon up your courage Blondiescot, just for a few hours, to have some beautiful photos taken with your family, they will really appreciate it. And perhaps ask him to take one shot without you in it if you prefer not to be on display in your home.

If only I could smile, or even have a pleasant expression, at the same time as everyone else! I’ve always hated having my photo taken, as I’ve either blinked at the wrong time or I’m waving my hands about with a daft expression on my face! I’m always totally out of sync with everyone else.

I am nostalgic for the albums we used to gaze at photos in. I usually dislike myself in pics but I recently looked at a picture of me aged 24 with two small children. I used not to like that photo as I look tired and a bit scruffy. Now I'm just amazed - I look so young! One of my DC is a photographer and says it is so hard getting everyone in a group to look happy and good at one time. There's always a sulky teenager, a naughty child or dog and a lot of editing to do afterwards! I agree you owe it to posterity to appear in an occasional photo but insist it is taken with a good camera when you are looking as nice as you can and print it for that album.

Thank you all for your responses - it's comforting in a way to know I'm by no means alone in hating having my photo taken. My son is getting married in May, and I know there's no way I can avoid being in the photos, so I will try...

When I was young and lovely I just couldn't wait to rush to the chemists to pick up our developed photos but now the older I get the more I hate being photographed - just like my dear old mum was at my age. I have to say though that digital cameras and smartphones really don't take as good a shot as a 'proper' camera, even the disposable ones took a nicer, truer image IMHO

My gd has just had a baby and I dug out aa load of photos of her throughout her childhood, first day in at school, standing proudly in her school uniform, playing on the beach etc. I have put these all in an album and written underneath each one. I have given it to her telling her she can now start her own family album and add pictures of her own instead of having them all on her phone. She lived the idea.

I generally take the photos. When ever I am in one I don't like what I see. I had a professional come to our house and take a set of photos in garden and house that my husband and I could choose from. It is costly but you do get some carefully thought out good photos and now I am older they are a nice memory for me too.

Mawbroom, we could have been sisters back in the day; same hairdo and I had a dress just like yours!

No photos of me either. I just look ugly. But about 20 year ago I won a photo shoot and those pics are great . Out of date now though.

I too hate having my photo taken, the best ones I have are when I've been caught unawares.

My Driving Licence photo makes me look like a criminal

Our DC see us differently to how we see ourselves. I for one hate myself in pics. My kids think Im still lovely no matter what. My DM is 84 and still the most glamorous pretty lady on this earth. I dread the day when she is gone. So YES. Give them all the pictures they need .

And whoever invented the mirror needs a good seeing to !!!

Hate seeing myself in pictures too,it makes me cringe.

I agree I don’t like my picture taken but I love the way the young people can pose instantly do it makes us laugh and then pics aren’t so bad

It’s so easy now to pick and chose which photos you keep - ie the flattering ones. I always make sure I have just one with me on it on most big occasions, and delete the ones I hate, which is most of them. Usually I’m the one taking them anyway. And I still print out a select few and put in the family albums, just so they remember I existed. My mum did the same and I’m so glad she did now.

I HATE having my photo taken. Why don't you go to one of those makeover studios and have a professional shot taken, and have prints made up for anyone who wants them.

Wild horses wouldn't drag me to a professional photo shoot. To me these posed family portraits just look so fake and I never wanted one even when I was a lot prettier and less wrinkled. I also wanted pictures of my kids looking like my kids not the Waltons. DH takes loads of photos, especially on holiday but he doesn't see me wielding the delete button when he's out of the way!