What does being photogenic even mean?
So I’ve been a yoga and wellness photographer for a little while now and I often hear people say "I'm not photogenic". It always comes back. It’s either that or people ask about their “good angles” (maybe I should do a post about that too). And I had to sit down and think about it because to me, everyone is photogenic. If you are in a photo, you are photogenic.
So what do people really MEAN when they say that?
They think they don't look thin enough
We grew up thinking that for something to be "flattering" it needs to make us look slim.
Why? Fat is not a bad thing. Fat is not a bad word. That is their inner fatphobia talking. We must forgive ourselves for it and work on dismantling it by reframing the way we think, NOT by changing the way we look.
Of course I am a hypocrite writing this as you won’t find a picture of me that I haven’t taken myself, or that I haven’t heavily controlled, directed and vetoed. But as I work through my own healing, I am nurturing my body and accepting its changes. Body dysmorphia wouldn’t be a problem without fatphobia.
They think they don't look like themselves
We only see an inverted version of ourselves in the mirror or in our selfies. We either have a resting face or we're smiling at our selfie camera.
We don't see yourselves the rest of the time when we laugh at a joke, see a puppy in the street or receive a text from a loved one. I have noticed that a lot of people are not used to see their own smile showing teeth. I am met with some uncomfortable reactions sometimes when presented with a portrait of them genuinely smiling - all I see is joy, spark and light, and all they see is, well, teeth?
Bodies and faces move and change and reflect life. And life is beautiful.
They think they look awkward
If you look awkward on a picture it most likely means you caught the person taking it and froze as you didn't know what to do.
Posing for a photoshoot can be a daunting task and when working with a professional, it’s up to them to help their model feel comfortable and work together to soothe that initial awkwardness - which is very normal when we first interact with other people! When working with a professional photographer it is important to get an idea of who you are working with and if you can get a good vibe of them. It is worth checking their social media or even getting on a call with them if possible - that is why I personally offer Facetime or Zoom as part of my photography packages.
You want to know if we are compatible? Contact me! Or find me on IG: @camillemariebieber
Everyone is photogenic.
Everyone looks good in pictures.
It’s never a you problem, it is either the patriarchy, fatphobia or a bad photographer.