I have been absolutely OVERWHELMED with responses to “How to love yourself in 8 really hard steps“, so I want to maintain some of the body image vibe in my blog from now on. In this post, I want to share one of my secrets to feeling confident and loving myself – and it’s just a simple matter of taking a photo of myself! I have been following flickr groups like wardrobe_remix, Fatshionista and No More Mumus for a while, and on the odd occasion (when I’ve remembered) I submit a photo. I really love to put my outfits together, and even though I don’t have any kind of budget for designer stuff, I still feel great about myself when I wear things I feel comfortable and awesome in. My main failing has been consistency – often I’m running late enough as it is to be bothered with pulling out my tripod, or trying to get Nick to take a photo of me where my head isn’t cut off!
I think photographing and documenting our outfits has so many benefits. I’m slowly learning to pose myself – something I’ve always had difficulty with. Usually I’m the girl who pulls a face in a photo! I think photographing your outfit can also help you to find peace with your body shape and how you look to everyone else. I take inspiration from other flickr outfit posters, especially from the plus size groups, and find myself becoming bolder because of the influence I take from people like tootsicle, 52 stations, Girlchile and pining for the moon. I’m also an avid reader of The Musings of a Fatshionista and Young, Fat and Fabulous – Christina and Gabi are amazing fashion role models for me, who take HUGE risks. I bought wet look tights the other day just because I heard Chris chanting “DO IT DO IT DO IT” in the back of my head.
So from now on, I’m going to make a concerted effort. My friend Sonya, of the No More Mumus blog, really inspires me because she consistently takes photos of her amazing outfits and posts them to flickr. I don’t go out a whole heap, but I’m pledging to myself that when I do dress up – I’m going to take a photo. Hell, if I’m going to the shops and I’ve pulled something together that makes me feel great, I’m going to take a photo of that too!
Some tips for taking photos of your outfits:
• Use a tripod if you have access to one.
• If you don’t have access to a tripod, use a human being who can take directions well.
• If you don’t have a tripod or a human being, find somewhere you can prop your camera at about eye height.
• If you have a remote, use it! Disguise it by putting it up your sleeve, or putting your hands on your hips.
• If you don’t have a remote (my new camera doesn’t!) use the 10 second timer.
• Turn your camera around so it’s of portrait orientation. We want to see your head and your feet!
• Try to put yourself in a place where the light is behind the camera, not you.
• If you take photos during the day, and you’re in a well lit area, don’t use the flash. If you can’t avoid the flash, that’s ok! Just ensure we can see the details, colours and textures in your outfit.
• Try not to have distracting things in the shot. I’m pretty guilty of this, so I’ll forgive you quicker than others :P
• Take photos from a few angles – front, side and back! And include detail shots of brooches or your shoes. I love outfit posters who do this!
I have been so busy lately, but I want to tell you about a few purchases I’ve made in the last few weeks – from We Love Colors, Yours Clothing and Evans. But I need to create a few outfits first to fully illustrate them – so hold tight, they’ll be coming soon!
That second outfit with the red hair – ESPECIALLY the red hair – is HOT. stunning!
I’m trying! You are teaching and I am learning the fine art of taking a decent picture.
Oh don’t tempt me, I’m thinking about abandoning the blonde ship for red once again!
Your photography skills are much improved these days sir! I have photographic evidence of feet!
PS, you are definatalie a fox!
You look fantabulous!!!
I have no idea what wet look tights really look like but you make me want to be fashionable too!
Since I’ve started posting my outfits, even if they are not so wonderful, I feel more confident and happy in my fat body.
Then visiting some blogs like yours, makes me happy with my plus plus size because I can pick some ideas and try to arrange them to my style.
You are gorgeous!!!
I personally think the red suits you more – better contrast! Then again I find it weird to say “X suits you more because it makes your skin fairer” or “You should wear Y because it makes you look thinner” – doesn’t that just buy into the whole body standards thing again? As though certain traits need to be ‘corrected’? *embraces her acne and belly*
This is my first comment to you. I found your blog about learning to love yourself while stumbling, and that was enough to get me to subscribe. I am not thin either… in fact, I’m fat. But I’m healthy. I tend to put myself down a lot because I’m big, and my husband isn’t. I just want to thank you for being who you are, and having the confidence that you do. You’re a beautiful woman, and you’re such an inspiration, that you don’t have the fear holding you back or holding you captive. Thank you.
It’s funny, Nick said he can see a world of different in me, between the red head photo and the rest… I was incredibly stressed and on the verge of a breakdown back then!! In a way, the red sort of reminds me of my office job and being so tightly wound I felt like I was going to implode.
I still love red hair though. It’s probably on the cards… soon.
Would you consider reposting these photos so they are no longer “currently unavailable?” I’m terrible at taking photos and somewhat interested in this article…