This past January I attended Alt Summit (a blogging + design conference) in Palm Springs, California. Shortly before the conference a photographer named Lindsay of Wild Wonder Photography asked people in the Facebook group if they’d like to do a photoshoot with some vintage style frocks she was bringing. I said YES.
The Saguaro Hotel (where the conference was being held), and all of Palm Springs for that matter, has a classic mid-centruy feel that is hard to match anywhere. If you love mid century style at all Palm Springs is a must see. Having been to Alt before I knew that the schedule would be hecktic and that I may not exactly feel like getting up super early on the last day, doing my own hair and make up (yes I did!), and then posing in front of a camera (I’m not a natural!), but I am SO GLAD I DID.
I just got the photos back a couple weeks ago and I love how they turned out. At the same time I have no idea what I’m going to do with these photos-ha! But obviously they have to make an appearance on the blog. And while the idea of blowing one of these up and hanging it on the walls of our home feels Kardashian-level vain, I also think they’re so unique and cool that I just might do it.
As I mentioned I’m not a natural in front of the camera. I often have this weird facial twitch and I get this one dimple that looks like a mole and I swear it only comes out when I’m feeling really nervous in front of the camera. But something about the whole setting–the dress, the hair and makeup, the Saguaro and the photographer Linday–really made me come out of my shell and I felt totally comfortable. That and the advice I had heard the day before that “no one is going to be offended if you take a good picture.”
The cool thing is that these photos were taken about 3 weeks after I turned 40, and since I’ve never been to Palm Springs and I have no idea when I’ll go back, it really felt like a once in a lifetime experience. The setting, the scenery and marking the entrance into my 40’s.
It’s completely normal for babies and kids to have their photos taken at frequent intervals, usually because they grow and change so fast we want to document every little moment. For some families, ours included, getting frequent family photos is common to document the growing stages of your family. But what about a solo photoshoot as an adult? Obviously, this is not a completely unique experience for us bloggers, but I’ve still never done a photoshoot quite like this. Would you or have you ever done a solo photoshoot as an adult just because? Maybe to commemorate a milestone birthday or even just for fun? While I did a maternity photoshoot a few years ago that I loved, this kind of photoshoot still feels very different. It’s not about a growing baby, it was all about me.
Like I said, the idea of enlarging, framing and hanging one of these in our home makes me feel a little self conscious–like will people think I’m super vain? Is it over the top? Will my own family think it’s weird? (I haven’t asked them yet.) The other thing is that even talking about liking a photo of ourselves is usually seen as a big no-no for women. But the truth is I really like these photos of myself for all the reasons mentioned above, but also because they stand as a reminded that when I say yes to an opportunity, good things can happen.
What about you? Would you ever consider doing a photoshoot like this for yourself, just for fun? I admit that if the opportunity hadn’t arised, I would have never set this up myself, but now it’s got me thinking of other cool shoots I or my family could do. Maybe if you have a budding photographer friend you could discuss something like that. Second, how do you feel about saying outloud, “I like this picture of myself!” Do you ever do that, or feel that way? Would you hang a picture of yourself in your home or would you feel vain/self conscious if there weren’t other members of your family in the photo?
I know this doesn't directly answer the question (although I don't think it's vain to have pictures of yourself taken or even hang them in your home), but I do think that it's important for women to take pictures with themselves in them. I love to look back at pictures of my mom throughout her life, and not just pictures with me in them. And I love having pictures of my spouse. I'd like to assume that he feels the same way and that someday my kids would like to have pictures of me, too. So if nothing else, do it for your kids and your spouse. Wasn't there some thing on instagram a little while ago that was #getinthepicture? So important.
Agreed! It is definitely important for women, and I would say specifically moms, to get in the picture. And it's a struggle. Maybe because as the house photographer I'm always taking them and not IN them. But I'm getting better at asking my husband to take some of me with the kids and he's getting better at remembering without me asking.
1. These photos are fabulous and you are stunning. 2. Your girls are going to LOVE these in the future even more than they might already now. 3. Like you, I'm pretty sure I'd never set up a solo photo shoot but do at least make sure to get a solo head shot when taking family photos. 4. I'm pretty shy about even displaying family photos in the public areas of our home (I hang them in the hallway where our bedrooms are – I think this "fear" comes from having house-sat for a month for a couple who had photos of themselves EVERYWHERE…and from like only 2 photo shoots – not a collection of photos over many years). But if you want to hang one, I say go for it! Like I said, they're fabulous and also sure to be a conversation starter 🙂 5. I don't know if I've ever said out loud to someone that I really love a photo of myself. Hm I need to work on that!
I hadn't really thought of my kids liking them one day, or even my grandchildren, but when I think about them looking at them down the road it kinda puts a smile on my face. I know I would have liked to see photos like this of my grandmother. 🙂
I love these! I'm not sure if I would ever do pictures of me by myself (i've also never even thought of it before), but I love the idea of this being blown up and displayed at your house… especially that first photo. I love the whole vibe of it and it doesn't feel like it's only focused on you (ie. a giant blown up picture of a headshot). I especially think your children will love this as you get older.
Agreed–I like the first photo too as it's more about the scene as a whole and not so much, HEY LOOK AT ME. But then that makes me wonder, is it so bad if I have a photo around that says HEY LOOK AT ME?
These are great. I would definitely hang one. Maybe do a collage wall, and make everyone else in the family, including hubby, take individual photos that way yours isn't the only one on the wall.
I love to see pictures of my friends – it is so rare though since as moms we are the ones taking them. My mom had a picture of herself as a young bride on the wall at our home growing up and I just loved looking at it. I think your girls would feel the same about those. They are gorgeous.