How I failed at photography in 2017

One of the most popular posts I’ve written is called “But I’m not photogenic…” Here’s why you’re wrong and it is all about ignoring any insecurities you feel about being in front of a camera and actually putting yourself in photographs. By doing so, in 10, 20, 50 years time, you aren’t missing from your family records.

Today, I want to own up to something and perhaps address this post to the photographers in the family. If you are that person, the one who is normally behind the camera capturing everyone else, ask yourself:

How often do I hand the camera over to someone else?

If you don’t take the photographs consider:

How often do I take photographs of that person?

I have taken so many photographs in 2017. I’ve captured the normal moments and the big events, smiles and tears. I am pretty proud of the moments I have captured and look forward to compiling these photographs into an album summarising our year.

Doesn’t sound like I failed, right? Except I did fail in a big way. 

I can count on one hand the number of times I handed my camera over and got someone else to take a photograph of me. One hand!

Yes, I took silly selfies with my nephews on my phone, but for me the quality of my phone does not compare to my camera. I will use these photographs to document me but in reality, I should be in more photographs.

I don’t mean that in a “I’m so confident and pretty and should be in front of a camera” type of way. I 100% have my insecurities about being in front of the lens. Behind the camera is my happy place. However, I want to be an example to my family - in particular my nephews, to my friends, and to those that see me as a photographer; that I am worth documenting. My life is worth recording. Not because it’s amazing and I’m doing things that no one else does, but because it is my life, my experiences, my perspective and because I know that others love me. I don’t want to be absent from photographs.

This year, my husband challenged me to share on this blog at least one family photograph a month where I am in the image. I don’t mind if they are images of me with my nephews, or with my husband, I just want to be in more photographs.

So, for the rest of 2018, I will be sharing at least one photograph of me a month and I want to invite all the “photographers” in families to join me. 

I challenge you to hand the camera over and be in the photographs.