Do you hate being photographed yourself?

colrehogan · Jan 25, 2005

I don't care for being in front of the camera either. Maybe we should make the next challenge a self-portrait.

Chuck_P · Jan 25, 2005

I positively dislike it.

jovo · Jan 25, 2005

I used to hate it, but now realize that whatever I actually look like is what the people I like see anyway, and I might as well share their pain.

oriecat · Jan 25, 2005

I hate it. Only pics of myself I like are ones I have taken myself. I posted something about this on another forum once:

I hate having my picture taken. And yet over the years I have this recurring obsession with the self-portrait. It kind of makes sense, in that this way I am in full control of the image of myself that will be shown, and since I so much hate seeing pictures of myself, I have to obsessively long for that one picture that will finally be as I myself see me and would therefore be willing to show to others. "Look here I am! Screw all those crappy pics that other people (try to) take of me. This is the real me. This is me inside and out."

SteveGangi · Jan 25, 2005

I hate it too. I am convinced that I look like crap in all photos of myself. For some reason I always think I look malnourished and oily. Icky!

Claire Senft · Jan 26, 2005

Know your place

I know my place...behind the camera.

arigram · Jan 26, 2005

It is extremely rare to see a good photo of mine, especially taken by someone else
even if they are a photographer.
I object to digital shots of me though unless I request them for a specific reason.
Digital skin tones and pixels don't do justice to my gorgeous face.

freespiritedone · Jan 27, 2005

Hate is the wrong word...

I believe some are more photogenic than others. I also beleive one should almost never take a photograph of a likeness of someone other than themselves without a model release form" Back to original question... in an age of privacy all too fast disapeering... I prefer not to have my picture taken unless I go to a "studio" setting for a sitting of portraiture and character.

David A. Goldfarb · Jan 27, 2005

It doesn't bother me in general, but I usually dislike institutional sorts of portraits--you know, the ones where the PR office sends you a time and a place, and there's a guy there making uniform, quick and boring photographs of everyone for the official website, press releases, and such.

modafoto · Jan 27, 2005

I am not allowed in front of cameras anymore...last time I scratched a lens...purely by the light reflected from me!

rogueish · Jan 27, 2005

I used to hate and usually refused. Then in night class last semseter we ALL had to take turns in front of the camera. If you refused to model, you were not allowed to shoot either. So of course we all goofed around and out of 24 exps one would be lucky if you had got a decent "glamour headshot". Most of them were of sneers, tongues sticking out, over acting/poses, the angry rockstar, or pouting child look. My favourite was the self inflicted rabbit ears.
After seeing the absolute worst portraits one could possibly pose/take, it doesn't bother me so much anymore.

freespiritedone · Feb 13, 2005

self-portraits define and say it all..

I must agree with oriocat, and modify my original posting. The self-portrait defines and sends a message.. "This is who I am" Of course, I am more than the photographer.. But, as to the question of liking being photographed... I generally do not anymore. I goof around in front of a mirror and this is more satisfying way of giving permission to "see myself as I really am" When a photographer is hired to take my picture, he sees only what was formally taught in his schooling. In taking my own photograph, I can choose whether or not to share these images with others. Thus, it remains private at all times and I do not feel the least bit uncomfortable about the process. I know... wayyyy to serious..

lee · Feb 13, 2005

doesnt bother me at all. As it has been said, I am what and who I am.

lee\c

Ricardo41 · Feb 21, 2005

I'd rather have 4 wisdom teeth extracted than to be in front of the camera.

ricardo

Sino · Feb 22, 2005

That's a "no" from from me too, although i wouldn't really disagree having a snapshot taken from a friend on something or somewhere i'd want to remember in the future. I'd just make it difficult for him/her, with my usual "do i really have to do this" blibberblabbering.

Claire Senft · Feb 22, 2005

What a question

Anyone who wants to take my photo is guilty of poor seeing. When having family portraits taken I stand behing my son, he is 2 inches taller than am I. Seems to work wonderfully well.

Glenn Mathison · Feb 26, 2005

I don't mind being in front of the camera at all. I don't seek it, nor reject it, in fact I find it a useful thing to do so that I can see from the subject's viewpoint how I might look while I am working behind the camera. I also try and learn from those who can have great rapport with me while they are setting up.

Buster6X6 · Mar 1, 2005

It is very interesting reading this thread it really provokes a thought of how other people see us.We always see our self's in the mirror which is reversed for what people see.Our left side of the face is different than right side. I heard once from a photographer that you should always ask a person you are taking portrait of if they are left handed or right handed and position your lights on a left side for a right handed person and on the left for a left handed person.I personally don't mind my picture taken but it looks od and an natural.
Just a thought Cheers Greg

Ole · Mar 1, 2005

I used to hate it, but then started test shooting for a model agency. I decided I wouldn't ask others to do something I wouldn't do myself, and... I didn't get a model contract, though

Buster6X6 · Mar 1, 2005

Ops...
I just noticed it should read"and on the right for a left handed person"

Greg

Woolliscroft · Mar 8, 2005

I love being photographed. Trouble is hardly anyone ever does it. My wife mostly photographs bits of Roman glass.

David.

tomtom · Mar 9, 2005

i hate it so much i don't shoot people. umm... maybe i should say i don't photograph people. i don't show up on film anyway.

tomtom

DallisDandy · Mar 27, 2005

Henri Cartier-Bresson was notably not fond of having his picture taken. The newest issue of CameraArts (http:www.cameraarts.com) features a previously unpublished picture of Cartier-Bresson, in a typical pose, hand up, trying to avoid the photographer.

Jose A Martinez · Mar 27, 2005

i think that this issue is realy important. i started photography in grave yards, then i moved to landscapes and objects near me. one day i realized that there was no people in my photos and that that happened because i was scared of be in front of someone i never knew before and maybe i won't see again ever and take a picture of him/her, so i decided to start taking pictures of people, so my work at this moment is focused mainly on persons. in the same process, i found that i didn't like to be photographed, by now, i don't mind. i lost the fear of photograph people and been photographed

haris · Mar 29, 2005

I don't mind.

I think it is strongly unfair if someone take photographs of people to avoid to be photographed him(hes) self. If you don't allowe other to photograph you, you have no right to photograph others...

Do you hate being photographed yourself?

colrehogan

Chuck_P

jovo

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oriecat

SteveGangi

Claire Senft

arigram

freespiritedone

David A. Goldfarb

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modafoto

rogueish

freespiritedone

lee

Ricardo41

Sino

Claire Senft

Glenn Mathison

Buster6X6

Ole

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Buster6X6

Woolliscroft

tomtom

DallisDandy

Jose A Martinez

haris

Do you hate being photographed yourself?

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