Do you hate being photographed yourself?

[colrehogan]

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

 

[Chuck_P]

I positively dislike it.

 

[jovo]

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]

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]

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]

Know your place

I know my place...behind the camera.

 

[arigram]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[rogueish]

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]

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]

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

lee\c

 

[Ricardo41]

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

ricardo

 

[Sino]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

Greg

 

[Woolliscroft]

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

David.

 

[tomtom]

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]

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]

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]

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...