What’s stopping you?
I sent out my newsletter this week and I talked a little bit about myself and my own insecurities.
As a mom of two babies who didn’t exactly recover her body in between pregancies, you could say I’m feeling a little vulnerable when it comes to my body. You could also say that I pretty much hide from the camera a lot of the time (one of the benefits of being a photographer is that you are expected to take more pictures than you are expected to pose for).
Still, I saw my children’s lives rolling along a breakneck speed and I wasn’t in any of the photos. Here I was preaching to all the moms I met how important it was for them to get in the photo, and I wasn’t doing it myself.
I do try not to dwell on my body and it’s current state too much. I try not to say anything negative about my body in front of my children, and I try to honour the place that grew my two littles. It’s not always easy. Some days I just look in the mirror and sigh. I know that they won’t be little forever and the day where I can make myself a priority again (at least for a few hours a week) will come.
But in the meantime, I can’t let their childhood be documented in my absence. And truth be told with proper posing even someone who isn’t thrilled with how they look in the mirror, can be quite pleased with how the camera treats them.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with how you look, and realistically there isn’t really anything wrong with how I look either, I just don’t like it. And pretending that I should just get over it won’t change that fact. Maybe, like me, you’re working on loving yourself a little more, and that’s awesome. But as we do that, can we just take some pictures of us that don’t make us cringe?
xoxo
Carrie
Great great post! This is super true and every woman struggles with body insecurities! You can do it, you are beautiful!
Beautiful post! You are beautiful. Keep loving who you are!
A good reminder and you are beautiful!!
I think you’re totally awesome!
Ladies and gentlemen… my amazing husband! Thanks honey xoxo
What a beautiful and encouraging post. Your vulnerability is so powerful and it gives courage to us to be proud of who we are and celebrate our beauty, no matter our shape and size. Thank you, Carrie! xo
I think every woman in the world feels the same way. It is something we all struggle with. You are a total beauty and obviously in more ways then one by putting yourself out there with this blog post!
True that, sister! Everyone has their own insecurities and things they’d like to change about themselves. I know I do! Thanks for sharing.
You are gorgeous and your baby will love that photo one day
I love the images you shared. Be gentle to yourself. Bringing sweet little ones into this world is WORTH the sacrifice and your body will get there…..=)
We all definitely struggle with this. I found a huge difference when I stopped looking at “women’s” magazines. Now it’s been so long that I think I’m immune to them
Stop hatin’…. you’re beautiful <3
I love everything about this post. The photo of your breastfeeding is absolutely beautiful – it made me a little teary eyed:) It’s so true, as mom’s we need to get IN the photos. Even as a photographer myself I struggle with that as well…so thank you for this!
Wow did I need to read this!!! I am having such a struggle with this right now as well! I never had a problem with weight until I got pregnant with my now 2 year old son and gained 50 lbs!! I feel like a whale now and I’ve never felt like this before! And like you I hide from the camera!! I really needed to hear this! : ) Thanks for sharing!
Amanda, be kind to yourself! Your body will continue to change, but you’ll never get these years back with your baby
You are so beautiful!!! Your honesty is so amazing as I know this must have been hard to put out there.
You are gorgeous!!!
Thank you for Putting this out there. I struggled so much with my about me page because of my self image. I’m happy I see that I’m not the only one. Thank you !
Don’t we all? We all have something we don’t like, let’s focus on what we do
You’re absolutely beautiful Carrie. Funny that we just had this conversation today and here I am reading this post… We all need to learn to be kinder and more forgiving of ourselves. We also must not let our insecurities stop us from living our lives to the fullest. xo