Seeing Your Body in Photos
The evolving journey of giving yourself grace for the way your body is photographed + trying to find that one good thing you like about yourself instead of immediately finding what you hate
Last week, I had a headshot session with my favorite headshot photographer in all of Los Angeles, Leah Huebner of Huebner Headshots! I’d prepped my three looks for the session to be very reflective of who I am today, and I’d baked my personality into each hairstyle and piece of jewelry - I wanted this session to scream “Megan.”
I’ve been really enjoying being in my body lately. I’ve had more moments of gratitude and joy than not. I’ve experienced less judgement and more self-adoration. Yet objectively looking at my body in these photos had me noticing perceived flaws about my body - my relaxed belly, the size my arms and texture of my skin on them, as examples. But the cool thing about noticing these imperfect parts of myself is I wasn’t sent into a shame spiral about how I might have gained a little bit of weight recently or should have held my stomach a different way to appear smaller or put my hands on my hips to elongate the soft parts of my arm; instead, I took a breath and searched for the things about these photos that I love - my big, natural hair, my genuine smile, my fun outfit, the fact that my body could take me to and from this session and allow me to be fully present with the photographer and confident in front of the camera.
It’s amazing reflecting on how far I’ve come - in my body image journey, since my first shoot with Leah in 2021, and with my confidence in general. I’ve done a lot of hard work, and I continue to do hard work, and this is the payoff: being able to look at myself in photos, take a breath, and understand my body is allowed to be how she is. And as long as I feel good and grounded and comfy in her, she’s good the way she is.
The reality is, I’ve never felt more like myself in photos, and I’ve never liked myself more as a human being. This combination, to me, truly feels like magic. I feel unstoppable and unshakeable.
While we’re on the topic of seeing yourself in photos, I did have an experience this week where I attended an event my yoga studio hosted - it was a rooftop yoga session. The view of the ocean was insane, I was there with one of my best friends, one of my favorite teachers was leading us through class, and I felt so cute in my new red set. Vibes were high.
Then, as class was gearing up to begin, I noticed there was a photographer taking photos of class. Which, from a marketing standpoint, I totally get and support! Also so cool to have photos of us all doing yoga together on a gorgeous sunny day on a rooftop overlooking the ocean. However, it was hard to notice those lovely things about us being photographed because all I could think was how my body was going to look in these photos. And for whatever reason, I was worried it would not be good.
I saw the photos recently, and while I was right - I did not love the way I looked in them, I took a breath and tried to give myself some grace. Of course I know my body bends and skin folds in certain ways while in the middle of a flow - yoga isn’t about making my body look good; it’s about making her feel good. Sure, I could have worn a black set or a unitard and probably ~*liked the photos better*~ but you know what? I’m glad I didn’t. Sometimes I need a kick in the pants to show gratitude for myself in photos even when I don’t freaking like the way I look.
Healing is not linear. Some days are easier than others. It’s an ever-evolving journey of working every single day to move away from self-deprecating thoughts and into self-appreciative thoughts. And this is an example that one is never “*healed* - healing is a process, a journey; it’s not a destination.
I know we all have a different relationship with seeing ourself in photos. I hope these thoughts I shared here help you give yourself a little more grace when seeing yourself in pics. If it’s hard for you, try - just try - to find one good thing about the way you look. And if you can’t do that, try to remember one good thing you felt or experienced that day. I’m hopeful that, over time, with repetition and more self-admiration, we’ll begin to make a natural shift in our brains to automatically look for the good instead of the bad.
In body healing,
Megan ❤️🔥
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While I’m not a licensed therapist, registered dietician, or medical health professional and cannot speak to body image topics from a clinical, trauma-informed place, I am an expert of lived experience. I’m an academic of my own body, and I’m passionate about facilitating conversations with other humans about their relationships with their bodies. I believe it’s important to continue conversations about healthy body image in creative spaces as a means to heal individuals as well as the collective whole. But just know the information presented in this medium is not professional mental health advice or medical advice, and any questions or concerns you have should always be directed to your healthcare providers.