To check what you look like before you leave the house, you look in the mirror. But have you ever really considered that that’s a “mirrored” image of ourselves? As in, it’s opposite to how anybody standing across from you sees you. It’s “the wrong way around”. So… mirrored, for a lack of a better word. That’s what we’re used to seeing. So a photo of us is bound to look different to what we expect.
But the more pictures we see of ourselves, the more we get used to how we appear to the world around us. That works for children as much as for adults. So whether you have any professional photos or just hundreds of snapshots of your life, think about how you can incorporate them into your home. Printed photos won’t just make your house feel more personal and cosy, they will also help all of you desensitise yourself to how you look. And with that, you’ll learn to accept and, over time, like more and more what you see. That’s how confidence is being built.
It’s not something you can force in a day but actively displaying images of yourself and your family in your home contributes to everyone’s self-esteem and confidence through repeated exposure.
So, as hard as it might feel some days, try and overcome the urge to hide from the camera and instead be present in the tangible memories your children will have of you growing up. It will benefit all of you in different ways. And future you will be so grateful to have these memories captured that tell the stories of your life.
Anja is an award-winning photographer for families based in Worthing, West Sussex. Her main goal with all her work is to instil confidence in her clients. She’s encouraging families to show up as their real selves in photos to help children grow up confident and knowing where they belong. Through authentic documentation of family life, she wants to take the pressure off parents to appear perfect and instead be real and present for their children. Find out more on her website and connect with her on Instagram.
