Why are we all so self critical about our looks? I am one of the worst offenders. I struggle with this as much as the next guy. And many of my clients seem to struggle as well. I will take a photo of them that I love and I know all they see are their perceived faults and all I see is how beautiful they are. I wrote a little schpeel a few years ago about how I try to make people look their best, but it is not until I am in front of the camera that I can totally empathize with them with my own insecurities. And it is not just our own looks we are precious about. We want our houses, our food, our kids, everything to look perfect. I am as guilty as the next guy of this. But I long for reality as well. Real is just as, if not more, interesting as beautiful. Sometimes when I am on pinterest I am overwhelmed by the 'pretty' and get the kind of stomach ache I get after eating too many skittles. Don't get me wrong. I love beauty. I love the escapist feeling I get from looking at it. Like all is right with the world, but it can leave me feeling "less than" as well. Like I will never be able to keep up with the Jones', so why even bother trying? I know I cannot be that person—the one who looks perfect all the time, who is dressed up and coiffed constantly. Okay in reality I am the opposite of this. I buy my clothes at Target and Old Navy these days. I used to buy nice clothes and even $300 shoes back in the day. That is until my reality was more about spit up than cocktails after work.
It is hard for me to find my balance between comfortable and giving up. Some days it is hard just to shower. But I should make more of an effort. I will start by brushing my teeth.
Here are a couple of shots that my dear friend Mollie took of me the other day. Here I am in all my realness.
