I am sure a lot of you will agree that there is nothing wrong with wanting to look your best. For ages people have been using makeup, changing color/style/texture/length of their hair, shaving, waxing, painting nails, bleaching their teeth, finding cures for acne, stuffing themselves in corsets, wearing high heel shoes etc. to portrait themselves in a more flattering of ways. As a photographer, I strive to learn the best techniques to light my clients, to pose them and to retouch their images so that my clients can look their very best and feel comfortable being photographed by me in the future to create mementos of special moments in their lives. 

With a generous permission from this beautiful model, who was a part of my creative photoshoot, I show you these two images. Both of them are beautiful, but one has been elevated to an art form. The retouching of the image took close to 6 hours, but how much do you think this young woman would enjoy looking back at herself when she is in her 40s, 60s, 80s? What do you think the reaction of her children, grandchildren will be when they see her in this image? So many people avoid being photographed because of some flaws, and looking back at their lives, they turn out to be missing from all the family photos, sometimes for decades, because of blemishes, weight concerns, or simply aging...I publish this for one reason - find a photographer who you can trust to listen to your needs. If there are certain flaws that prevent you from existing in images now, let her know. A good photographer can help you choose most flattering clothes and colors/patterns for you, pose you in most flattering poses for your body type, choose lighting that showcases the positive and hides the negative, and retouch your images to bring it all together into one lovely keepsake of YOU, at this particular point in your life. Existing in images is what your friends and family would love for you to have given them for when you are not around. I often say to my clients: "You THINK you are taking this pictures just for you, but they are just as much for those who love you." Find a photographer who will listen to your concerns. Don't simply stop existing in the precious time that goes by so quickly.