Be in the Fucking Photo this Year

We take thousands of photos of the people and things we love. Our partners, our kids, our chosen family, our pets, our fucking houseplants. But when it comes to being in the photo ourselves? Suddenly we're camera shy. Suddenly we "don't look good in photos." Suddenly we need to lose ten pounds first, or our hair needs to be better, or we're having a bad skin day.

Bullshit.

Body positivity isn't just for Instagram captions

This is where body positivity and fat liberation meet real life. Because here's what actually happens when you're never in photos: Your chosen family has no memories of your face at their wedding. Your kids grow up and realize they have 10,000 photos of themselves but maybe 15 of you, and most of those are from ten years ago. And worse of all, they don’t have any images with you to look back on.

And for what? Because diet culture convinced you that your body isn't worth documenting? Because some asshole on the internet made you think you need to look a certain way to deserve to be remembered?

Fuck that noise.

Your body is worth photographing right now

Not after you lose weight. Not after you "fix" something. Not after you feel more confident. Right fucking now. Today. In your sweatpants. With your double chin. With your stretch marks and your scars and your belly and your realness.

The LGBTQ community has fought too damn hard for visibility to hide from cameras. Fat liberation also includes liberating yourself from the idea that only certain bodies deserve to be seen. Your queer family wants you in their photos. Your body positive journey includes actually being positive about seeing yourself in images.

What I tell my Seattle photography clients

Look, I'm a photographer. I spend my days taking pictures of people at Discovery Park and Hamlin Park and random creeks around Seattle. I photograph outdoor boudoir sessions for people of all sizes. I photograph queer families, polyam families, trans folks, fat folks, disabled folks, and everyone in between.

And you know what almost every single person has said to me? Some version of "I don't photograph well" or "I hate having my picture taken."

And you know what happens by the end? They see themselves. Actually see themselves. And they realize they were worth documenting all along.

Life is too fucking short

Life is short. Tell the people you love that you love them. Tell them what you love about them. Show up for your community. Fight for fat liberation and queer rights and body positivity.

And for the love of everything, be in the damn photo.

Because one day, the people who love you are going to want to remember your face. Your smile. The way you looked at that exact moment in time. And you're going to wish you had gotten over yourself and just taken the damn picture.

So this is your sign. Get in the photo. Let someone document you. Stop waiting to look "better" and start showing up as you are.

Your body is good now. Your face is good now. You are worth remembering now.

Now get the fuck in the photo.