Don’t Take My Picture
Photo by Melissa Breeland http://www.PoutyDiva.com
One of the primary things you will notice if you look at many photographs of me – I make weird faces and open my mouth a lot. This isn’t a recent development. When I was really little, I thought smiling was putting on a startled expression and throwing my mouth open as wide as it would go. For my whole life, I’ve been uncomfortable having my photo taken.
Doing wacky things and making ludicrous faces while being photographed has always been my coping mechanism. It’s also one of the main reasons you’ll usually see me with my own camera, taking pictures. If I’m snapping away, I don’t have to be in any of the photos, except for the random ones where I make a face or stick out my tongue.
When Melissa Breeland of PoutyDiva.com asked me if she could photograph me, I cringed momentarily. I knew that she was looking for sitters upon which to build some marketing tools, and I had been following along as she applied her creative touch to the various sessions she’d already posted on her Facebook Like Page.
I also knew that I needed some new photos of me. My hair has been red for most of this year; yet, I have still been using a professional head shot from 2004 when it was blonde and I looked much younger. I started replacing some of my avatars with a random photo that was okay, but, with bikers in the background, it wasn’t truly professional. So, I sighed deeply and agreed to be Melissa’s next victim, I mean model.
Melissa is a natural photographer, but the best thing about her was this: she made me feel okay with everything immediately. On the way to the Old Jail, I had the urge to throw up and knew the vestiges of that sensation lingered on my face when I got there. She quickly got me laughing, and I just relaxed into the whole thing. It was a breeze, leaving me wondering why I worked myself up so much in the first place.
So, thanks to her, I have a new picture for the “Why Cilantro?” page of this blog. It’s today’s photo. The rest are available at Melissa Breeland’s Facebook Page. She can make you look better than you really do in real life, and you’ll laugh all the way through it.
And, she may even let you make faces in some of them and then keep them entirely to herself.
I thought all the photos were great, she does some really interesting things. I have always hated how I look in photos, I guess it’s the difference in my own self image and reality…scary.
Let Melissa take your photo, Lou!! I’d love to see what she’d do.
she would turn me into a werewolf.
)
Only if that’s the look you’re going for.
Wow! Beautiful! And I know you and call you friend? Amazing.
I love this picture. Obviously Melissa does fantastic work and you are simply gorgeous. (Way to go MTM!!)
This is my favorite one, too. I love how she made me blue.
Oh, you do carry on so…but, thank you for the kind words. Much appreciated.
You’re welcome. And thank you for making mug shots fun.
Andra….you my friend have no reason to be “camera shy”. You are simply a beautiful person, inside and out. Embrace it !
Thank you, dear friend.
it’s a fantastic photo set. you’re more photogenic than you think
It was really fun to do, much as I dreaded it.
Eugene is right. You are really photogenic. Melissa’s images are superb and so are you. I love the way your hair shines and you seem so glad to have your photo taken. I, too, hate the camera.
Well, thank you. Melissa did a wonderful job with making me enjoy the whole thing. I think that’s the whole key to it.
Alright, already….good thing Melissa got some flattering shots in, since I’m not sure how she’d fit your head in the frame with all this fawning. Remember, this is the chick that went all giddy at the sight of Andrew McCarthy (https://icilantrocilantro.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/cilantro-me-pretty/).
MTM – Here head is kinda busting out of the picture frame up there isn’t it. We all trust that you will bring her back to earth some how.
See you Friday night? Do we need to alert the media of your coming to the event? Maybe a red carpet is in order?
He is coming. I promise.
Well, yes, there’s that.
Those pictures are simply awesome. You appear to be very photogenic. MGM is very blessed to have a beautiful wife who is beautiful both on the outside as well as the inside. Now that your head has swelled with all of the positive reinforcement from your friends please understand that I do not have you on some sort of pedestal. That is reserved for littlle ole me. ha!
I can relate to not liking the business end of a camera. I always hate it when some one snaps a pic of me. I am always worried the camera will explode. Lol. Hopefully this Time next year I won’t look like the Goodyear blimp any longer and the picture taking process won’t be so embarrassing. Lol
You’ll have to ask Melissa to take them, James. She makes it so relaxing and easy.
And make sure to wear you thong James!
I thought YOU were wearing the thong.
I just realized that I could click on the “reply” link and then it will put my comment underneath your comment. LOL… Errrrm, anyway, I am sure she would. The only problem is there is more of me than there is space to put me in. LOL… She probably cant do much about that but I am working on it slowly but surely.
And, you can subscribe to comments underneath the comment box on the blog.
No, I am wearing the pink hotpants. James is wearing the thong. Did we decide what you are wearing?
You look like an angel, love.
Thank you so much, Dena. It is so great when a photographer can make one feel angelic.
Nooooo, no pictures and NO Thong. Michael, you are a pervert for even mentioning it. LOL
It’s my fault. I mentioned it first.