Hiding Behind The Lens

I'm pretty sure I'm not alone when I say I'm much more comfortable behind the lens, than in front.

To be perfectly honest, I do not like having my picture taken. It makes me very uneasy. 

Over the past few months I've been getting a little braver, slowly finding some comfort in front of the camera. I have a long way to go, but I am working on it. 

How do you feel standing in front of the lens? Like it, love it, loathe it? Do tell! Please share your thoughts and images with us today.

Comments

[The F Girl]

Ugh. I used to hide behind the lens all the time. And I could. But then I got the silly idea to do 'what I am wearing' posts and all of a sudden I was the one in the image. Very uncomfortable. But, I have to say, it has been kind of liberating to do this. I notice how more and more I am getting at ease in front of the camera and I am starting to have fun with it more every day. I even want to go as far as to say it has had effect on all other aspects in my life too, somehow. I just had to let go of fears and insecurities and that really set me free.

Have fun with it!

[Marcie]

I run and hide anytime someone points their camera's lens in my direction. There are so many times I've wanted to challenge and stretch myself to be the 'subject'...but I'm not there yet. In the meanwhile - I'm still the one behind that lens:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2011/10/13/color-less.html

You're an inspiration to me - to try it!

[Lindsey]

I hate having my picture taken! I'm sure that my instinct to grab the camera in any and all situations is a way to avoid being photographed myself. For sure. xox

[Leslie]

Well, Kim, I generally hide behind the lens, too! The older I get, the more self-conscious I am, being super critical of my flaws. My daughter has started saying recently though that I should allow my picture to be taken more often, so maybe with her encouragement I'll be able to start doing that.

[Corinna]

I have really tried to come to a place of being more comfortable in front of the camera, if only because I feel like I need to understand how my friends and family must constantly feel since I'm constantly putting them in front of it. So I've been creating a few selfies lately, and I'm starting to come around...
http://www.birdwannawhistle.com/blog/2011/9/22/absolution.html
http://www.birdwannawhistle.com/blog/2011/10/13/three-six-five-oh-em-gee.html

[Kathryn Dyche Dechairo]

I'm so unphotogenic and much prefer to be behind the lens than in front of it.

[melissa]

oh yes, i resonate deeply with the immediate, natural instinct to see the lens and stand next to or behind it to avoid being in the photograph. http://bit.ly/opM5Wr

[koreen]

Definitely prefer being behind the camera! I really don't like my picture taken, particularly candids. THIS is what happens when I'm not paying attention and my second shooter is bored:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/koreenphotography/5978760840/in/photostream

[LeAnne]

I'm mostly behind the lens these days. I've been told a few times that pictures of me look better than the real thing. LOL But that doesn't mean I enjoy them. I like this image of myself taken this morning for a scavenger hunt project. I look slimmer in "black" LOL

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leanne8790/6243061643/

[Valerie]

No, thank you! Still carrying the baby weight. I run every time the camera comes out. But it is a deep comfort to be behind it.

http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2011/10/nature-walk.html

[Sher Mattison]

Wow! I'm not the only one that hates their picture taken!! I think its because the perception of myself does not match what I see in a photo..Ugh! I'd really like to overcome this..

[Anna]

Kim, I look much better behind the lens :) Happy day to you!

[Melissa]

I am much more comfortable behind the lens too!

[Libertad Leal]

Gosh I feel like a bit of a freak confessing this but I actually like having my picture taken. Crazy, I know! I am equally comfortable in front or behind the camera. I hope this does not come off as me being full of myself or something, it's just that I honestly have never minded having my picture taken and then I married a photography lover so the camera is constantly pointed at me haha. Then got into photography and started doing self portraits and I grew to really love it. It's very liberating and an exercise in acceptance and self love. I highly recommend it. To wit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/sets/72157623271063003/

[Shawna]

I'm a freak - I love having pictures taken of me... as long as I can decide which ones are deleted, and process the ones that make the cut.

[Kate Giovinco Photography]

I really don't like getting my picture taken but I am working on that.

[Ana Eugenio]

I'm also more comfortable behind the lens. I always think other people look more pretty than me. since I started doing photography sessions with young women and families (I do them for free, just to have a chance to practice) I decided to start doing selfies too, because I think I've to be comfortable in front of the lens to understand better how other people feel when I shoot them.

if you wish to see how I look (goofy), go here: http://www.anasofiaeugenio.com/search/label/selfies
if you wish to see beautiful people, go there: http://www.anasofiaeugenio.com/search/label/photography%20session

Kim, you look awesome! don't hide yourself :) I really enjoy seeing you!

[Sandee]

Great photo! I love the way you're peeking out from behind the camera. Much more original than my take...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34977978@N05/6216050190/

[gail]

I recently traveled to China to go to the 11th annual Pingyao International Photography Festival. I was repeatedly approached by young Chinese men and women, asking to have their picture taken with me. I am very unphotogenic and usually avoid being in front of the camera at all cost. After a while I decided to just enjoy the interaction, as I met many friendly people.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/felucca2008/6243628171

[Kelly]

Here's how I feel about it!!!
http://kelly-justaclickaway.blogspot.com/2011/10/comfort-level.html

[shirley]

Timely post, Kim. I recently started a self portrait challenge - 30 photos in September.
And because of it, I'm finding it's not so bad being the subject of the photo.
A friend of mine recently dealt with the sudden loss of a friend and when it came time for the funeral, she remarked how he was always the one taking the pictures, not being a part of them. After that, I've vowed not to be as camera shy.
http://www.shirleybehindthelens.com/2011/10/self-discovery.html

[NatsterNat]

I'm like the majority of commenters here... I prefer to be behind the camera then in front of it. I do sometimes take self portraits, and although it's not my full face or in focus, this is still one of my faves...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58861148@N02/6244967508/in/photostream

[kathryn]

ummmmmm...that would be yes!! see for yourself!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathrynhansen/5076024802/in/set-72157625025526865

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[Lori M]

I really don't have an objection to having my picture taken, but I'm the one who is always taking the pictures. I try to make a concious choice to have my husband or kids, now that they are teenagers, to take photos with me so that there is a record of me when I'm gone! My mom died about 11 years ago and there are not a lot of pictures of her, I'm finding. You realize how valuable those photos are after someone is gone! So get in front of the lens' ladies!!

[Doris]

I hate to have my photo taken too. Please, please put me behind the lens.

I do like this photo, though. Sorry, it's just my gravatar image. I don't have it published elsewhere. But if you've visited my blog, flickr or twitter you've seen it.

Taken by my 19 year old daughter at the beach last summer. It reminds me of a walk we shared, just the two of us talking about her going away to college. A wonderful memory.

http://en.gravatar.com/dorisrudddesigns

[Helene]

Standing in front of the lens.....one word comes to mind - self-concious. Ugh!

[Andrea]

Definitely prefer to be behind the camera, though I'm even shy to pull out the camera many times when I want to. Fear of drawing attention to myself I think.

[bettie]

Like many of us, I hate, hate, hate having my picture taken and am overjoyed when there is a nice shot of me. I treated myself to a self care day on Friday and I felt so good (and my hair looked so lovely) that I actually took a few self-portraits with my phone. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettienew/6250593241/in/photostream

[Val @ Mental Chew]

I really hate having my photo taken, but it was captured indirectly while I was snapping this "moment". http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n517/mentalchew/IMG_8422.jpg

It is a two part photo....here is the first: http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n517/mentalchew/IMG_8421.jpg

[reb]

i'm definitely more comfortable behind than in front of the camera...but i think you can get some good self-portraits behind the camera as well. especially in creative ways. :)

http://www.humbleplacesphotography.com/2003/11/28/green/

[Brooke Shadburne]

I know exactly how you feel. I work as a wedding photographer now, and spend most of my time trying to make people feel more comfortable in front of a camera. Just the other day, though, I was trying to take some self portraits to put on my website and I found that I did not know what to do when I was in front of the camera. I had no idea weather to look at the camera or look away, and the placement of my hands was also quite hard to figure out.

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[booklet printing]

people say i do not look good in front of camera or like i do not have a photogenic face and that made me uncomfortable now in front of camera. I happen to very conscious in front of camera.

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[Gerry]

i think youI look much better behind the lens.. :D :D :-)
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