by Adrienne Ryan, Brisbane, Australia
Recently I was assisting a photographer as he photographed some beautifully ordinary individuals. I noticed how relaxed and open the people were. As we went on I came to realise there was a question silently being asked every time the camera was raised: “how much will you allow of you to be seen?”. I felt this myself when the camera was on me and I realised:
We choose how much of ourselves we allow to be seen.
Standing in front of a camera is like standing in front of the world itself with every eye upon us. In the face of the world and all its expectations we make a decision: how much to hold back and how much to let out.
“To be or not to be?” plays out in front of the camera…
and in front of life.
We’ve played this game for so long that it has become normal. When the camera was lowered the tension of how much to let be seen was relieved and people relaxed, until the camera was pointed again and the measuring returned. It is not a huge change, but a subtle veil that falls between subject and lens.
When people let themselves go and seemed to say with their whole being, “This is me – here I am, you can look at me, I’ll let you see all of me, there’s nothing here I am holding back or hiding or keeping tucked away”, it was exquisite and powerful to behold – like the full sun coming out from behind cloud cover. It felt warm, effortless, mighty, clear, unimposing and inspiring. There was no ‘on’ or ‘off’ button – they remained this way when the camera was lowered.
“To be seen or not to be seen?” is the question we answer every day in front of life… and the question is the same when we’re being photographed. Facing a camera is an instant way to feel how much we let people in, allow ourselves to be seen by the world, capturing how present, accepting and appreciative we are with ourselves. It is not about looking perfect, but being perfectly yourself. It is an opportunity to let go, to not buy into hiding or holding back a drop of the ever unfolding beauty of who you are.
Inspired by Universal Medicine and the work of Serge Benhayon
The Truth about Serge Benhayon 
When I find myself in front of the camera lens I feel a fragility in myself and I know I am the one who decides how much I allow the world to see me, the more I just let myself be, let the fragility be I start to feel a joy in myself which is lovely to share with the world as there is only one of me!
To me it is the expectations we have been brought up with that makes us tense up when we are asked to show ourselves. When we allow ourselves to align to the expectations of life, for instance how to be with our parents, at school, with sports, at work or any other situation in life we actually do not know anymore who we naturally are because we have lost that natural connection with our inner most. Our inner most knows exactly how to be in any situation in life, so also in front of the camera lens.
I can relate and fully understand this unfortunate reality we have created. I am applying for jobs presently with much opportunity before me – I like this statement “It is not about looking perfect, but being perfectly yourself.” What I like about this particularly in an interview (and being in front of the camera) is that I felt how in the past I have not presented myself with the transparency that will support me not only in life but in the instance of the job I am applying myself to be in. You are setting forth how you will be next either in the job or how you walk out after the interview into the world. Honesty prevails through presenting and showing the world what you know (how amazing you are) and what you do not know … why hold any of that back.
This is true, it is about letting go of our many veils and be seen in full when having our photos taken, a work in progress for many of us, ‘This is me – here I am, you can look at me, I’ll let you see all of me, there’s nothing here I am holding back or hiding or keeping tucked away’.
We have played this game for so long and it is time to drop it, ‘We choose how much of ourselves we allow to be seen.’ and instead to allow ourselves to be seen in full.
It is beautiful when there are no reservations or holding back when it comes to having photographs done, and being comfortable in front of a camera is a reflection of how comfortable we are with our own relationship with ourselves.
I still feel very awkward in front of a camera. I might try asking myself the question you pose, “how much will you allow of you to be seen?” The fact is I am being seen all the time, but when eyes are focused on me, I get uncomfortable. This is something for me to ponder on.
We choose how much of ourselves we allow to be seen. I know this too be true having spent most of my life in hiding, hiding my true essence. But happy to say I have outgrown this old need to hide,( believing I would feel safe) and hiding has no place or space in my body or in any area of my life!
It is not about looking perfect, but being perfectly yourself. Perfect for me to read today and super inspiring blog.
So well said Adrienne – I’ve found this to be true both in front of and behind the lens.
Spot on, Adrienne. Stepping in front of a camera is for many on a par with public speaking. How prepared are we to be seen? And what kind of gap exists between how much of ourselves we are prepared to show ‘on occasion’ versus doing so every day? Closing that gap is surely the goal if we are at all interested in letting the world know how glorious we are.
This is a great capture of the truth is a very relatable way, we all know our relationship with the camera and how much this exposes about us..what we are willing to share with others and the world. It brings awareness to the power of our every reflection. Love it.
I have also experienced the opposite to be true, when we allow ourselves to be transparent this gives another the permission to show themselves. We are always offering each other reflections and when we choose to let ourselves feel what they highlight we can discover much about ourselves.
I love this reflection Adrienne, so true. It is beautiful to feel the essence of the person captured on film.
Why would we want to hold back such loveliness?
A beautiful reflection upon the glory and true beauty that rests within every single one of us, thank-you Adrienne. To hold it back, to veil it and keep ourselves from being seen, is to deny that which we all, in truth are.
And so claim ourselves, yes, and celebrate all that we are – if we have re-found the great love within, share it without reservation, that others too may find their own inner spark re-ignited…
I like what you have presented here, it’s something beautiful to aspire to, to be all of ourselves in every moment regardless of who we are with or without cameras. It would first of all be an immense gift to ourselves.
Being aware of and honest about the subtle veils that fall between us being all that we are in the world, is where we will discover the power living our fullness, in all its glory. As it is our choice let go of the veils that obscure our light and instead surrender to be at one with the sheer magnificence of our Soul.
I love what you have offered here Adrienne for like in life, so many people make it about the outer appearance but in truth as you have shared, photography is about so much more. It is without doubt a great marker of how we are with ourselves and how willing we are for the world to see that. A great sharing.
With the support of Universal Medicine it has been extremely revealing to transform from a woman who loathed having her photo taken, to one who revels in letting the world see the love I am.
Adrienne for me that is so spot on what you have shared: “Facing a camera is an instant way to feel how much we let people in, allow ourselves to be seen by the world, capturing how present, accepting and appreciative we are with ourselves.” Facing a camera is the best reflection ever – as well the fotos you will get!
Thank you Adrienne. I realised in some photos that were taken yesterday that I was actually not bringing all of me to the picture. Admittedly I was feeling tired and weary but is this really an excuse to hide the gorgeousness that we are? Allowing that feeling deep within which in total allows for us to shine in our totality so even if it takes a few minutes it’s worth connecting to that totality if we are leaving our mark in a photo for perpetuity.
“We choose how much of ourselves we allow to be seen.” Yes, and as you say not just in front of the camera. But how are we in front of the camera? Does this reflect how we are in life? As a child I hated having my photo taken and would turn my back on the camera, ruining many a family photo. I was also only thinking about myself at that point. I still find having my photo taken difficult, but as i see the bigger picture I am more able to let go of the ‘its about me’ syndrome, and open up to a wider view.
This applies not only to being in front of the camera but when we are with all our family, friends, colleagues and generally going about our daily routine. How often do we enter a room allowing everyone to fully see us? How often do we work closely with our colleagues at work and allow them to fully see us? How often do we connect to our children, family and let them see us? The camera is the physical example. Could it be possible that our every moment is an internal camera still taking all those shots?
” It is not about looking perfect, but being perfectly yourself.” It is interesting that when we feel self conscious in front of a camera we are not appreciating who we are and perhaps are aware that we are so much more than we choose to share with the world.
We choose how much of ourselves we allow ourselves to be seen and this is very much how we live and play out our lives in hiding with all we feel and learn to be as we grow up .This becomes a constant and normal way to live but since knowing Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine we learn to be open and show who we really are and this is the greatest gift in the world we can give ourselves and the world every minute joyfully.
Thank you Adrienne for the great insight you share here about what being in front of a camera can bring up for us – I know this is my experience too! It is a great opportunity to get to know ourselves deeper and see how we react to being seen…
The simplicity and wisdom shared in this blog is very inspiring, I love it when people can allow themselves to be totally transparent in a photo – it can be deeply healing and supportive for all who see this.
Thank you Adrienne, this is a great reflection and marker for me to observe how much I allow myself to be seen in any given situation.
Another great blog Adrienne- and a great reminder for me today, to not dull myself down as I take myself out into the world but allow the grace and care that I have to be seen and felt by others as this is something that I have held back in case it is not accepted or rejected.
Yes I can relate to how much am I allowing to be seen. There is a guardedness and a hesitation to be photographed I can feel when a photo is to be taken of me. But at the same time a deep longing to be seen too. Of wanting to be connected to and with.
Another great observation Adrienne. Love it as it exposes so much about our self. I know for me I have always loved taking photos and disliked having my photo taken. It is just like being unable to speak up in a crowd or a big gathering. I can see that it is a control issue, all measuring is control. Thank you for this it is quite the realisation for me. . . very much appreciated.
Very true Adrienne – point a camera towards most people and they immediately want to present a certain image. The social media has encouraged this behaviour as people frequently post pictures of themselves and others but only to show a certain side of themselves as if to try and prove something. Yet the photos that draw me back time and time again are the ones where the veil is down and I can feel the pull of the person, almost as if their faces are a magnet – and it’s beautiful, regardless of anything else.
To be “perfectly yourself” is the perfect way to be. I love how having our photo taken can clearly show us whether we are being perfectly ourselves or not or are we trying to be someone else in our daily living with others.
‘It is not about looking perfect, but being perfectly yourself.’ An awesome quote and one that would immediately change the tone and feel of Instagram and Facebook were it universally applied.
Yes to calibrate or reflect the fullness of who we are. Very exposing of the choice we are making every time we choose the ‘subtle veil that falls between subject and lens.’
Yes the camera exposes where we are at with being seen ‘capturing them in their commitment or not to be all they are.’ Little wonder that so many struggle with being photographed.
‘Facing a camera is an instant way to feel how much we let people in, allow ourselves to be seen by the world, capturing how present, accepting and appreciative we are with ourselves.’ This is so revealing of the fact that it is not just about letting people in but how our relationship with ourselves is crucial to what we allow to be seen. I have spent a lifetime avoiding the camera’s gaze but now that I am feeling much more comfortable in my own skin I am more willing to let others in and be photographed.
So beautiful to read Adrienne, and very timely as I am about to have my photograph taken , I am feeling much more comfortable in my own skin these days and will ponder on your words, how much am I willing to let out and let people see. Thank you.
It’s a revelation to look back over even recent photos and see just how much measuring has been captured in that millisecond shutter motion. I can see it in the muscles in my face and in my posture. Poised for criticism, aiming to deliver ‘that look’ – the one that usually gets me through, to a ‘this is a good one’. But the camera as we know, never lies – and when we extend the fact of our measuring to understand that it’s merely a reflection of how we’re playing out our lives more generally, then it’s time for a serious rethink. Being bold enough to ditch the on/off button and just let the sun come out.
I find being in front of the camera a torture of sorts but your reminder to be “perfectly yourself” is a great piece of advice.
An awesome blog to re-visit Adrienne as I have just recently had some photos take of myself and I can often feel I am hiding and not willing to show my true beauty, so I can resort to smiling brightly which often is masking the truth of who I am. I love this line and shall take it into my day -‘It is not about looking perfect, but being perfectly yourself. ‘ – Such a beautiful reminder thank you.
If we allow ourselves to be seen during a photo shooting we receive such a beautiful reflection and confirmation of our own true inner beauty, when we look at our own photos. How healing to give ourselves appreciation and confirmation for our own inner beauty.
I just had a photo shooting last week and first i felt a bit hesitant but than there was movement i could do looking away and than look up in the camera. I started enjoying it so much just playing and being joyful me and to show myself as i am. This was such a great experience. Before i always thought i have to have a full smile when somebody took picture, wanting to look good or show myself from my best side.
This time i did not want anything just being. I have some amazing picture where i don’t smile and just look so openly in the camera, amazing. Honoring my own transformation as i was very shy some years ago looking in the camera.
Very timely subject for me. I recently had my photo taken and I felt rather uncomfortable. It was very exposing to feel the way I did. “It is not about looking perfect, but being perfectly yourself” – precisely; I could feel that there was a yearning to be seen in full, yet at the same time I held back not being able to trust in full, fearing rejection and judgment.
Great thread you started there Luke, and reminds me just how much work and how exhausting the alternative to just being ourselves truly is.
For a long time I thought, how does not being yourself have an exhaustive effect?
However when we get a taste of what we are really capable of, the prior does require a lot of effort to sustain.
A simple example could be we have a really good day. At the end of the day we freak out because our day was too good. We go rummaging through the cupboards to find snacks to ‘relax and take time out’. As soon as this effort is taken to ‘snack’ we lose the sense of the ‘really good day we had’. Yet to remain in our loveliness, that produce our really good day, only requires us to be (nothing more and nothing less), whereas to stop the sense of the loveliness of a really good day vices are need to be acted upon.
And there is a definitely a difference between being polished and professional, vs just being real… really you. Everyone can feel the difference, and of course the camera does not lie either.
We learn from young to smile when we are being photographed or sit straight or ordening our clothes instead of being ourselves. Your blog Adrienne has made me aware of this measuring which I still do when I meet people, especially for a first time, to make a ‘good’ impression so they will like me and then I can slowly drop the guards. A pattern from young that I can let go of and being myself while being photographed will support this process of letting go and being me from the beginning.
I was lost and didn’t know who I was. I had totally disregarded my body for as long as I could remember, my health was poor and my self esteem on a scale of 1 to 10 was at two and I was slowly commiting suicide by continuing to smoke tobacco.
Five years later after being introduced to Serge Benhayon, Universal Medicine and many people in the student body and by attending presentations and courses I slowly realised that I could start making new choices. I learnt that I could smoke myself to death or be a son of god and shine my light to the world.
Your blog exposes so much Adrienne – the many faces we present to the world, calibrating to what we think others want and or need to see, not being true to ourselves, and it begs the question why…Why do we choose to do this rather than be our amazing gorgeous selves – what decisions have we made about ourselves and the world around us that we will do whatever the outside wants of us, rather than be true to ourselves and trust what we know and feel to be true?
The thing is we are sold the ‘perfect’ image in many magazines that corrupt what is actually the truth of what we see. It is commonplace to fix up or photoshop to a point that a person has seemingly a perfect body, skin or hair. The result is many millions of people see this and think this is attainable and normal and chase this as a way to be, unaware that the image is manufactured.
That is gold Adrienne, I have never considered having my picture taken in that way. I know this is a blog I will come back to, but for today, I will see everyone’s eyes as cameras so that when I see a camera I don’t hold back any more than I do when I look into someone’s eyes. Thank you, what a way to start my day 🙂
What a gorgeous blog and insight into the world. Your observation around the photoshoot and how that also plays out in real life is completely spot on. I had not thought about it like this but when I do, it makes absolute sense. We measure all the time how much we let out and how much we let in. It actually gave me an opportunity to appreciate something of myself because whilst I know I measure, in photos I am quite open and ready to be seen. Which I made the connection that I am also quite open and ready to be seen in real life in many ways.
I had a photo-shoot last weekend with a professional photographer and it was absolutely wonderful. What I could feel compared to a year ago, when I also had my photo taken, is how much more at ease and open I was. Everything is seen and felt through a camera, and therefore on a photo. If I hold back my real self, then that is what is felt in the photo. We might think that we only use our eyes when looking at a photo, but we actually feel everything that is in a photo.
I was involved in a photo shooting the others day and we had to do several scenes and i did had difficulties to play a role in a scene or interact in group photos.
Than it came to portraits in nature. I was standing in front of a tree and just could be me-still a little serious. Than a got a little flower to play with and there was such a joy coming up. Being allowed to be me and play. I did not had to look in the camera, which i find challenging. But just to be there and play and being photographed was an amazing experience. Because i allowed myself to be seen in full in my beautiful essence.
Being perfectly ourselves is a brilliant surrender from within. It confirms to the world that yes I am indeed a son of God, here to just be me, simply gorgeous me.
Adrienne, what you have shared is so insightful. The camera is like life-how much are we letting people in or are the shutters partly closed. Wow! I can feel that when I am being photographed I do not show myself fully and maybe this is how I am during my day in my interactions. How revealing is that!
“It is not about looking perfect, but being perfectly yourself.”
So very true. With this approach a photoshoot will be a sheer magical and enriching confirmation of yourself and what you are up to.
I remember always being very shy as a young girl in front of the camera and I feel it’s because I was asked to smile when I may not have felt like smiling, or to look a certain way that didn’t feel true at the time. I’m feeling more comfortable these days in front of the camera but still a work in progress at letting myself be seen in all my beauty.
Doesn’t this apply to everything in life, not just in front of a camera … “It is not about looking perfect, but being perfectly yourself.”?
I have spent a lifetime protecting myself and not letting others in, from fear of being rejected, but in that rejecting myself. Every interaction with every person we meet in a day, we have a choice to let them see us or not, and how rich and rewarding those interactions become when we invite people in to see who we really are without holding any of ourselves back.
I am aware of the many faces that I have presented to the people I interact with on a daily basis, depending on what I feel will please others, and that I will be like and most importantly wont expose any of my hurts or get rejected. I have found this role-playing is an exhausting way to live as I’m not showing my true face and whom I really am. I am beginning to simply be myself more and more and what a joy it is.
‘To be seen or not be seen’ is about completely trusting myself that I am perfect the way I am, that there is nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of only a loving learning to drop the guards I have put on because I thought I needed protection.
It is true what you are reflecting for us all to ponder, Adrienne. How often do we look at a photo that we are in and are very critical of how we look? Maybe this is because we are seeing the truth of how much we are prepared to open to the world and in seeing that, we only see the ‘holding’ back. I am pondering how amazing we are and that by holding back we are choosing to be less and that is the reflection all are faced with when we meet them. Love your awareness Adrienne, thanks for sharing.
And when we do hold back who we truly are the whole world misses out on the gorgeousness we each bring and the reflection that life can be lived another way.
That’s so true Adrienne – being in front of a camera is a great reflection of how we are in the rest of our life; how much of ourselves we allow out and let others see.
Thank you Adrienne, this is so true! “To be seen or not to be seen” – it’s our choice, and I’m definitely not perfect as I have struggled a lot with being seen which has been predominately self-created through hurts and fear. When we choose to hide from people/ the world, I believe it’s also a bit self-ish and exclusive… For we are trying to protect and keep all our beauty to ourselves.
“Being perfectly yourself.” How beautifully loving and supportive those words feel. Thank you Adrienne.
Adrienne l see this in photos all the time. What youve revealed makes me ponder and wonder if maybe that’s what we react to when we see our own photos and we feel uncomfortable with the shot. We get a chance to see how much we are masking ourselves and we then react to how much we are holding back by not presenting the whole of us to our world.
This is a beautiful observation and revelation, Adrienne. I can so relate to this. The things I may try to hide are actually the things I know are in the way of me just being me; the self judgement and the need to look ‘perfect’. When I feel connected to myself and all around me, it’s super easy to be photographed. I love what you expressed here so much.
“It is not about looking perfect, but being perfectly yourself” I love this Adrienne. It is so common to look at the photo once it is taken to judge whether it is a good one or not, but is usually always being made about the physical and not whether it captures our natural self. A lot of people I have met also don’t like their photo being taken which is deeply revealing of how they feel about themselves.
Yes Vanessa and Adrienne. I never thought about photographs in this way and this blog opens my eyes. I have always resisted having my photo taken. It feels terribly awkward, having to force a smile, be someone who is not me, together with the compulsion to hide, to play it small. There is a lot here for me to pounder.
The power of women when they celebrate themselves in their fullness is awesome to watch.
Adrienne I love what you share about not looking perfect but being willing to being perfectly yourself. This says it all!
I am having a photo shoot tomorrow so perfect timing to read this blog now. I used to dislike camera’s and never liked myself on photo’s but that has changed. Yes, there might be some nerves there but I am actually really looking forward to tomorrow and to show all of me!
No one can hide when a camera is placed in front. We think we can, by putting on a guard that is masked by a smile or look in ones eyes, but in truth the fact that we are not shining our natural beauty (which is what we truly want to do) is forever a tension when we look at the result.
Well said Luke. There is another way to be. That simply being ourselves is our natural way of being. And the more we choose to honor the divine love that we are, the more we naturally shine with the joy of living this love where ever we are.
This is beautiful, Luke and Carola. It’s always a choice, like Adrienne is saying; to honour the Divine love we are, and the more we do, the more we shine, and allow the clouds to move away.
A gorgeous blog Adrienne – thank you. I absolutely agree that – ‘it was exquisite and powerful to behold’ when someone shows who they are in full. A beautiful reminder how letting people in inspires the same in others, re-building trust in choosing to shine our divine and glorious light in full. As who we truly are is amazing.
I have always felt awkward when I knew I was being photographed. It seemed to take forever for the photo to be taken. Just recently I had some photos taken and it was a very different experience. I feel this is simply because I am now willing to accept myself for who I am and not hold that back from being expressed. Really like this – “It’s not about being perfect but being perfectly yourself”.
Awesome blog, I love how tub made the link between the camera and it being the world as that’s how I’ve always seen it. Thank you
I have absolutely felt this in myself… when the camera comes up it’s like tightness or tension running through my body because I am trying to hide myself, even though, it seems it would be more natural and free flowing to just let myself be seen, let all of my qualities be seen and all of my imperfections. This is something I would love to put practise to.
This is so true what you are saying Adrienne. I have felt an anxiety that emerges when the camera comes out. You have beautifully explained why this comes about. Measuring how much of the true me will I allow to be seen. Ouch!
This is so true Adrienne. I measure how much of myself I am going to let out in life so I do not enjoy being in front of the camera. It truly amazes me how much I measure me being me. It is only in this measured protective state I have ever been hurt. When I am unreservedly me anything harmful just glides by. It doesn’t get in. How ridiculous then is a measured life?!
This is a very beautiful observation. Are we allowing everyone to see us or are we calibrating that what we show, a very good question to look at.
This is really awesome Adrienne! Although I have never thought we choose how much of ourselves we allow to be seen, inside me I knew it because I registered that I decided that every time I was photographed.
Thank you Adrienne. I take a lot of photographs of people and I am always amazed by how some people manage to blink just as the shutter closes. It is like they have a blinking superpower and it goes to show how intelligent the body really is. Someone can present with a big open smile but the truth is always told.
I also love the way you describe the on/off button. I feel we get used to ‘performing’ being all things to all people. I know I have subscribed to the belief that I can switch myself on and off as needed. I can feel how freeing and delightful it must be to remain constant, consistent and of course this way leaves no room for fear of ‘being seen’ as ‘being seen’ becomes a joy and is part of every moment.
Such a great blog Adrienne, recently I had some photos taken and I was aware of when I was holding back and not being open. I find the more I accept myself it is easier to have my photo taken and to ‘be seen’. I love this line in your closing paragraph ‘It is not about looking perfect, but being perfectly yourself ‘.
Working with people in front of my camera all the time, I can say you nailed it here. I really like the las paragraph- I could have not expressed it better.
Adrienne, simple and brilliant!
As a 19 year old I remember having my photo taken and something like a mask came over me without any conscious effort at all. It was very strange, as if something took me over to hide. Now I know that it is my accumulated past choices that decides how I am in front of a camera and it is good to look at photos of myself.
“To be or not to be?” plays out in front of the camera… and in front of life.” I love this Adrienne – such a profound simple question we can ask ourselves every day.
So many great quotes in this Adrienne, I love how beautiful it felt to read your description of people opening up to the lens and being all of themselves. How truly freeing to be open to life in this way, the choice is up to us.
Thanks Adrienne, I really love this quote – “Facing a camera is an instant way to feel how much we let people in, allow ourselves to be seen by the world, capturing how present, accepting and appreciative we are with ourselves.” Til now I hadn’t realised that having photos taken represented so clearly our relationship with self. I’ve always been a bit resistant to having photos taken and looking at photos, a lot to feel into still on self acceptance and self love.
This is spot on Adrienne, and always so interesting how people react when you point a camera at them. I know for myself there can be a moment of – ‘just give me a second’ as I find a magical new way to present my self – essentially getting something organised to portray – far from staying natural and light, playful and fun – which is me – and the me that deserves to have it’s day in front of the lens!
I fully agree with “facing a camera is an instant way to feel how much we let people in, allow ourselves to be seen by the world, capturing how present, accepting and appreciative we are with ourselves”. This is spot-on. Thank you Adrienne for writing this.
Thank you Adrienne. A very interesting article, a great way to see how much of me I am bringing to the world by looking at how I am in front of a camera.
Adrienne I LOVE this post, it’s so inspiring and so true. I realise now how measured and on guard I can feel during a photo shoot (and that the photo mirrors this too) when it’s all about the image wanting to be projected (often egged on by the photographer), rather than showing and allowing the world/observer of the photo, the real-whole-us. So when we are open and trust, just like a young child is, the photo is so much more alive and true looking. Accepting and allowing more of us to be seen and minus the self-judgment, delivers a photo that is more real and beautiful. Beautiful Adrienne.
A beautiful observation Adrienne. I have never shied away from having photos taken. But I have rarely presented me when I have had photos taken. The crazy smile, face pulling to create an image of how I am supposed to be or how I want people to think I am, rather than just me in that moment. “To be seen or not to be seen” is very appropriate.
What a fabulous and perceptive observation and such a true question you ask, Adrienne.
I can relate to what you share Adrienne and know that tension and veil you speak of when standing in front of a camera. It’s a great reflection to stop and feel how we are with ourselves in daily life. With deepening self-acceptance and self-appreciation it becomes easier to be more of me out in the world and to be seen and therefore easier to let myself be in front of a camera.
This is a great observation Adrienne. I know that when a camera is pointed at me I subtly put on a front of how I think I would like to be seen and realize that this instantly puts a screen in front of me to prevent me from being seen just as who I am. Your invitation to just be yourself is so true; “It is not about looking perfect, but being perfectly yourself.” Thank you.
The irony in life is all we really want is for people to see us for who we really are, yet we are measured or guarded about how much of us we let them see. We then blame people or feel hurt that they don’t fully get us. Yet if we are not willing to give others all of who we are, how can they be expected to see us in all our glory? Learning to let others see right into you takes time but the more we are able to develop trust and be ourselves the easier this becomes.
Yes Rachel it takes time to be rid of the “on and off button” of the camera. Being our true self means not having the need for a button ever again.
Great comment Rachel, indeed it is interesting that we place these demands on others, but as you say if we aren’t willing to be vulnerable then how will they truly get us? Letting people in is definitely a work in progress but one worth doing
So true. We expect the world/people to be a certain way before we take our first step to be that.
A really interesting point you have captured here Adrienne, of how we perform in front of the camera, can be a reflection on how we perform when the eyes of the world are focused on us.Your blog has given me plenty to ponder on, thank you.
What a wonderful observation “I came to realise there was a question silently being asked every time the camera was raised: “how much will you allow of you to be seen?” and in fact you noticed that when people shine and are truly themselves they remain this way with or without a camera pointing at them. Thank you.
You nailed it beautifully, Adrienne in writing:
‘When people let themselves go and seemed to say with their whole being, “This is me – here I am, you can look at me, I’ll let you see all of me, there’s nothing here I am holding back or hiding or keeping tucked away”, it was exquisite and powerful to behold – like the full sun coming out from behind cloud cover. It felt warm, effortless, mighty, clear, unimposing and inspiring. There was no ‘on’ or ‘off’ button – they remained this way when the camera was lowered.’
I never liked being photographed until recently. It was the permission I gave myself to be seen completely, and that how I felt inside was ok to share – that I can allow the light I feel inside to shine out when a camera is there – and that I love sharing me, the woman I am, with another that changed it (combined with a lovely photographer that supported the letting go of ideals of how I should/want to look on a picture).
This is an incredible way to observe how open, trusting sharing we are with the world!
I have often been confounded at how different the same person can look in a photo, even if I take the pictures seconds apart. I can feel how this is showing that IN ANY GIVEN MOMENT we have the choice to be closed or very open in sharing ourselves.
Adrienne, I especially love your use of the word “unfolding” here, as I feel it reminds/allows me to accept where I am right now; not cringe or try to hide that I don’t feel full, ready or all-of-me yet…as I so often have.
“…an opportunity to let go, to not buy into hiding or holding back a drop of the ever unfolding beauty of who you are.”
Adrienne, I love your writing and this is spot on. Being in front of a camera is the perfect time to see and feel how much we change when the ‘spotlight’ is on us. It is rare that we are just ourselves letting all be seen. You bring in a very different perspective here in the questions you ask about how much of us do we really allow to be seen in our day to day lives.
Lovely blog Adrienne, I love how you say ‘it is not about looking perfect, but being perfectly yourself’. We can never be perfect to all people but we can always be perfect in ourselves.
Inspiring Adrienne, thank you for sharing – ‘there was no ‘on’ or ‘off’ button’ – it is sooo easy to measure ourselves by those around us instead of simply being the same loving person with everyone regardless of what they may say or think. ‘Being perfectly yourself’ sums it up for me as well – it’s an awesome phrase as stops the need to be any more than who I am, and simply be.
‘It is not about looking perfect, but being perfectly yourself.’ Beautiful line and great reminder for everyday life too! From reading this it makes sense why I have never, until recently, liked having my photo taken. Thank you Adrienne awesome blog!
Yes, that’s the line that also jumped out at me jsnelgrove36. It has made me reflect on the fact that I really dislike having my photo taken. It certainly is a great analogy for how much of ourselves we want to reveal.
Amazing Adrienne. I have always enjoyed photography but never liked portraits for they were never real. Years ago in a park I had asked a couple with a big white alsatian if I could take a photo of their dog and they agreed… I wanted an unposed photo of the couple. Your blog has shown me that I have, without really knowing it, always tried to see people for who they really are.
Adrienne, I love how you expressed this topic using the example of being photographed and then saying that it’s not just about how we are in front of a camera, but how we are in Life, and how much we allow ourselves to be truly seen in the world. Speaking from past experience, I know that there are many different ways to hide our true selves – in what we choose to wear, how we walk and carry ourselves, how we talk, how we remain silent…
Adrienne, this is so timely. I recently had my photo taken and definitely held back, didn’t let myself be seen. And as you point out, this reflects what we do day to day – measuring how much we let in and give out. Crazy. And it is exquisite when someone lets down the guard and lets themselves be all they are – ‘perfectly themselves’ as you so beautifully expressed.
How different the world be if we all learned to shine and not hide, feeling that potential… Wow….
Thank you Adrienne, for your expression here. I simply love taking photos and yet when it comes to my turn to be photographed I would freeze… mmm Yes, what you have shared here is beautifully said. Only just recently I sat for a photo shoot – as soon as we let go of the ‘formality’, I became playful. I felt like what you shared “like the full sun coming out from behind cloud cover. It felt warm, effortless, mighty, clear, unimposing and inspiring. There was no ‘on’ or ‘off’ button”, so freeing, no holding back or hiding. It takes so much effort to hide and yet to be my joyful self feels so natural… how awesome is that!
As ever Adrienne Ryan, you shine the light on the shade to expose any negatives, thus allowing the full picture to be revealed! Allowing myself to be fully seen… there is still work to be done on this subject.
Awesome…
Adrienne – as they say “NAILED”… Wow!! And the reason for all of our complexities and lack of self worth.
Thanks for sharing your experience Adrienne. I wasn’t one for volunteering to be photographed and your blog has revealed to me I was scared of showing all of me to the world. My approach to life now is summed up in your quote “This is me – here I am, you can look at me, I’ll let you see all of me, there’s nothing here I am holding back or hiding or keeping tucked away”.
Awesome Adrienne. What a great observation and one I can relate to if I think how I have been in front of a camera in the past. I now feel to be seen more and it’s a work in progress to express all of me more fully. Thank you.
“It is not about looking perfect, but being perfectly yourself” – a lovely quote Adrienne.