Category: Fashion

One of the things I mentioned in my All about BlogHer post was that I was able to visit the Flawed but Authentic suite. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I knew that they were planning to take photographs for an upcoming portrait book called Flawed but Authentic, Embracing Myself.

According to their website, “these photos will be less head shots and more creative soul-full images.” I was curious to try, because I am notorious for NOT liking any photo of me where I’m not beaming a huge, toothy smile. There is just something about my face that I think looks weird if I’m not smiling…

So, I signed up for a time and stopped by the suite.

There was an area set up for hand massages with doTerra’s oils, a beauty bar with jewelry to wear and makeup to apply, and a white backdrop for pictures. The photographer would hand an iPod to each subject to listen to as they were photographed.

While I was refreshing my makeup, I spied on the woman having her photo taken ahead of me – she immediately burst into tears upon listening to the audio.

Hmm… that’s a lot of pressure.
I’m not really a crier.

I mean, I cry but only for important things… like too much stress suddenly exploding out of my eyes, seeing my son get hurt, or a really engaging and sappy commercial. I was kind of nervous that I wouldn’t be able to ‘perform’ as they expected me to.

I mean, what if EVERYONE cried and I’m the hard-assed person who just stands there and grins at the camera?!

When it was my turn, I nervously walked up and inserted the iPod headphones into my ears. If you are interested in hearing for yourself, it was a mix of Amy Turn Sharp & Robin Plemmons (click on the links to hear).

The ones that I recall listening to are:

There is a reason that you’re here. Right now. Tonight, in this room. Go talk about it. Go tell everyone.

Think about the last time your toes curled. All the things that make you melt. Show me your soft side. Let your eyes tell the story of your heart.

It’s no mistake that you are here in this place with these people. Soak it all in. It will heal you.

The last one really resonated with me. Being at BlogHer with MY PEOPLE was something that really lit my fire.

No tears came, because I wasn’t unhappy.
Or watching a commercial with an adorable clumsy puppy.

The pictures turned out nice though. Even though I want to pick them apart (of course) I appreciate that they are just… me.

Thank you to Leah Peterson, Katie Gardner, Amy Turn Sharp, Robin Plemmons and everyone else who made the Flawed but Authentic suite something to remember. If you are interested in seeing all the photographs, check them out here.

Do you have a typical ‘pose’ that you do in all your pictures? Is there a certain feature that you’re totally fine with in person, but drives you nuts if caught at the wrong angle?

While I was a BlogHer last week, one of my favorite events was when I was invited to the #ReSPECKed suite by Speck Products.

I had a chance to hang out with Lindsay from Speck – she is so funny and sweet – while checking out the latest and greatest. One of my favorites was a phone case that holds three cards (like a license, ATM card and credit card), which I will be showing you in a review soon. I also have a giveaway coming up that I can’t wait to share with you.

After checking out the Speck products and browsing the Stella & Dot display (you’re not going to believe this, but I resisted buying yet another statement necklace!), I was invited to have a local photographer take my picture.

Tina Case, from Tina Case Photography (her website and her Facebook page) was AWESOME. I typically don’t do well when other people take my picture and prefer to set up my camera and do it myself. That way I can take a crapload of pictures and then just delete them all if I hate them. However, Tina was so professional and confident in her ability to pose me – she probably spent 15 minutes with me – that I felt like a total supermodel. I’m pretty sure that confidence followed me around the rest of the day too!

Yesterday, I got the email that my pictures were ready to be viewed and I was super nervous. I mean, it wouldn’t be the first time that I thought a photo session went well, only to see a picture that showed me much fatter and uglier than I am in my imagination. So I was pleasantly surprised to see three pretty darn good pictures of me. Actually, flabbergasted is probably a better descriptor word. I narrowed down my favorites to two and then asked everyone what they thought on my blog Facebook, Instagram and personal Facebook page.

I can’t believe almost 70 people gave me their feedback… THANK YOU! I added up everyone’s choice and came up with the clear winner. Which is funny, because my gut reaction when I saw the pictures was exactly the same as what the majority chose.

And the winner is:

I can’t even tell you how nice it feels to have a picture that I think looks like ME. No weird angles or odd squinty eye from the sun… just me the way I think I look when I hang out and talk to my friends with a glass of wine in my hand.

So thank you so much to every single person who gave me feedback on my new headshot and THANK YOU to both Speck Products and Tina Case Photography for making me feel beautiful!

 

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I was not required to write about Speck Products or Tina Case Photography. I just LOVED the experience so much that I wanted to give credit where credit is due!