Why I Actually Love Getting My Photo Taken

(Even Though I’m Usually the Photographer)



It surprises people when I say this, but I actually love getting my picture taken. Most photographers I know will tell you they hate being in front of the camera. They would rather be anywhere else. They feel awkward, stiff, hyper-aware of their posture, their face, their hands, their everything. And honestly, I get that. Being photographed can feel vulnerable and weird and uncomfortable.


But somewhere along the way, I realized that I really enjoy the experience of being photographed. Not because I think I look perfect in every photo. Not because I feel naturally confident in front of the camera. I love it because I know what it feels like on the other side.

Learning to See Myself Through the Lens


A big shift happened recently when I had professional headshots and branding photos taken. I wasn’t behind the camera—I was in front of it. And something clicked.


Being photographed that day reminded me how empowering it can feel to be seen, to be captured in a way that reflects how you show up in the world. It wasn’t about looking perfect or overly posed. It was about being present and letting someone else hold the frame for a change.


As someone who takes photos for others all the time, I know how much intention goes into creating images that make people feel confident and comfortable. It was refreshing—and honestly emotional—to be on the receiving end of that same care.


That experience made me realize that yes, I do love being photographed. I love having moments of my life documented, even if I’m not always the one orchestrating them. Sometimes I want to be part of the story, not just the one telling it.

I Don’t Always Ask for It — But That’s Different


Here’s where I think the confusion comes from. I don’t constantly ask for my picture to be taken. I don’t hand someone my camera every time we’re out. I don’t turn every outing into a content moment. But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy being photographed.


It just means I don’t want every moment to feel like it’s being staged or interrupted. I care about being present. I care about letting things unfold naturally. Sometimes I don’t want to shift the energy of an experience just to document it.


There’s a big difference between not making everything a photo opportunity and not wanting photos at all. I think that nuance gets lost sometimes.

Getting My Own Headshots and Branding Photos Was THE Reminder


I recently had headshots and branding photos taken. And instead of feeling awkward or self-conscious, I felt… good. Excited. A little nervous, sure. But mostly grateful.


Grateful that someone else was paying attention to me the way I usually pay attention to other people. Grateful to be on the receiving end of direction and encouragement instead of being the one giving it. It made me realize that I don’t avoid being photographed because I dislike it. I avoid asking for it because I’m used to being the one behind the lens. Being in front of it felt intentional. Thoughtful. Almost grounding.


Photo by: Melissa Helman Photography

Some of My Favorite Photos of Me Are Me Working


If I look at the photos of myself that I love most, they’re not always the polished, perfectly posed ones. They’re the ones where I’m holding a camera. Where I’m focused. In motion. Paying attention. Doing what feels natural. There’s something honest about those images. They don’t feel forced. They feel accurate.


And maybe that’s what I love about being photographed.


It’s not about attention. It’s about documentation. It’s about seeing yourself through someone else’s perspective and thinking, “Oh. That’s me.”

Some Final Thoughts


I think what I’ve realized is that loving being photographed doesn’t always look the way people expect it to. It doesn’t mean constantly asking for photos or turning every moment into content. It doesn’t mean performing for the camera or needing attention. For me, it’s quieter than that. It’s about appreciating documentation. It’s about valuing the idea that I existed in a moment and that it was worth preserving.


I love being photographed when it feels natural and intentional — when it feels like someone is paying attention in a thoughtful way. Some of my favorite photos of myself are the ones where I’m holding a camera, completely focused, doing the thing that feels most like me. Those images don’t feel staged or forced. They feel honest.


Maybe that’s really what I love about it. Not attention, not performance, but preservation. The reminder that I was there too. That I wasn’t only the one documenting everyone else’s memories, but part of the story as well. I may not always ask for the photo, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be remembered in it.