Lovely. I too did a bit of modelling when I was younger and I wanted nothing more than to be a model. Something I look back in real surprise to now. I can't believe how much we change as we grow older! My daughter has never shown any interest in it, but prefers to be on the other side of the camera. Your daughter is beautiful and how rewarding to see that confidence. Lovely writing.
I love everything about this post: the vulnerability, the protectiveness, the movement through internalised ideas of what it is to be viewed, the love, the understanding. A fantastic piece of writing.
There's so much in here Lindsay - I love the nuances you hold with regards to the worry and pride we have in our kids. And there was so much subtext ih your description of your mum and her decisions around the photos. Your daughter looks incredible and do you know what, SO DO YOU! of course there's a real vintage vibe to your pics - but you look so beautiful and you can see the Lindsay essence in that girl.
This is so interesting on so many levels. I marvel at how, when I ask the youngest for a photo with her friends they know immediately how to drop a hip, subtly rearrange their faces and pose for an almost always flawless photo. Me on the other hand….I had zero body confidence when I was a teen, struggle now, hate most photos of me and find this all fascinating. I hope she enjoyed it, sounds like she did and that you find a way of being in this world with her that isn’t too challenging. Makes for great characters and story ideas tho’
Yes! They know exactly what they're doing, don't they. I am kind of glad I didn't have a clue back then what looked "good" or how to make my face and body do it. Only kind of though!
Loved the storytelling and interweaving of different timelines in this piece! I had a very clear narrative in my head as a teen which was 'red hair = not attractive' so no modelling head shots in my personal history (I want to go back and give teenage me a big hug and also burn down some parts of 1990s popular culture). I took Art at A-level though where we spent many lessons doing life drawings of each other (clothes on!). I hated every drawing of me at the time, but I remember looking through an archive of those drawings with a friend when we were in our mid 20s and marvelling at how we'd managed to catch something real and true of our younger selves on the cusp of adulthood.
I love the thought of those drawings, Ellen. I bet they were really evocative and true in the way that young people's artwork often is. We lose that I think as we get older. And yes, fuck the 90s!
Oh gosh! This takes me back quite a few years to having my own photos taken as a teenager. A friend was studying photography at the time and decided to enter one of the shots into a competition. I remember feeling so embarrassed about the whole thing, but I can look back with kinder eyes. Glad you were able to do the same. And glad your daughter was able to navigate the whole situation with ease!
Loved this. I had my photo taken yesterday funnily enough. I was on a retreat day and a friend wanted to photograph us individually as a keepsake. I was against it at first. I was feeling tired and washed out. But I went for it. My friend relaxed me and kept softly saying you're beautiful. You're beautiful. She captured a photo of me that looked really natural in the end. The key is relaxing into who we are. Thank you for your wonderful storytelling. I can never resist reading it early Sunday morning with my tea.
What is it that makes us fear the solo shot so much, I wonder. The ones we're not in control of, perhaps the most? So glad that you had the photo taken and that it showed you relaxed and happy in yourself. I love your piece to camera style stuff on IG, you know. Wonder if you'd bring that feature over here? X
Lovely. I too did a bit of modelling when I was younger and I wanted nothing more than to be a model. Something I look back in real surprise to now. I can't believe how much we change as we grow older! My daughter has never shown any interest in it, but prefers to be on the other side of the camera. Your daughter is beautiful and how rewarding to see that confidence. Lovely writing.
I love everything about this post: the vulnerability, the protectiveness, the movement through internalised ideas of what it is to be viewed, the love, the understanding. A fantastic piece of writing.
There's so much in here Lindsay - I love the nuances you hold with regards to the worry and pride we have in our kids. And there was so much subtext ih your description of your mum and her decisions around the photos. Your daughter looks incredible and do you know what, SO DO YOU! of course there's a real vintage vibe to your pics - but you look so beautiful and you can see the Lindsay essence in that girl.
This is so interesting on so many levels. I marvel at how, when I ask the youngest for a photo with her friends they know immediately how to drop a hip, subtly rearrange their faces and pose for an almost always flawless photo. Me on the other hand….I had zero body confidence when I was a teen, struggle now, hate most photos of me and find this all fascinating. I hope she enjoyed it, sounds like she did and that you find a way of being in this world with her that isn’t too challenging. Makes for great characters and story ideas tho’
Yes! They know exactly what they're doing, don't they. I am kind of glad I didn't have a clue back then what looked "good" or how to make my face and body do it. Only kind of though!
Loved the storytelling and interweaving of different timelines in this piece! I had a very clear narrative in my head as a teen which was 'red hair = not attractive' so no modelling head shots in my personal history (I want to go back and give teenage me a big hug and also burn down some parts of 1990s popular culture). I took Art at A-level though where we spent many lessons doing life drawings of each other (clothes on!). I hated every drawing of me at the time, but I remember looking through an archive of those drawings with a friend when we were in our mid 20s and marvelling at how we'd managed to catch something real and true of our younger selves on the cusp of adulthood.
I love the thought of those drawings, Ellen. I bet they were really evocative and true in the way that young people's artwork often is. We lose that I think as we get older. And yes, fuck the 90s!
Oh gosh! This takes me back quite a few years to having my own photos taken as a teenager. A friend was studying photography at the time and decided to enter one of the shots into a competition. I remember feeling so embarrassed about the whole thing, but I can look back with kinder eyes. Glad you were able to do the same. And glad your daughter was able to navigate the whole situation with ease!
Oh, Sarah we need to see evidence!!!😘
Not on t’internet pal. Will DM you 😂
Loved this. I had my photo taken yesterday funnily enough. I was on a retreat day and a friend wanted to photograph us individually as a keepsake. I was against it at first. I was feeling tired and washed out. But I went for it. My friend relaxed me and kept softly saying you're beautiful. You're beautiful. She captured a photo of me that looked really natural in the end. The key is relaxing into who we are. Thank you for your wonderful storytelling. I can never resist reading it early Sunday morning with my tea.
What is it that makes us fear the solo shot so much, I wonder. The ones we're not in control of, perhaps the most? So glad that you had the photo taken and that it showed you relaxed and happy in yourself. I love your piece to camera style stuff on IG, you know. Wonder if you'd bring that feature over here? X