I hate having my picture taken. Because I am vain. Vain, vain, vain. Also, if you took 100 pictures of me, I would put good money, and lots of it, on my having my eyes closed in 99 of those pictures. Except usually not entirely closed, more like half closed or three-quarters closed so I look not so much like I blinked but like I am either really stoned or have just been knocked unconscious and am only an instant away from collapsing to the floor in a heap. In addition, those 99 pictures would also feature my hair doing something weird or my mouth being half open or a camera angle specifically designed to make me look like I weigh 40 pounds more than I do. In the one picture where my eyes were open, I would have a massive coffee stain on my shirt and something in my teeth. Also, pictures of me don't look very much like me. You wouldn't think this would be possible, I mean, a photograph is a photograph, right? Only with me, not so much. Now it may be that I have an over-inflated sense of my own attractiveness, but whenever I see a picture of myself my first reaction is that I don't really look like that. (I am noticing the same thing with Mia - pictures of her have only a passing resemblance to actual her.) To sum up, I do not photograph well.
Which is why last night as Chris and I were looking for pictures of Mia to foist off on unsuspecting relatives as Christmas gifts, I was shocked to discover a picture of me from Thanksgiving where 1) my eyes are entirely open, 2) my mouth is closed, 3) other than a small piece in front of my eyes my hair looks ok, and 4) I actually look like pretty much what I look like. So, I thought I would share.
Also, my god but I have a beautiful baby.
Comments (49)
What a gorgeous photo! I wish I had one like this with my beautiful baby. This needs to be framed, for sure.
Posted by JuJuBee | December 19, 2005 9:00 AM
That is a great, great photo. You both are gorgeous.
Posted by Polichick | December 19, 2005 9:29 AM
I know what you mean, I cringe every time I look at pictures of myself.
What a beautiful picture of you and your daughter!
Posted by Beth in StL | December 19, 2005 9:38 AM
awwww two cuties in one shot. What a lucky man Mr. Cactus is.
Posted by Jeff A | December 19, 2005 9:58 AM
Great picture! You're both fabulous.
Posted by Julie | December 19, 2005 10:21 AM
You both are beautiful. I love the pic!
Posted by crystal | December 19, 2005 10:25 AM
I don't like pictures of myself either. Mostly because of the airbrush gnomes. See, every time I have a picture taken, the gnomes rush into the camera and airbrush in a double chin. Honestly, I don't have a double chin, it's just the gnomes. Maybe they live in your camera too (airbrushing in closed eyes instead of a double chin, maybe it's a regional thing) and were caught unaware when this picture was taken.
Posted by Cassandra | December 19, 2005 10:42 AM
gorgeous pic!
i have the same issues. my eyes are always half-mast in pictures and it annoys the crap out of my husband to the point where he won't retake the picture to get a nice one...so, we have about 0 pictures of me.
Posted by ali | December 19, 2005 11:02 AM
I have the same problem! I look hideous in pictures. I am usually making the face of a frustrated serial killer.
Honestly though, I have yet to see a bad one of you.
Posted by shannon | December 19, 2005 11:20 AM
That is a GREAT photo! So beautiful, both of you!
For some reason, people always take pictures of me when I'm chewing something. My cheek is all puffed out with food and my lips are twisted at some freakish angle. It is quite distressing.
Posted by Eulallia | December 19, 2005 11:30 AM
Beautiful - both of you.
Posted by MoMMY | December 19, 2005 11:37 AM
Awww, very pretty.
Here's a little tip for my fellow double-chin makers. When you are actually posing for a photo, tip your chin downward slightly. You can practice finding the right angle while looking in the mirror. It seems counterintuitive, but it works.
Happy Holiday photo taking!
Posted by Jaycie | December 19, 2005 11:40 AM
You DO have a beautiful baby! She's totally upstaging your hotness.
Posted by Dawn | December 19, 2005 11:47 AM
Gorgeous!
Posted by liz | December 19, 2005 12:56 PM
that's a great picture.
Posted by Heather B. | December 19, 2005 1:03 PM
You are both absolutely gorgeous, of course. Chris is a very lucky man.
Posted by Heather | December 19, 2005 1:05 PM
Great picture--but the baby, she is HUGE! Like dwarfing-the-mama huge! Of course, I'm sure it's just a camera trick, but what a huge, beautiful baby and tiny, little, gorgeous mama! :) :P
Posted by wavybrains | December 19, 2005 1:44 PM
That is a beautiful picture!
Posted by Kelley | December 19, 2005 1:54 PM
The tip for the double-chin avoiders only works if you don't have a big nose. Of course, when looking at a picture of myself, I look directly at my nose first to assess how gigantic it looks in the picture. Unfortunately, smiling makes it look bigger, and tilting my face down makes it look endless. So I have to keep my chin up. Double chin or big honkin' nose? It's one or the other. If it's both, I burn the picture.
Posted by Tammi | December 19, 2005 1:55 PM
Totally cracking up because that is exactly what happens to me in every single photo!
This picture is excellent! You and Mia are totally, completely, and in all other ways gorgeous!
Posted by Ms.Q | December 19, 2005 2:08 PM
sweetie, you's both purty.
I hear ya on the self pix... I never ever like my pictures. When I smile I close my eyes. When I don't smile I look like "nostrils flared woman".
No hope there.
Happy First Christmas Mia.
Posted by speckledpup | December 19, 2005 2:30 PM
What a beautiful pair. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Isabel | December 19, 2005 3:58 PM
Every photo of me seems to emphasize my double chin. That is a great photo of you both! I would definitely frame it.
Posted by erika | December 19, 2005 4:56 PM
Awwwww, she makes my heart melt! I can't believe she's grown! It seems like yesterday Mr. RC spoke about becoming a father.
Posted by mrsmogul | December 19, 2005 5:50 PM
such a lovely photo :)
Posted by Emily | December 19, 2005 5:54 PM
such a lovely photo :)
Posted by Emily | December 19, 2005 5:54 PM
What a beautiful picture! Really! This is one you'll look back at and think, Wow, I look great! I am getting ready because tomorrow is my daughter's 29th birthday. I picked out a picture of her and I taken back then and thought, Wow I look great! See?
Posted by Maribeth | December 19, 2005 5:55 PM
This picture IS different than any you've shared with us before - I see what you mean. You're beautiful, Beth (not that any other pictures haven't shown your beautifulness!) and yes, you do have the most gorgeous baby.
Posted by samantha | December 19, 2005 7:30 PM
That's a great picture. She has your eyes.
Posted by Magnolia Mom | December 19, 2005 7:59 PM
Yup. You two belong together.
Posted by angela marie | December 19, 2005 8:15 PM
You're right! You have a gorgeous baby and you're looking quite fantastic yourself. That is a really lovely photo.
Posted by carrster | December 19, 2005 9:08 PM
and she? has some funky hair!
Posted by Pamalamadingdong | December 19, 2005 10:12 PM
Yes, it is indeed a flattering picture. You have such beautiful brown eyes...you should get Chris to take closeup shots of your eyes, or take pictures of the upper third of your face.
No I'm not a crazy stalker or anything, I'm just an avid amateur photographer. And when you take pictures, you don't have to pose for or be in nearly as many pictures. I"m usually taking the family photos. LOL.
Posted by Colleen | December 20, 2005 12:03 AM
Wow. What a beautiful photo! The two of you look gorgeous. Mia is a beautiful (giant) baby!
Posted by catbird | December 20, 2005 12:39 AM
TWO hot babes in one shot - what are the odds?!? ;)
i hear you on that "ew, that's not what i look like!" thing. thank god for digital, eh? i can keep retaking, and retaking, and retaking until my vain self is satisfied. hmpfh. ;)
Posted by Sarcomical | December 20, 2005 2:36 AM
I hate taking pictures too, but you guys look good!
Posted by Fraulein N | December 20, 2005 8:58 AM
This is a great photo of you and Mia. She's just so cute!
My photos never match my self image either. I blame my hair. Curly hair doesn't photograph well. Or I could just be delusional.
Posted by bad penguin | December 20, 2005 10:45 AM
Also, my god but your baby has a beautiful mother!!
Posted by Amber | December 20, 2005 10:57 AM
I know I never look anything like any of the pics we usually take either. That's why I hate having my pic taken! Very cute pic! You look great! Love how you sport the burp rag!
Posted by Sabrina | December 20, 2005 12:17 PM
Gorgeous. Both of you.
Posted by Marilyn | December 20, 2005 12:31 PM
Carly Simon, is that you?
Posted by kat | December 20, 2005 1:27 PM
You are both very beautiful. Mia has good genes. :-)
Posted by Lisa B | December 20, 2005 3:01 PM
you look like a teenager and her baby-- sooo cute!! hahahhahahaha-- adorable baby too-- so adorable!
Posted by 2FACED | December 20, 2005 3:36 PM
You are beautiful Beth. And so is Mia. She is getting so big!!!
Posted by ava | December 20, 2005 7:02 PM
Beautiful portrait.
Posted by Jade | December 21, 2005 10:43 AM
Do you and Mia have the same colorist?
Posted by verucaamish | December 21, 2005 4:00 PM
What a great picture. You both look wonderful. The relatives will be thrilled. Wishing you and the family a very Merry Christmas!
Posted by Frank | December 22, 2005 12:26 PM
you guys are both sooo cute ;)
Posted by lizabetty | December 22, 2005 6:59 PM
Beautiful picture! Gorgeous mom & gorgeous daughter :)
Posted by Sweety | December 23, 2005 5:21 AM