“Ugh…. I haaaaaate this picture of me!”

“O my gosh I look awful!”

“I’m soooo not photogenic!”

We’ve all heard it (or something along those lines). I’d be willing to bet we’ve all said it at some point or another. If it’s not 100% perfect, or completely airbrushed, we say it’s not good. We verbally beat ourselves down by beating down the image. It has become an epidemic…. And I’m tired of it. Y’all, we need to quit beating ourselves up! We need to quit fixating on the flaws. We need to quit tossing out decent or good photos because of the tiny things that we dislike.

Sure, let’s be real honest here. Not every photo you take is going to be the most flattering. Not every day is going to be your best hair day. Some clothing or make-up choices may need to simply be let go into the fog of memory rather than immortalized in an image. A bad photo is a bad photo, and that’s ok.

But that doesn’t mean we need to focus solely on the negative in what really are decent (or even good) photos. Just like anything else in life… We can always choose what we focus on. We can choose to see the positive. The pretty. The handsome. We can choose to not give the blemish, the tummy bulge or the gray hairs the power to pull us in. Let’s not let the decent photos be deemed bad because we can’t see past the few things we don’t like. For example:

This is a fairly good photo, but I admit I instantly focused on the fine lines around my eyes and the bags underneath them. Then I took a second to realize that I love the way my hair looked that day. I’ve got a genuine smile, and how can any photo be bad with that sweet baby girl in it?!?!

Again, not terrible, but all I could see at first is my ear sticking out of my hair like I’m some sort of elf. Also not a fan of my very sad lack of a tan… I need some sunshine in my life! But I’ve decided to focus on how my cheekbones look good and my earrings look cute.

Like I said.. I’m as guilty as the next person of having photos of myself that I (irrationally) don’t like. Photos where all I can see right off the bat are the things I think aren’t flattering. I’m still guilty because I know I’ve got worse photos of myself that I could have chosen for today’s post. But I’m making the decision that when I have that initial negative reaction like those at the beginning of this post, I’m going to try my best to flip it on it’s head. I’m going to find at least one thing in the photo I do like. I’m not talking about great light, or a great background, or perfect exposure or any other photographic skills. I’m talking about me. I’m going to find something about me that I like in the photo.

I’m not going to do this occasionally, or only when I have to do it publicly.

I’m challenging myself to do it every time. With every photo.

And I’m challenging you to do the same. 

The next time you take a photo, if it’s one you’d toss or you start to focus on the negative, I challenge you to put it out there and say what you decided to focus on liking instead. Let’s start a revolution of photo love. Starting loving your photos, and it will keep you loving yourself.

Use the #PhotoLoveRevolution hashtag on Instagram and Twitter so I can see the beauty you’re finding in yourself, and challenge your friends and family to do the same. Let’s work together to stop feeling like the only good photo is a “perfect” photo. Who knows, we really could start a revolution…

Share this with friends and family, especially the women in your life, and encourage them to join in the #PhotoLoveRevolution!!