You Are Photogenic
All photos by Devon Dadoly Photography
I’ve come to learn over the years that I am an experience based photographer. I prioritize the experience of the session - allowing and supporting the client to feel embodied, grounded and guided - over focusing on “getting the best photo”. And what inevitably comes from focusing on being in the setting and collaborating with the client instead of “using them” as a means to create great photos is true magic.
I asked some folks in my life “What does it mean to be ‘photogenic’?” and their responses were easily categorized into things that are seen (words like: pretty, and skinny) and things that are invisible (words like: authentic, confident, and real). Most of my clients have some hesitation around being photographed by someone other than themselves and most folks within that group experience the fear of “not being photogenic” and use that as a determining factor in not being photographed, if they want the experience.
Learning to “See Myself”
If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent some part of your life and a lot of your brain-space thinking of ways to look “amazing” in photographs (i.e.being photogenic). But in this pursuit, I lost something really important - the ability to truly “see myself”.. And not just how I looked, but a more holistic version of someone who is super embodied, confident, and grounded. Being photogenic meant changing myself in some way (posing, angling, sucking in) to look “better” on a screen than I do in real life, so that when I was having a bad body image day, I had a photo to remind myself that I am *pretty*. I thought I was using this curated collection of portraits to heal my body image, but was actually doing more harm than good when I realized I was ignoring photos that looked more “like me” or ones that captured an incredibly important moment of time and favoring the ones that looked “perfect”. I was perpetuating some fantasy of myself and my body by only exposing myself to the photos where I looked best, no matter how I was feeling about myself at the time. It was no wonder when I saw a candid photo of myself where my double chin was prominent, or my back was hunched, I deleted or ignored it. I have so few photos from joyous and important moments in my life because I was focused on rejecting parts of myself I convinced myself were disgusting, ugly, or unworthy of acceptance.
But now, after years of observation, my definition of being photogenic has evolved. To me, what makes someone photogenic is not how they look, but how their presence in a photo tells a story, or emphasizes a feeling. That being said, my sessions are focused on being uplifting, supportive, and collaborative.. Not a form of exposure therapy that forces you to love yourself no matter what, heal body dysmorphia, or be a replacement for therapy. My work is meant to be a tool for trying something new, learning about our bodies, and experiencing self-compassion.
The Work Can Start at Home!
Is there a photo of yourself that you love? Why do you love it? Where are you? What are you doing? Do you love it because of the way you look, or because of how you felt in the moment it was being taken? A bit of both? Now think of a photo that “looks like you”? What are you doing? What are you wearing? Is “looking like yourself” or “being photogenic” limited to just the physical aspects of the photograph?
There’s a lot of scary and vulnerable feelings that can come from visualizing yourself in a photography session. Firstly, We aren’t used to seeing ourselves from angles other than straight on - for instance, when’s the last time you saw a photo of yourself from the back, or lounging in a natural position that you do all of the time in real life? Queer Body Liberation Coach, Maggie McGill has excellent pointers for those wanting to expand their understanding of how their body works and move from the comfort of their own home!lients, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
PLEASE NOTE: My blog posts are written from my personal experience as a boudoir photographer who uses Therapeutic Photography techniques and Trauma-Informed Photography methods in my work. My methods and opinions may expand and change overtime. I am not a mental health or medical professional, nor am I a licensed counselor. I am not certified by any institution or organization to give medical and mental health advice.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Devon Dadoly (she/they) is a therapeutic photographer and multidisciplinary artist who specializes in body affirming intimate boudoir and portrait photography. Devon is an outspoken advocate for the fat acceptance movement, destigmatizing addiction, and uses a trauma-informed approach when working with clients. They have over 10 years of experience working with and photographing folks in recovery from addiction, sexual trauma and eating disorders.
