Serious Saturday: Untagging and the Ugly-Denial



A pretty, airy dress for the incredibly hot and summery days we've been experiencing here, a girly hairdo and my straw bag: I'm prettttty sure you'll be seeing me in similar looks all summer. 

By the way, here's a few pics of me with my mum and my awesomely stylish sis whose hair I envy with the fire of a thousand suns.


Obviously crazy runs in the family.

Now, to get to the serious part of my post: when I was browsing the pics that were taken of the three of us, one pic stood out to me because it was particularly unflattering and funny. Normally, one would just move their finger to the "trash" icon to delete and forget it ever existed, but I stopped to think twice. Let me get to the point: I have no problems with unflattering pics. I never untag on facebook. I always feel like it's really rude to untag yourself in a pic one of your awesome friends put online, since those pics aren't about putting your beauty on a pedestal, they're about the great times you had together and about the memories. Why would you want to delete a memory because it gave you double chins? 

Encountering this particular picture drove the point home to me even further. I thought it was a funny pic, and it reminded me of the fun I had when taking the pictures. Does it surprise you that I actually LIKED a picture of me that featured my double (or actually triple) chins? Well, hold on to your seat. I actually made it my profilepicture on facebook. Yep, when my friends browse my profile, they will see this picture to represent me.
My boyfriend told me to change it. A friend commented that I was being very brave. I couldn't help but wonder (HA Carrie Bradshaw I can do this too): why is it brave to show the world imperfection? For all this universal ragging on photoshop on magazines, on how real beauty is on the inside and on how we are more then our pretty faces, we certainly seem to have another few years to drive until we arrive at REALITY-ville. 

We have all seen pictures like these: in our culture where every 8 year old has a camera and most teenage girls spend their free time constructing The Cherry Blossom Girl-esque photodiaries of them frolicking in idyllic fields, almost everyone has seen hundreds or even thousands of photo's of themselves. Actually, most of us even see ourselves in the mirror a couple of times a day! And yet, it doesn't seem to get any easier to accept the fact that we don't always look perfect.  

This is a pertinent question both for bloggers and regular social media users: bloggers use photoshop. I have to confess that yes, I use photoshop too. It's hard to draw the perfect line between being real and presenting an appealing, inspiring image to my readers, since my blog IS about prettiness too. However, I promise you that I limit the photoshopping to a minimum. I hardly ever use it to alter or enhance my appearance, and if I do it's to remove a zit in a close up, or bags under my eyes in poorly lit shots. I don't see it as that big a problem, but I do feel the need to tell you guys that all those people who SEEM perfect actually have their minor flaws too. Imperfection doesn't need to be a bad thing, it's just a reality we all need to confront.

We feel society's eye on our red eyes, wrinkles, zits, eye bags, fat rolls, greasy hair and double chins, and we RUN to untag or delete. Well, let me break it to ya: EVERYONE has a double chin when they pull their head into their neck like a goofy turtle. EVERYONE gets zits in stressful times. EVERYONE has fatrolls when they bend over, and guess what: everyone's hair gets greasy. Why do we still feel ashamed of things that are UNIVERSAL? Why are we so afraid of ugliness? 

I got a surge of inspiration and immediately put up a new status on my facebook, asking my friends to participate in UGLY PROFILEPICTURE DAY. Three of my lovely friends immediately joined me in my protest against ugly-denial. Mine is still up, and that doesn't disturb me one bit. People who know me also know what I look like: the good, the bad AND the ugly.

My opinion is that since not being pretty/perfect/appealing/whatever isn't a crime, I have no desire to untag or feel ashamed of a bad picture. Even if my face looked like this every.single.day, I should not feel ashamed of it. Because yes, we ARE more than a pretty/ugly face. Not looking our best will not make you unworthy of respect or love. And looking an unflattering picture in the eye might make you realize that in fact, things aren't as bad as you thought they were. Actually, when I look at my ugly pic now it doesn't even look that ugly to me anymore. Guys, this is my face. And I love every single chin.


Now who's with me? :-) Are you ready to embrace your ugliness, and for the bloggers: do you photoshop and what are is your stance on blogging and photoshopping?


dress: New Look
wedges: Sac d'Anvers
bag: Pimkie
headband: don't remember


PS: another reason I love Lady Gaga: girl isn't afraid to look ugly. Fuck sex appeal, fuck cute, fuck pretty. My body doesn't need censorship. Because that's what you're doing when you untag: you are censoring certain sides of yourself. Give your body freedom of expression, even if what it has to say is ugly! :-D

77 comments

  1. i love how you dont care if people think you are ugly or not but your are beautiful! nice dress :)

    http://sarassweetstyle.blogspot.com/

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  2. This is an amazing post, and you are so right in what you are saying. We always don't look amazing all the time, and there's nothing wrong with embracing that! You, however, are adorable in this dress. I LOVE the photos of you, your mom & sister!!! The three of you are so pretty. I don't think it matters as much in the photos as it does in the true person. If you are beautiful in photos but an ugly person, than your photos become ugly. If you are an "ugly" person in photos, but a beautiful person, then you are truly beautiful.

    xo

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  3. WAT EEN MOOI JURKJE! VOGELS!!! IK HOU VAN VOGELS!!!!!

    En superlieve foto's van jou en je mamie en zus. Ik vind het zo leuk dat je een eigen kijk op de dingen hebt, and you're so right.

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  4. I think you said it all when people that really know you and are important know your good bad and ugly, and as long as you feel comfortable in your skin, it's not a zit or a double chin that will change that. I never delete pictures once they end up on my pc, and I have a lot of unflattering ones from outfits shots haha. And I confess I do erase zits with picnik.

    PS: Love your dress and your sister's headpiece!

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  5. Oh annebeth, you inspiring little minx, you! I LOVED reading this. You are SUCH a babe and I have to say that I agree with every word. I totally should have put THIS as my profile pic yesterday: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=170470896343250&set=a.148861568504183.32132.100001410212591&type=1&theater

    It's ugly, but it's still on my facebook! I'm definitely a lot better than I used to be - I wouldnt have had it on there a couple of years ago. But I think as you get older, you learn to accept who you are more and more. Now I just laugh at ugly pictures of me instead!

    I never edit my photos, I just autofix the lighting haha. Maybe that is because I don't have photoshop, but it doesn't bother me that I can't edit them.

    Oh and beautiful outfit, that dress is to die for!

    xx

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  6. That's a really pretty dress! Thanks for the closeup of the shoes, love them!

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  7. i love the dress <3
    and you look adorable :)

    riestyaap

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  8. Thats a really truely great post Annebeth.

    Fun family photos, thanks for sharing :D

    Wonderful dress too!!

    Enjoy Sunday X

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  9. Oh man I am a chronic fb untagger. I have some friends who are even worse. I've actually stopped tagging people because it seems everyone untags 90% of their pictures!

    I was actually thinking about something very similar today (sadly, not with the awesome positive spin you put on it!) I love your blog because you always remind me to challenge my self-identity. I can photoshop out zits, or walk around sucking in, or detag any less-than-perfect pictures...but that isn't who I am! I've got to learn to accept all my little flaws. It is a work in progress, but I look forward to the day when these little things don't cause me such anxiety. Plus, nothing is sexier than self-confidence, amirite??

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  10. ik vind het iig (in een context waar het perfect mogelijk is om voor de eeuwige maskerade te gaan) zéér sterk van je! Ik weet hoe je eruit ziet irl, wat je mooi maakt (en mensen algemeen) is gewoon je expressie en je persoonlijkheid! Daarenboven vind ik foto's vaak bedrieglijk. Tweedimensionaliteit.. it's weird. In het constant na elkaar flitsen van beelden uit andere hoeken ("beweging" is de term, dacht ik :P), krijg je het beste idee van hoe iemand eruit ziet. En dan nog, iedereen heeft goede dagen, slechte dagen. En dan nog, feitelijk een combinatie van allerlei sensorische indrukken geeft het best een beeld van de 'realiteit'. Jij bent in mijn ogen dan ook echt een babe irl, waar niets fake aan lijkt.
    Mensen die hun minpunten niet zo openlijk durven tentoonstellen (als de kans zich voordoet er controle over te hebben) zijjjjn gewoon onzeker over hun uiterlijk, indeed. Ik ben vaak ook nog steeds onzeker, maar ben al blij dat ik me er bewust van ben. Jezelf niet onvoorwaardelijk aanvaarden is in de kern ziekelijk, en het is sterk en fantastisch en volwassen (de schoonste definitie van volwassenheid feitelijk) als je op het punt gekomen bent dat je dat wel doet (en dan ook nog openbaar maakt), zij het doordat je in een omgeving gekomen bent waarin je je compleet comfortabel en geaccepteerd voelt, zij het puur door een innerlijke kracht. Ja, dit is echt een vette post.

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  11. & wat ik o.a. leuk vond aan chictopia, hun motto: everyone's ugly :-D

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  12. Love this outfit and I know exactly what you mean!~ I think unflattering photos are really funny too, haha...so I never untag either ;)
    and I just use photoshop to fix lighting, or if I have a HUGE zit...haha...imagine if some people make their boobs bigger or something o.O
    http://www.closet-fashionista.com/

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  13. haha you are AWESOME for putting that as your profile pic! your sis has the coolest hair!

    <3 steffy
    Steffys Pros and Cons

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  14. Most adorable pictures ever!! And I loooove that photo of you! My photos are generally unphotoshopped and if they are its usually the lighting that is fixed but other than that myself in the picture is untouched.

    I'm seriously in love in your outfit here.! Such a perfect dress for summer!

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  15. I love what you said about "is it brave to show the world imperfection." I believe that truth is the most important thing in the world, and the truth is that beauty is not perfect. Therefore, we need to show the world the truth! The problem is that some people (cough cough your boyfriend) just aren't ready for it. Gosh I'm sorry I'm getting all philosophical and totally trash-talking your man! I apologize.

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  16. haha don't worry, it wasn't that big a deal and right now he even thinks the picture is cute :D I guess I need to stimulate him to think more about things like this!

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  17. love the birds & lace on your dress.

    I have to admit i committed the crime of untagging. Rare though and not for group photos as group photos are precious memories of good times with friends and family.

    Last week i forced my husband to delete an ugly photo of me on fb :X Sometime vanity gets better hold of me :X :X :X

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  18. I love how you write about issues like this... you do not censor and there is no need. There should be no shame in being who you really are. I hate seeing the photos of people that are so manicured and posed. BE YOURSELF... high five to you! as far as editing goes... i adjust lighting and contrast but that's about as far as I go.

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  19. Ah, I love your opinion posts! They're so... true? I guess that's a matter of opinion, but I find myself feeling inspired after reading. I'm more or less the person that puts up photos of friends that they end up deeming unflattering. Ten years from now, I won't give a shit if I look sweaty, tired, or weird as long as I had fun! I don't mind looking "ugly," even though, frankly, I think I look just as good drenched with rain if I have a smile on my face.

    Not everything is a dreamy forest photo shoot... reality brings in mosquitoes, sweat, and other bugs. And even though I don't really listen to Lady Gaga, I do respect her very much for eschewing standards to look pretty all the damn time!

    As far as photoshopping goes, I usually crop and edit the lighting in my photos. I used to be addicted to the blemish eraser tool in PSP, but I realized I don't need it since I'm probably the only person to even notice said flaws.

    Ah, I'm rambling, but great post.

    xox

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  20. love the dress darling, and your chins!! Mine say hi :)


    Have you seen the movie Bridesmaids? Possibly not I suppose, but your post reminds me of one scene from the movie. The pretty, perfectly coiffed, everything-in-place gal is bawling about being lonely and unhappy to her arch nemesis, the movie's heroine, a "trainwreck" with "greasy hair" and a beat up car. And she says to Miss Perfect "This is the first time I've ever seen you look ugly. I kind of hate you less now."

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  21. haha geweldige tekst :) Juist wakker met dikke wallen en smoezie haar dus ik versta u volledig en you're totally right :).

    Liefs, Saar

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  22. I aspire to this. So not there yet. I find it so painful to look ugly because I spent so long believing that I was unattractive. Now that I feel pretty most of the time, I can't help but just revert back to that "I am unattractive" mindset when I see any unflattering photo of myself. Bah.

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  23. I love the dress and the beautiful photos of you with your family! I never un-tag myself either... and there are a LOT of unattractive photos of me out there on facebook. I figure, people know what I look like, so there's no point. I don't do much in the way of photoshopping my photos, usuallu only use it to crop/ adjust if the lighting is off.

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  24. I never untag facebook photos, for the reasons you mention. I was there, I made that face, I was that drunk, and my teeth are that yellow, end of story. But I admit I try not to put unflattering photos on my blog (bf says I do, but whatever). I think for me taking blog photos has been a revelation of discovering I'm not completely unphotogenic, as I always thought, and I'm not quite over it. I still like to see myself looking good in photos for a change. Also, the way that unflattering photos of me turn out is not, I think, representative of how I look in real, moving life. Ok, spots yes, but not double chins or one eye closed or starting-to-look-old or whatever. But I admit I'm guilty of choosing shots where my thighs look thinner. Mea culpa. I guess some insecurities take a while to get over. ; )

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  25. P.S. I can see the family resemblance and you ladies all look just lovely, and so happy. : )

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  26. haha you are so adorable in so many ways honey. ive untagged a couple of photos over the years but only if its the sort of photo i dont want broadcasted to my family and work colleagues, otherwise i just keep them cos i dont really care too much about the uglyness. i pull ugly faces irl so why not have them in still ehhe? your photo is so funny.

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  27. haha this is brilliant, have to admit though I do untag photos. I'm too proud. & when it comes to the blog pics, I edit backgrounds haha and that's about it. I do get zits etc but they don't seem to show up in pics after the make-up, I wouldn't really mind if they did cos as you say it's real! xo.

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  28. First of all let’s talk about that amazing flirty summer dress. I absolutely adore the romantic lazy Sunday details, the ruffles are too cute. The back looks phenomenal. You have dresses with the most gorgeous backs ever. You girls have the same smile. Loving seeing you have so much fun. You sisters hair is to die for and I adore that little hair piece so so much. Unflattering picture! You cannot be unflattering because you smile always make the darkest clouds go away.

    I don’t use photoshop and I don’t show unflattering pictures, sometimes I want to do funny pictures. As I said yours is not unflattering, it is funny. So I say yes to that. So yes I am with you

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  29. I love the triple chin photo :D. And your dress is beautiful.
    I agree on the "untagging is rude" thing. I never do it. And neither do I use photoshop or special flattering effects.

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  30. What a great article, I like your way of thinking!

    I don't untag myself on FB pictures nor do I use photoshop, as I feel my blog and FB page represent the things that happen to me IRL, it should also be shown as it is IRL ;-)

    Last year there was a contest from ONLY to celebrate their 10 year anniversary: the idea was to put online really bad pictures of their international employees (obviously only the ones who felt OK doing this)from the last 10 years. This was to encourage participants to share their most embarrasing pictures on the website too and ask their friends to vote for them. The one with the most votes/most embarrassing picture won the entire collection of the brand.

    Almost none of my colleagues dared/wanted to participate as they didn't want bad pictures of them get online, they didn't see the fun side in it, laughing with the clothes you used to love but now sort of want to forget asap. :-D

    So the end result? I was on about 9 of the 15 pictures from the employees on the website and even 'starred' on international flyers (distributed in every ONLY shop in the world) with those old and bad pictures.

    Did I mind? No. Did I laugh my ass off remembering all those good times from the past, when browsing the pictures? YES !

    Anyway, the message of the competition was: everyone has made mistakes in the name of fashion, the trends from back then are not the same as they are now, and now most people will think they looked bad or silly back then...

    Love the family picture with your mom and sister, you look so happy together! :-) I'm also completely in LOVE with that beautiful lace dress you're sporting!

    XxX

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  31. I always pull ridiculous faces in pictures, I guess maybe it started as 'if I'm gonna look bad in a picture I want everyone to know it was on purpose' but now it's just because it's funny and who really cares what I look like, as my mother always says 'if you didn't wanna see it you shouldn't of looked' Xx

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  32. Great post! Interesting topic really, because we are all guilty of "censoring" ourselves. I guess we want others to like/love/admire us and think that the best way to achieve it is to portray ourselves in the most appealing way possible. Takes some courage to never untag (do it myself tho) but then I wonder why you photoshop your pics? There's no need for it in my opinion as you look lovely - irl and online!

    I personally don't adjust photos except maybe the lighting when the pic's too dark. I don't think anyone will ever fully except him/herself. Everyone feels insecure now and then but as you say, people should learn to accept their bad/ugly sides. And that's enough of the self-help manual crap :D

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  33. hmm except nr2 was of course meant to be accept #stillsleepy :D

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  34. Loving the post, dear! Sorry I didn't participate, haha :D but you know I absolutely LOVED your picture = soooo funny and actually kind of cute :p

    I also use photoshop, but that's actually just to make my pictures sharper or smaller... But I don't do a lot of outfit posts, so maybe that's why I don't need to cover things up or sth...

    xxxo

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  35. Ik ben zo trots dat jij m'n zus bent :-D. Jouw selfconfidence vind ik bijzonder inspirerend en het heeft mij al een stuk beter laten voelen over mezelf. Vroeger was ik echt panisch als iemand een lelijke foto van mij op internet zou zetten (of zelfs gewoon zou zien), nu begint eindelijk een beetje door te dringen dat het geen ene moer uitmaakt. Als je die mensen ooit in het echt tegenkomt zal je ook wel eens een onflatterend gezicht of pose aannemen. Zoals iedereen. Het belangrijkste is dat je jezelf accepteert. Vetrolletjes en gele tanden ook.

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  36. Btw je haar ziet er ZO glanzig en zacht uit op de 4de foto!

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  37. Hoe meer ik naar die 'lelijk' foto kijk, hoe grappiger ik hem vind!

    Geweldige tekst trouwens! Ikzelf sta regelmatig slecht op foto's, maar who cares? Ik doe graag zot en mensen mogen dat zien. En je hebt helemaal gelijk, iedereen heeft wel eens een ugly moment/dag!


    Mooie outfit, vind ook je zus haar kleedje heel mooi! Stijlgevoel zit ook in de familie zeker ;)

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  38. Ugly Profile-photo day = Best Idea Ever!
    You totally inspired me to think more before deleting or untagging pictures. Never really thought about it until now! So thanks for making me reflect and embrace myself more :)

    You rock for this post, if I could, I'd love it a hundred times on bloglovin' ;-)

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  39. I usually don't untag photos of myself or anything like that. And an ugly face is especially good when it's done for fun and to make people laugh. I have no problem with ugly pictures of myself when i'm being goofy. And the only photoshopping I do with my pictures is the lighting/colouring etc. It's definitely nice to see bloggers show another side, I hate when you read a blog and the person seems too perfect, theres no way to relate.
    Love the pictures of you, your sister and your mum sooo cute!
    xJennaD

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  40. Way to go girl!
    First, you, ur sis and and mom looking like three crazy cupcakes, I just adooore it!
    When I saw this pic of you on facebook, I laughed hard :D U're just way too cool for words. And you're right, one must embrace all of his sides.
    But, yet again the vanity culture is to blame. I must admit I'm quiet vain myself, but still, it has to have limits. I'm not a size 2 or even 4, but I learned to accept it and embrace my curves. As everybody is different.
    I rarely use photoshop, just to resize my pictures usually. I only use it to remove little spots, but that's just a few times a year at max. Offcourse I use a color/light correcting program.
    I don't appreciate bloggers who are too eager to use photoshop and don't look like them self anymore, but still, those exist.

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  41. You already know my side of this story :D (yes I untag but not just ugly pictures, I want my tagged pictures to be a good "representation" of what I am doing with a lot of variety BUT under an amount of 200... I have 209 now again.. it's not just ugly pictures I untag... so it's different I think and the ugly pictures also go in my photoalbum because I cherrish memories especially by photo's :))

    That said: nope we are definitely more than just our face. I also use photoshop on a daily basis and in the exact way that you use it :) I think we are all very lucky to look the way we look, double chins and all because it is a luxury to look "normal"... especially in a society that focusses on good looks.

    xxx

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  42. First, adorable dress! I love bird prints.

    I totally know what you mean. People are SO obsessed with being perfect. I hate how the media photoshops everything & no one famous can have flaws. I often post pictures that have my Erma (my name for my double chin that sometimes pops out in pictures). I was born with one! No matter how skinny I was when I was young I always had that little pooch. Well now I write funny posts about Erma & make people laugh which makes me actually tolerate her. It's a shame people cant just let go.

    <3 L

    http://aspiredlevant.blogspot.com/

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  43. Thank you so much for this. I don't photoshop my pix'. I use the micrsoft office picture manager to brighten and crop and that's all. Achieving perfection is good and splendidly ok, but I'm yet to be bothered by my imperfections. If I find a picture unsatisfactory because of my posture or expression I may or may not have it untagged, but that depends on how I feel about it at the moment and not because I'm constantly striving for perfection. It's our imperfections that make us human why erase our humanity?

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  44. Awesome post.

    I use photoshop to correct the exposure on every photo I take. That is not manipulation in my eyes but exactly what I would do in the darkroom when printing from film.

    Occasionally I'll remove a pimple or too, remove lint or even a stain on my tights (damn you bicycle chain!) but usually I'll point out that I did so. I don't think disclosure like this is necessary but I quite like diverting my readers' attention to what I am NOT showing them. I choose the locations for my outfit shots carefully but sadly in the real world my surroundings aren't colour co-ordinated with my outfit.

    Your turtle photo (which really is quite cute :D) reminds me a little of a portrait of me my Mom insists is cute. I hang on my parent's fridge mid blink, mid sentence and turtle necking. I have an inkling it reminds her of baby-me. Go figure.:D

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  45. First of all, you and your mom and your sister are all SO beautiful. And I am jealous of your sister's hair, too.

    I tend to vote for showing reality vs perfection. I love pretty pictures as much as anyone else, but it's nice to know that my style icons aren't ALWAYS perfect. It makes them more real, and to me it makes them more endearing and interesting.

    I don't actually know how to use Photoshop to remove bags or zits, so if my skin isn't perfect or I have a double chin or a pooch, oh well. It's who I am, and that's just fine with me. I like me the way I am. I do choose pictures that are more flattering to my body or face, but I'm not afraid to also use pictures of myself that *aren't* perfect to illustrate the fact that I am a real person. I like people to know that while I can do the pretty, I am also a total dork.

    It's funny, I am reading this the night before I'll be doing a makeup tutorial and exposing all the imperfections of my skin to show that a little makeup goes a long way. It's given me the courage to not care quite so much that I don't have perfect skin.

    You're such a lovely person, Annebeth! Inside and out, lovely.

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  46. I rarely use photoshop anymore... for one thing I don't know how all that well hah, so it was silly to be using it just to lighten/darken, colour correct and crop.

    Kudos to using that as your profile pic, I'd never have the guts.

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  47. I agree 1000%!! You are absolutely right! What happened to showing your real selves? It's crazy how so many girls try to live up to impossible standards instead of taking that energy to appreciate themselves and who they are.

    I had that same dilemma that you had when I was taking pictures of my new swim suit. I saw them and I wanted to delete them all and forget they existed. But I said no, because beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and put it up. Not only did I get such great feedback on that post, it made the IFB Round up!

    So I give you props for putting up that picture girl! :)

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  48. farting isuniversal too, but I wouldn't do this in public :D
    Anyway, great post, I love controversial opinions. And the pitures of you three are very cute 'n fun!

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  49. I embrace my ugliness often enough in the mirror -- I don't have to share it with the world ;-)

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  50. Great post. I have felt unsure about posting certain photos to my blog because of wrinkles or bags or whatever but in the end I always post them because REAL people look like REAL people. Not like fake plastic magazine "people" without pores/wrinkles/bags etc.
    More people should use real pictures of themselves and realize that what we idealize as "beauty" really isn't beauty at all - it is a fake ideal set up to encourage us to buy and consume the latest product in the vain hope of attaining perfection
    Lydia

    www.styleindependent.com

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  51. Great post! You know, I have to admit, I am ridiculously overweight (haha, no exaggerations). But I don't make myself thinner on Photoshop because I'd be lying to anyone reading. I made the blog to show ME. But I do use Photoshop to brighten the photos, or add a colour filter to it. You know, basic stuff.

    I used to untag myself on Facebook whenever an unflattering photo of myself was posted. But you're right, it shows the fun we had while taking the photos! And my friends put time and effort to upload the photos, and so I realize now that it is rude to untag.

    Again, this is a great post. :) Thanks for sharing!

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  52. I love this post! For photos I only touch up blemishes, but on facebook I cringe and rush to delete if I'm tagged in an unflattering picture. This something I want to work on!

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  53. I really enjoyed reading this post. Personally, I do sometimes untag on facebook. There is one photo of me right now that I haven't untagged, where i look, um, well like something is super wrong with my face. My friends found it funny, I found it funny, I left it up. Sometimes, though, when I think I just look HORRIBLE I will untag. I am not really a personal style blogger so I don't post too many photos, but when I do, I obviously pick ones where I like myself.

    With blogs, it's hard. On one hand, like you said, why not show imperfections and blemishes? On the other, as much as i like to see some "realness' I also like to see beautiful photos when I go to blogs. I guess it's about finding that balance

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  54. I completely agree with everything you are saying! I don't use photoshop on my blog pictures, but this is actually down to the fact I am technologically inept, and I don't have the time. I can see the difference between my pics and other bloggers pics and more often than not I wish I looked more pristine. After reading what you've written, though, I'm proud too that I don't mind showing my flaws to the public. I don't often untag, unless I'm doing something unladylike that I don't want my family to be subject to on the other side of the world, via the internet! You are inspiration, an absolutely beautiful inspiration.

    Amy
    http://fashionsastranger.wordpress.com

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  55. I completely agree with everything you are saying! I don't use photoshop on my blog pictures, but this is actually down to the fact I am technologically inept, and I don't have the time. I can see the difference between my pics and other bloggers pics and more often than not I wish I looked more pristine. After reading what you've written, though, I'm proud too that I don't mind showing my flaws to the public. I don't often untag, unless I'm doing something unladylike that I don't want my family to be subject to on the other side of the world, via the internet! You are inspiration, an absolutely beautiful inspiration.

    Amy
    http://fashionsastranger.wordpress.com

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  56. I really enjoyed reading this post. Personally, I do sometimes untag on facebook. There is one photo of me right now that I haven't untagged, where i look, um, well like something is super wrong with my face. My friends found it funny, I found it funny, I left it up. Sometimes, though, when I think I just look HORRIBLE I will untag. I am not really a personal style blogger so I don't post too many photos, but when I do, I obviously pick ones where I like myself.

    With blogs, it's hard. On one hand, like you said, why not show imperfections and blemishes? On the other, as much as i like to see some "realness' I also like to see beautiful photos when I go to blogs. I guess it's about finding that balance

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  57. I love this post! For photos I only touch up blemishes, but on facebook I cringe and rush to delete if I'm tagged in an unflattering picture. This something I want to work on!

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  58. I embrace my ugliness often enough in the mirror -- I don't have to share it with the world ;-)

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  59. Loving the post, dear! Sorry I didn't participate, haha :D but you know I absolutely LOVED your picture = soooo funny and actually kind of cute :p

    I also use photoshop, but that's actually just to make my pictures sharper or smaller... But I don't do a lot of outfit posts, so maybe that's why I don't need to cover things up or sth...

    xxxo

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  60. hmm except nr2 was of course meant to be accept #stillsleepy :D

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  61. Awesome post.

    I use photoshop to correct the exposure on every photo I take. That is not manipulation in my eyes but exactly what I would do in the darkroom when printing from film.

    Occasionally I'll remove a pimple or too, remove lint or even a stain on my tights (damn you bicycle chain!) but usually I'll point out that I did so. I don't think disclosure like this is necessary but I quite like diverting my readers' attention to what I am NOT showing them. I choose the locations for my outfit shots carefully but sadly in the real world my surroundings aren't colour co-ordinated with my outfit.

    Your turtle photo (which really is quite cute :D) reminds me a little of a portrait of me my Mom insists is cute. I hang on my parent's fridge mid blink, mid sentence and turtle necking. I have an inkling it reminds her of baby-me. Go figure.:D

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  62. First of all let’s talk about that amazing flirty summer dress. I absolutely adore the romantic lazy Sunday details, the ruffles are too cute. The back looks phenomenal. You have dresses with the most gorgeous backs ever. You girls have the same smile. Loving seeing you have so much fun. You sisters hair is to die for and I adore that little hair piece so so much. Unflattering picture! You cannot be unflattering because you smile always make the darkest clouds go away.

    I don’t use photoshop and I don’t show unflattering pictures, sometimes I want to do funny pictures. As I said yours is not unflattering, it is funny. So I say yes to that. So yes I am with you

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  63. P.S. I can see the family resemblance and you ladies all look just lovely, and so happy. : )

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  64. I never untag facebook photos, for the reasons you mention. I was there, I made that face, I was that drunk, and my teeth are that yellow, end of story. But I admit I try not to put unflattering photos on my blog (bf says I do, but whatever). I think for me taking blog photos has been a revelation of discovering I'm not completely unphotogenic, as I always thought, and I'm not quite over it. I still like to see myself looking good in photos for a change. Also, the way that unflattering photos of me turn out is not, I think, representative of how I look in real, moving life. Ok, spots yes, but not double chins or one eye closed or starting-to-look-old or whatever. But I admit I'm guilty of choosing shots where my thighs look thinner. Mea culpa. I guess some insecurities take a while to get over. ; )

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  65. I love the dress and the beautiful photos of you with your family! I never un-tag myself either... and there are a LOT of unattractive photos of me out there on facebook. I figure, people know what I look like, so there's no point. I don't do much in the way of photoshopping my photos, usuallu only use it to crop/ adjust if the lighting is off.

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  66. love the dress darling, and your chins!! Mine say hi :)


    Have you seen the movie Bridesmaids? Possibly not I suppose, but your post reminds me of one scene from the movie. The pretty, perfectly coiffed, everything-in-place gal is bawling about being lonely and unhappy to her arch nemesis, the movie's heroine, a "trainwreck" with "greasy hair" and a beat up car. And she says to Miss Perfect "This is the first time I've ever seen you look ugly. I kind of hate you less now."

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  67. Ah, I love your opinion posts! They're so... true? I guess that's a matter of opinion, but I find myself feeling inspired after reading. I'm more or less the person that puts up photos of friends that they end up deeming unflattering. Ten years from now, I won't give a shit if I look sweaty, tired, or weird as long as I had fun! I don't mind looking "ugly," even though, frankly, I think I look just as good drenched with rain if I have a smile on my face.

    Not everything is a dreamy forest photo shoot... reality brings in mosquitoes, sweat, and other bugs. And even though I don't really listen to Lady Gaga, I do respect her very much for eschewing standards to look pretty all the damn time!

    As far as photoshopping goes, I usually crop and edit the lighting in my photos. I used to be addicted to the blemish eraser tool in PSP, but I realized I don't need it since I'm probably the only person to even notice said flaws.

    Ah, I'm rambling, but great post.

    xox

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  68. haha don't worry, it wasn't that big a deal and right now he even thinks the picture is cute :D I guess I need to stimulate him to think more about things like this!

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  69. I love what you said about "is it brave to show the world imperfection." I believe that truth is the most important thing in the world, and the truth is that beauty is not perfect. Therefore, we need to show the world the truth! The problem is that some people (cough cough your boyfriend) just aren't ready for it. Gosh I'm sorry I'm getting all philosophical and totally trash-talking your man! I apologize.

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  70. & wat ik o.a. leuk vond aan chictopia, hun motto: everyone's ugly :-D

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  71. i love the dress <3
    and you look adorable :)

    riestyaap

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  72. Oh annebeth, you inspiring little minx, you! I LOVED reading this. You are SUCH a babe and I have to say that I agree with every word. I totally should have put THIS as my profile pic yesterday: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=170470896343250&set=a.148861568504183.32132.100001410212591&type=1&theater

    It's ugly, but it's still on my facebook! I'm definitely a lot better than I used to be - I wouldnt have had it on there a couple of years ago. But I think as you get older, you learn to accept who you are more and more. Now I just laugh at ugly pictures of me instead!

    I never edit my photos, I just autofix the lighting haha. Maybe that is because I don't have photoshop, but it doesn't bother me that I can't edit them.

    Oh and beautiful outfit, that dress is to die for!

    xx

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  73. I think you said it all when people that really know you and are important know your good bad and ugly, and as long as you feel comfortable in your skin, it's not a zit or a double chin that will change that. I never delete pictures once they end up on my pc, and I have a lot of unflattering ones from outfits shots haha. And I confess I do erase zits with picnik.

    PS: Love your dress and your sister's headpiece!

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  74. This is an amazing post, and you are so right in what you are saying. We always don't look amazing all the time, and there's nothing wrong with embracing that! You, however, are adorable in this dress. I LOVE the photos of you, your mom & sister!!! The three of you are so pretty. I don't think it matters as much in the photos as it does in the true person. If you are beautiful in photos but an ugly person, than your photos become ugly. If you are an "ugly" person in photos, but a beautiful person, then you are truly beautiful.

    xo

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