Camera Shyness

[Pugdaddy]

I never knew that so many people were camera shy. I can't believe how many people have told me they don't like their picture being taken, my own wife being one, darnit. I work in a steel mill, where cameras aren't allowed, but I sneak mine in anyway. So I'm taking pics of my coworkers and in walks my boss. I go to take a picture of him and he spins around facing away from me. I figure he doesn't want evidence that he knows I take pics at work, right? That was last week. So yesterday we're working on some new equipment and here comes the big boss with his camera. I ask him "What is that, a G6?". He looks at me kind of funny and says "No, it's a G3". So I ask him to take a pic of me and my buddies. He says sure. He points the cam at us and my boss litterally runs out of the picture. I've never seen anything like it. What's up with these people? It makes me wonder if they're wanted by the law or something. j/k

[vcutag]

What's up with these people? It makes me wonder if they're wanted by the law or something. j/k

Hey, that's why I took up photography, I'd rather be behind the camera than in front of it. :-)

[aam1234]

In the situation you described, I think being at work might be the main reason. I wouldn't be surprised if the boss is camera happy when he/she is with family & friends.

My experience is the opposite. Had many people asking me to take their photos when I'm walking around with a camera...and they always think that I work for a newspaper :lol:

[KevC]

Hey, that's why I took up photography, I'd rather be behind the camera than in front of it. :-)

Ay. Ditto. I'm not very photogenic ... :o

[RTMiller]

My girlfriend doesn't like to have her picture taken either. Said something about losing her soul...

[aam1234]

Said something about losing her soul...

Do you know what's funny, many people believe that too, heard it so many times. As a matter of fact, there is a tribe in Africa that if you take a photo of them, they kill you...I'm serious (been told by a friend who visited them).

[vcutag]

Ay. Ditto. I'm not very photogenic ... :o

Yeah, me either. Guess that's why we're both hiding behind cameras in those icons. :-)

[OceanRider]

ya my sife hates it too but a got a buddy whos wife is a natural....its just some people i guess.

[FlyingPete]

Do you know what's funny, many people believe that too, heard it so many times. As a matter of fact, there is a tribe in Africa that if you take a photo of them, they kill you...I'm serious (been told by a friend who visited them).

I've come up against this one too, it was a Polynesian guy, I sort of knew him, and was shooting archival stuff of his team setting up, when he saw me take a shot of him, he came straight over, and demanded that I destroy the camera etc, as I had robbed him of his manna. Fortunately after a few seconds of this, he slapped me on the shoulder and let me know he was just kidding, sort of had me going though!

[Pugdaddy]

Had you going? It sounds like it would have scared the crap out of me. At least he didn't tell you he had to kill you.

[chtgrubbs]

I take head shots of new faculty and personnel for a college. One comment I keep hearing after I have done the shots is "Gee, that didn't hurt!". So I had a sign made up : "Painless Photographer"
like the old fashioned Painless Dentist signs!

[Digital Prophet]

Ok let me tell you two things.

One it isn't that people don't like to have thier photo taken. It is that they don't like to look at themselves. When I have this problem I explain to them: "Look I used to be the same way. But the fact is that I am gentleman of girth (fat). But you know what? People already know that. Noone is going to take my photo, get it printed, go home and scream 'MY GOD! Did you know Digi was fat?!?! It's true! Look I have a photo!' So just accept that whatever you don't like we all already know about."

And you know, most of the time it works.

Second, I recently shot my first semi-nude model who happens to be a good friend of mine. And she HATES every photo ever taken of her. But she agreed to do it. And she was nervous. But as she took off more clothes and I encouraged and complimented her she became more comfortable and confident. So the moral of that is to be gentle and persuassive.

Lastly, I still don't care to have my photo taken most of the time. But it isn't the photo it is that I don't like being on the lens end of the camera because I feel like I don't have the control I have from the viewfinder side.

Ooops. I guess that was three things.

- Digital Prophet -

[queenbee288]

I like to take pictures but I don't like to have mine taken. It is this. I have an image of myself in my head and it is ok, the image I see in the mirror is ok. When I see a photo of myself I am always shocked. I say to myself, Oh My God! I really didn't know I was that ugly. It depresses me. It is not what other people see. It is what you see of yourself. My face just does not photograph well.