America's Next Top What?

I hate having my picture taken. There, I said it. I am a photographer and I despise having anyone take my photo. I will hide behind others, I will turn my back, I will literally run if I have to, all to get away from someone with a camera. If I'm with my girls and I've had a couple of beverages, I can do it, I don't like it, but I'll do it.  I have decided that I would like to LIKE to have my picture taken. I think it will make me a better photographer and it will show to those I photograph that if I can do it, so can they. SO, here is my project. I am in love with America's Next Top Model.  Not the reality, catty girls being girls part, but the photography. I love watching an ugly duckling transform into something of sheer beauty. My project is for me to shoot myself doing the same photoshoot that the girls are doing each week. It will not be perfect, it will be dorky, you may even laugh out loud. But, if I gain just a teeny, tiny iota of self-confidence from this, then it is totally worth it.

This week was "Bully Week". Each girl had to choose a word that they felt was used towards them growing up that make them feel small. Then, they had to pick a word that gave them freedom from that word, no longer making that flaw something ugly, but turning it to beauty.

My childhood teasing word is "FRECKLE FACE". My freedom from that word would be "BEAUTY MARKS".

Here I go, here is my first self-portrait, feel free to turn back now, ready?