The Gallery - A Younger Me

I was, I think, a bonny child so I'm not sure where it all went wrong.  I love looking back at old photographs of myself *preen* but I do think there's a certain turning point where I went from feeling naturally happy and didn't mind a memory being snapped to the insecure person that ended up not knowing how to smile properly.

Recently, I've either found my 'good side' or I have mastered the art of the 'selfie' as a couple of pictures I have shared have received some really nice compliments (god bless the Instagram filter and all who sail in her).  It's a new found confidence in myself as I don't feel very photogenic at the best of times.  I want that younger me back again!

I feel very guilty that during my teenage years I was overly self-conscious (probably due to the bullying) and fled from the camera lens.  Teenagers seem much more confident about seeing digital imagery of themselves but maybe this is because they have grown up with it and it's 'the norm'? The feelings of insecurity followed me through into adulthood and saw me spending more time behind the lens instead of in front of it.  

My biggest regret is that I have no photos of me holding my babies after they were born and very few pictures of me with my (younger) family at all.  Please don't ever make the same mistake.  Make those photographic memories of their younger self but also ensure that you're included too.

Find more "Younger Me" photos over at Tara's blog on week 164 of the Photo Gallery