From Face-lift Tags to Frown-lines 👌🏻

On the morning of my photo shoot, I was nervous.  I've done over half a dozen of these types of shoots but this one felt different.  In previous shoots, I'd tended to try to look how I thought people would expect me to - what does a web developer look like by the way? This time I wanted this version to truly reflect me, not a version of me.  I'm the sole income earner for our family now and the shoot was part of a brand refresh and new website. Showing up as myself was (and is) a scary thought, especially now that I'm 48 and looking in the mirror isn't what it used to be - I'm always a bit surprised and wonder who is that old lady staring back at me? 

Let's face it - we're bombarded with impossible beauty and anti-aging standards on the daily.  It's rare to see women celebrated for looking their age.  Add to that the very two-dimensional nature of social media and don't even get me started on the potential damage of filters that remove wrinkles and clear up skin. Especially as we get older and doubts start to creep in about our relevance in an ever-changing digital world. With all of that to deal with it's easy to get trapped into comparison and trying to keep up with other business owners.

So, I decided to try my hand at some eyebrow lift stickers and face-lift tags I'd seen on YouTube for this photo shoot. I thought I'd look younger and more fabulous in the snaps, and that when people saw me in real-life on Zoom, I convinced myself they'd just think I was having an off day or something.  I spent time trying to make my hair perfect and sleek even though it usually looks like I've been dragged through a bush backwards. But as I was finishing getting ready, I couldn't shake the feeling I was hiding behind a disguise and doing myself a disservice in the process (not to mention that I looked pretty ridiculous). 

My clients come to me because I've been there, done that.  I've got years of experience and hands-on knowledge to back up my skills  - and yes, that means I've got the wrinkles to prove it. So, I chucked the stickers and tags out and let my hair do its own thing. I can be proud of my life storylines and my wrinkles and the many adventures I've had in this skin.

The SheShoots team laughed with me when I told them the story, they empathised and understood.  And the resulting photos they captured are exactly what I was after. The shots show the real me, not some overly-perfected version. I think they're also a testament to being grateful you've lived long enough to age and the importance of feeling the fear and doing it anyway.

The Takeaway?  Trying to look perfect in photos is a trap, and the most beautiful thing you can do is embrace your true self.  Show the world and your clients who you really are and be proud of it at any age.

by Louisa Currie / Redhead Digital

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A note from Nykie

Thanks so much for trusting us Louisa!! It’s such a leap of faith to get a shoot done. Also Helen and I both get what you mean when you’re looking in the mirror at a face with a few extra laugh lines! 🌟❤

Here are a handful of Louisa’s shots.
Have a look at her amazing work & how she used her images over at www.redheaddigital.co.nz 🔥