"This Hurts Me More Than It Hurts You"
February 15, 2013 Let me start by apologizing for this post. I wrote it several months ago, but it's taken me this long to gather the courage to publish it. I promise you I'm not narcissistic as one might think with this seemingly self-indulgent stream of pictures. But I'm often curious about the face behind a name and I thought you might be a little curious about what I look like. On a good day. Sort of.
So as painful as this is for me, here's a "behind the scenes" look at a photo shoot I subjected myself to last May ...
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I know I'm not alone when I say I don't particularly like having my picture taken. But when you're foolish enough to write a book and the publisher REQUIRES a mug shot ... AND it's gonna be seen by at least a few strangers around the world ... well ... ya kinda wanna look your best, right?
For me, that meant coloring my hair a few days earlier. And then having my first haircut in ... too many months.
(Not bad, but too windy)
I know you can't really tell here, but I actually put makeup on. I went all out with concealer, eyeliner, mascara AND lipstick. Yeah, I really spackled it on. Most days it's just chapstick. Or lipgloss. If I'm lucky.
Then I dug out my nicest pink outfit (more of a lavender pink) - a twin set from my sister.
(I think a bird just landed on a branch above me and I was hoping it wasn't going to poop on my head.)
I wanted a pretty nature background, but trees blossom for all of 48 hours here so if you blink you miss them. In fact, a wicked storm stripped this poor tree bare the very next day.
(Trying the other side)
A good friend of mine took these pictures. (Thanks Maggie!) As you can see, I was having a hard time taking this whole thing seriously. But these few shots ... out of almost 200 ... (told ya she's a good friend!) ... are ones where I look ridiculous on purpose ... as opposed to the other 190 ... where I look ridiculous without even trying. Clearly I won't be appearing on America's Next Top Model any time soon.
(Back to my left - apparently it's my better side.)
When my 9 year old came in the room as I was writing this post, she exclaimed how beautiful I looked. (Love her.) And then - as children are apt to do - honestly clarified that I NEVER look like this in real life. (Still love her.)
She's quite right. It's amazing what good light, a studied angle, a talented photographer and the miracle of photoshop can do for a girl.
Seriously.
(I was insisting that I was NOT old enough to be Channing Tatum's mother, but only just barely.)
Anyhow, here I am ...
... on the "About the Author" page of my book.
So that's me. Wife, mother, crafter, blogger, occasional bad parent ... and most recently new author.
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Okay, that was one Bandaid ripped off. Now that you know what I look like, tune in Monday ... I'll tell you how to find out what I sound like ... yet another Bandaid for me.
Happy weekend, everyone!
Reader Comments (69)
so brave and so lovely - I did the decor 8 blogging course last year and one of our homeworks was to add a profile picture - ouch that really hurt me too. :)
You are BEAUTIFUL! such a lovely smile! and i can so relate. hate having my picture taken. i have started doing embroidery again because i stumbled across your site. thank you! i really have missed it. i am even thinking of designing my own, my son gave me a sweet valentine and i want to embroider it to remember. thanks again for the inspiration.
I love it, Kristyne! I love you blog! Your sense of humor is wonderful. Plus, your taste and ability to put colors together is second to none. Thanks for giving us a little more insight into you!
Hello Kristyne! It is so nice to 'meet' the beautiful smile behind all of that gorgeous pathwork and embroidery! Thanks for sharing your process of your photo shoot.
Your light-hearted approach to life makes me smile with you. I'm gonna look for your book next shopping trip. Keep up the happy blog.
You are super cute!
I feel your pain. I hate posting pictures of myself. It just is not in me to expose anyone to my mug! LOL!
Let me tell you that you look just as cute as I imagined. I love your 'blooper' shots. They capture so much more than your looks.
Now I'm not just saying this, really I'm not but you look so young. Not that you're old of course but really young! Right I'm stopping this now before I dig myself into a hole ! ;)
Happy weekend K,
V xxx
I love being able to put a face with the name...or should I say blog?! You are absolutely adorable! And eek - personally I'm a lot more scared about hearing the sound of my own voice than seeing pictures of myself. So bravo to you for your bravery!
Hugs,
Jenny
You are adorable!
I love the photos and the commentary!
I can so relate to that - I hate having my picture taken. But you look beautiful, smart and young in yours!
Have a wonderful weekend, Hildy
Ooo. I don't like getting my photo taken either, but then I realised I had years of photos with my girls and husband together and I was MIA. So now I make myself get in the picture all the time. Great Job! You are beautiful and what a goregous pink tree nature gave you for the photo shoot. Cute post! Thx for sharing Krystine!
LOVED this post!!! Hi friend! I cannot wait to get my book from you! I forgot to ask when I ordered from your shop if you would sign it for me... if it's too late - no worries mate. The pictures are beautiful!!!!
You're such a bonny lass and I think the photos look great!
You look lovely in your author photos, Kristyne, you really do! I know just what you mean too.......! You really made me smile here. But rest assured you do look great, and very young indeed too!
Helen x
You're pretty, you're young, you have a beautiful smile ... and what sounds like a beautiful daughter :) It is hard to show yourself to the www, but seriously, I don't think you have anything to worry about! Wendy
PS I looked for your book in Indigo, but couldn't find it ... is it only available through the internet? (Amazon?)
You are my hero.....I have put off having my picture taken for so many years and my kids have been bugging me about it...and my boss, since my picture is supposed to be on business card....just thinking about it is painful! Anyway, you are gorgeous and anyone can see from the picture that you are that way both inside and out!!!
By the way, Happy Anniversary, your blog is still my fav :)
I love to see the face behind the blog. It helps to relate to the person behind the blog. .....And you are far prettier than me!!!
Awww, you look really pretty and so young! Thanks for sharing :)
You are adorable and your posts never fail to make me smile. Keep them coming!
What lovely pictures! From the level of expertise that you have, I expected you to be MUCH older than you are. You do such beautiful work, love everything about it from the color sensibility to the design and execution. I love your blog and look forward to every entry. By the way, Happy Blogiversary!!
I also hate getting my picture taken. What I see in a picture is nothing like I see in the mirror (my husband is kind (smart) enough to tell me that I am not photogenic at all, much prettier in real life). You are very, very pretty with beautiful eyes, do not ever sell yourself short.
You are beautiful...inside and out.
And you are a talented designer...
Which makes you a triple threat as they say in the biz:)
You are a gorgeous young woman. Flaunt it, girl! Dazzeling smile. Your 'money shot' pic is a keeper. Just keep skipping on down the road and dancing to the sound of your own drummer!
Love your blog!
Lovely picture. No one ever looks like you think they will after you get to "know" them on their blog. You look younger than I thought, even though I know you have children. I am loving your book too, by the way.
You really are so lovely, and just from the way that you write on your blog, I think that you are as lovely a person inside as you look on the "outside" . and I have no doubt that you are a wonderful mother .
Cheers,
maggie
Kristyne, I love getting to know the people behind the blogs I love... so looking forward to hearing your voice monday... I don't care what you talk about! lol Great work on your photo shoot btw... nice to have a photographer friend AND a great day for pics AND a great tree to stand in front of that makes you shine more than you already do! You are charming :) Kathi
I agree with all the others! You're bee-utiful! Such lovely skin, especially with the flowers behind you. Great hair! and a gorgeous smile. Thanks for sharing with us. Wish I had the courage to do the same!
You are beautiful, talented, funny, creative and just down right wonderful! Yup, you've got it all. And a loving husband and two precious daughters to boot. It's a blessing to know you, even if just through your blog. Keep making us smile.
You may not like this, but I think you are as cute as a button. Not sure what that means... Really you are just adorable,
Great photos! Looks like you had a lot fun having them taken.
You look terrific! What great pictures!
All pictures of you are beautiful!! We all love you and your blog,pictures are not that important after we have seen your soul. Don't sweat the small stuff.
You, my dear, are absolutely precious! So glad to put a face to the creator of one of my happy places.
Kristyne, I love the pictures and the blog. Good job! I look forward to your new blogs, they make me happy and inspire me to try new things. Keep it up! Lori
Pshaw! You look lovely! :)
you're as pretty as your quilts!
You're beautiful! And adorable! And I understand the children...when my son was four years old, he once asked me why every day was a bad hair day for me. I knew that the jury was in...he's a man!
Your adorable!
You look awesome! And, you look young! That's what staying out of the sun does for you...it keeps you young. ;p
You are BEAUTIFUL! Loved reading the blurbs accompanying each picture :)
Pretty by hand....and you are very pretty indeed...both inside and outside. I just found your blog recently and am truly captivated by it. You bring joy.
Kristyne, I think you are adorable! I love everything about you and your blog right down to your love of Laura Ashley. You have turned me on to pink, which was a real stretch for me :-). Thank you!
Gorgeous photos! You look fabulous in All of them, so natural and very pretty. It's always hard to view photos of ourselves uncritically, so good on you for putting them "out there"!
You are adorable....and so brave! I, too, have a very hard time getting my picture taken...that's why I'm always the one with the camera!
Thanks for your blog....I love it!
And keep taking pictures
You are so beautiful Kristine on every one of those 200 pictures:)
Congratulations on your success:)
Come out from under the bush! You are a pretty girl -very English rose looking ! And seriously, you look about 23.....just saying.
I think you should post some beauty tips next!
I don't know what you were worried about. You are adorable!
You are a beautiful young woman. I love your blog and all the photos are fun. The background is perfect for your style. Congrats again on your book.
Kristyne -- what a beautiful picture for your new book - congratulations on both and remember we have seen your hands before !}