This is the first of a three-part series (in case the title above didn’t give it away).
“Oh boy, another blog post from a size-2 fashionista about how to feel confident in front of a camera. Whoop-dee-do.”
If that’s what you’re thinking, I totally get it. That’s what I’d assume too.
But don’t worry: This isn’t one of those mushy posts filled with saccharine-laced statements about the dramatic epiphanies I’ve had about my self-worth, or how I’ve suddenly discovered the secret to being confident. Because let’s be honest, I haven’t.
There’s this common misconception that fashion bloggers and “influencers” are automatically confident. But it’s actually quite the opposite for many of us. Unlike a photoshoot with a professional model, it can take 30-40 shots just to get one that works, and scanning through a bunch of derpy-looking photos on the back of my Nikon — some of which highlight those aspects of myself that I don’t particularly like — doesn’t usually make me feel good.
So why do I keep doing it?
Because fashion blogs are the way to see styles in real life, on all sorts of figures. It’s why fitting room try-on sessions are so popular in Instagram Stories, and how people who have never had representation in the pages of Vogue or on the runway have found a way to let themselves, and their personal style, shine.
And blogging is also how I can amplify the talents of Indiana’s fashion industry. Sure, I’m only 5’3″ and have started to trade in the “naturally thin” look for more muscle this year (and that’s something I plan to continue for the sake of a healthy body and mind), but the photos on this blog and on social media should hopefully show that Indiana’s designers and photographers and artists create for all people.
Take the photos in this post, for example. If anything, I found my confidence during this shoot by placing trust in the skills of Indiana Fashion Week’s lead photographer Dauss Miller, who I’ve collaborated with in the past. (See my interviews with 10 members of the INDFW team, including Dauss.) We’ve got some talented folks here, y’all, and it’s my goal to keep on sharing their stories with you.
So, like I promised several paragraphs ago, I’m not here to give you “7 tips to look your best in front of a camera” a la front page of Cosmo — though if you ever ask me, I’ll try my best to come up with a piece of advice. Sometimes self-confidence is a struggle, and I’d say that’s OK, because I’ll bet there’s something out there — a cause, an ambition, something — that’s so important to you that your worries and self-deprecation will take a back seat to your passion. And honestly, that’s probably the best source of confidence anyway.
