Body Image and Photos of Yourself: Navigating Photos, Angles, and Triggers
Today we are talking about something that I know so many of us struggle with—whether we say it out loud or not. And that is: how we feel about ourselves when we see a photo of ourselves that we don’t love.
Maybe it’s a group picture someone tags you in. Maybe it’s a candid shot your partner took. Maybe it’s even a selfie you took yourself—and instead of seeing the fun memory, the beautiful moment, or the experience you were having, your brain zooms in on that one thing you hate about how you look.
“Ugh, my arms look huge.”
“Why do I look so puffy?”
“I didn’t realize my legs looked like that.”
If you’ve ever had a moment where a photo stole your joy… this episode is for you.
What I discuss:
What a “self-discrepancy moment” is
Some factors that can significantly change how you look in pictures
What to do when the self-discrepancy moment hits
6 actionable steps to positively react
And if you loved today’s episode, I know you’ll also love…
Episode 338: To the Woman Obsessing About What Her Body Looks Like…https://www.juliealedbetter.com/embrace-your-real/to-the-woman-obsessing-about-what-her-body-looks-like
If you want more from me, be sure to check out...
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Website: www.juliealedbetter.com
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Transcript
00:00 -
Hey, hey, beautiful human, Can I steal five minutes of your time? I have something super important to share with you, but I promise I'll be really quick. You're listening to my weekly bonus episode of Embrace your Real with me, julie Ledbetter. I'm about to give you a quick tip for building your confidence, honoring your body and unconditionally loving your authentic self. Stay tuned If you're ready to embrace your real, let's get it. Let's go. Hello and welcome back to another episode on the Embrace Real podcast.
00:39
Today we're talking about something that I know many of us struggle with, whether we like to say it out loud or not, and that is how we feel about ourselves when we see ourselves in a photo that we don't love. You know that moment I'm talking about. Maybe it's the group picture that someone tags you in on Facebook. Maybe it's the Canon shot that your significant other, your husband, took, your sister, your mom. Maybe it's even the selfie that you took and instead of seeing the fun memory, the beautiful moment, the experience that you are having, your brain zooms in on that one thing that you hate about how you look. Oh, my arms look huge. Oh, why do I look so puffy? I didn't realize my legs look like that If you've ever had a moment where a photo stole your joy, this episode is for you. Because here's what I want to talk about in today's episode why these moments are so triggering, how angles and lightings play a way bigger role than we realize, and how to navigate these triggers without letting them ruin your day or how you feel about yourself.
01:33
Before we dive in, I want to share this review. They gave a five-star review and said the motivation that I needed. I cannot express how happy I am that I found this podcast. I liked it so much that I even decided to start from the beginning. Every episode is so helpful and uplifting. I feel like listening to this is exactly what I need to start every day off right. Thank you, julie, for being so real and raw and being so relatable. You give me hope. First of all, the fact that you started at episode one is actually mind-blowing. I've heard this a few times now and I'm like what in the world? I honestly have not tuned into episode one in probably what since we launched it in 2020. So I have no idea what that sounds like, but I'm so grateful that these podcasts are helping you and thank you so much for taking time out of your day to send in this review. It really does mean the world to me.
02:24
Okay, so why are these photos so triggering? Well, I want to kind of start here because I think so many of us feel a sense of shame or even bothered by this. Like we tell ourselves things like I shouldn't care how I look or I should be more confident by now. But here's the truth Caring about how you look or how you're seen in this world is human. It doesn't mean that that's vain, it doesn't mean that you're shallow, it means that you're human. And we live in a culture where appearance is constantly being judged. So, of course, seeing an image of yourself that doesn't match how you thought you looked can feel jarring. It's called self-discrepancy moment, like where the image you see doesn't match the image that you had of yourself in your head, and those moments can really trigger thoughts like do I really look like that? Have I been lying to myself about my progress? But what we have to remember is that a single photo is not the full truth. It is a one split second of a three-dimensional dynamic body in motion, and so often that photo is influenced by factors that have nothing to do with your body itself. So let's kind of break this down. I think understanding why certain photos feel so triggering can help kind of take some emotional charge and change out of it.
03:37
Number one is lighting Harsh overhead lighting. This is the kind that you get in most gyms or locker rooms or even some home lighting. This can create shadows that emphasize every little dip, curve line, texture in your body. It tends to make muscles look more defined and it can also highlight things like cellulite or skin texture or bloating in a way that really feels unflattering. On the flip side, soft, natural lighting, like standing near a window or being outside in indirect sunlight that oftentimes works in your favors. It helps to diffuse shadows, smooth out texture, highlight your features in a more balanced, flattering way. So if you've ever noticed how different you look when you take a selfie in your car with natural light versus a bathroom under fluorescent lights, that's why it's not that your body is is changing, it's that the environment and the lighting has changed. Here's something else that's really kind of important to understand Overhead lighting tends to cast these shadows downward, which can make areas like your belly or your thighs look bigger because of the way that the light falls and creates depth Lighting that comes from the front, however, or better yet, soft natural side lighting fills in those shadows, making the body look even more true to how you actually look in real life, and this is why professional photographers are so particular about lighting setups. They know how a subject is lit can completely change the look and feel of the image.
05:09
Number two angles. Angles matter so much too, sometimes even more than lighting. The angle where the camera is placed completely changes how your body shows up in a photo. A photo taken from below, where the camera is pointing up at you, will almost always make your body look wider or larger than it actually is. This angle exaggerates whatever is closest to the lens and because it's shooting upward, it oftentimes makes the lower half of your body look bigger, while shortening your torso. It can also make your face and your neck appear puffier because of the way that the chin gets pulled up back into the neckline from the upward angle. But on the flip side, a photo that's taken from above, where the angle of the camera is angled downward just slightly, tends to be more flattering. This position can lengthen the body, it can emphasize your natural shape without distortion and it can create a more balanced proportion between your upper and your lower body, which softens features, brings the focus to your face and avoids that bulky look. That happens when the camera is too low, and this is why, whether we realize it or not, most of us instinctually raise the camera a little bit when we're taking a selfie.
06:23
It's not vanity, it's literally basic physics of how camera angles affect perception. But it's not just the height of the camera, it's also distance that plays a role too. Like when the camera is very close to you, especially with a wide angle lens like the ones that most of our phones have, your proportions can get distorted. So whatever is closest to the lens, whether that's your arm or your belly or your hips, that can look much larger than it actually is. But then, when the camera is further back and uses more of a zoomed in lens, the image tends to flatten out the proportions and create more of an accurate representation of your shape. All that to say, I'm not telling you this so that you can start obsessing about angles. I'm telling you this so that you can stop blaming your body for things that aren't actually your body at all.
07:11
Number three posing. Oh girl, I know, you know this one. The way that you hold your body completely changes how your shape shows up in a photo. So professional models and fitness influencers aren't leaner or stronger just because of their workouts. A lot of them are also pros at knowing how to pose their bodies in ways that can highlight certain muscles or create flattering lines or avoid positions that compress or distort their shape. For example, like slightly turning your body at an angle versus standing straight on at the camera, or creating space between your arms and your torso so that they don't smush against your body, or shifting your weight onto one leg to create a natural curve at the hip, or softly engaging your core to create length at the midsection, tilting your chin slightly forward to avoid that neck compression. None of this is about tricking anyone. It's really just about understanding how posture, positioning and posing can really impact what the camera captures.
08:10
But the problem is that we oftentimes compare our completely unposed, totally relaxed selves to other people's best posed, most polished photos. So that random candid that someone snapped of you sitting down at a weird angle with your arms smished like squished into your sides, mid-blank. Of course that's going to feel very jarring when you compare that to the perfectly posed photo that you approved of last month. But again, that doesn't mean that your body is the problem. It means that the pose wasn't working in your favor. But here's what happens we compare these random, candid, often unflattering photos of the pose-curated, intentional photos that we see online, or even to the pose photos of ourselves that we approve of. So of course, there's a disconnect.
08:57
I'm not saying this to justify obsessing over your angles. I'm saying this because I want you to understand that when a photo triggers you, it doesn't mean that your body is the problem. Sometimes the photo itself is the problem. Let me repeat that for the ladies in the back. I need you to understand that when a photo triggers you, it doesn't mean that your body is the problem. Sometimes the photo itself is the problem, and now you know why. Now let's kind of talk about what to do when that moment hits, because I know I've absolutely been there, trust me, especially postpartum. I've seen a photo and I immediately just feel my stomach drop. It's sealed my joy. I've let it derail my confidence for the entire day or the entire week, and I know that I'm not the only one. And so here are some things that I think that you'll find helpful.
09:51
Step number one Pause before reacting. The first thing that I want you to do is notice the trigger and pause. Don't react right away. Don't rush to delete the photo. Don't spiral into negative self-talk. Just pause, take a breath, remind yourself. This is a moment where my brain is having a reaction, but that doesn't mean the reaction is truth.
10:12
Step number two zoom out and look at the whole photo. When we're triggered by a photo, we tend to hyper-focus on the one thing that we hate. But I want you to zoom out. What else is happening in that photo? Are you laughing? Are you with people that you love? Are you living your life? Can you look at that photo as a memory instead of as a measurement? Step number three check the context. Ask yourself was this angle or lighting or pose designed to flatter me, or was this a random moment captured without intention? Just remind yourself that a bad angle is not a bad body.
10:47
Step number four talk back to the negative thoughts. I want you to literally practice saying things like that's not the full story of my body. One photo does not define me. My body's allowed to look different in different moments. This is how my body looks when I'm relaxed and that's okay, remember your body doesn't exist to pose. It exists to live.
11:10
Step number five decide what serves you. Sometimes, looking at a photo over and over and over again is just pouring salt on the wound, and you're allowed to choose to not engage with it. But here's what I want to challenge you on Don't let one photo stop you from being in the frame. Don't let it keep you from getting in the picture. Don't let it keep you from capturing memories, because, at the end of the day, the people who love you aren't looking at your arms or your belly in the photo. The day the people who love you aren't looking at your arms or your belly in the photo, they're remembering the moment that they shared with you. And last but not least, step number six don't delete the photo. Not everything has to be posted for social media. You can keep a photo for the memories and not just for the posting. I guarantee three months from now, one year from now, five years from now, you're going gonna look back at that photo and be shocked that you actually thought that you looked bad in it. Your present self doesn't have to use the photo, but save it for your future self. She will appreciate it.
12:05
Okay, so I want to leave you with this today. Just remember that your body is not meant to perform for the camera. It's meant to carry you through your life. Photos can be beautiful ways to remember moments, but Photos can be beautiful ways to remember moments, but they are not proof of your worth. They are not proof of your progress. They are not proof of whether or not you're allowed to feel good about yourself. You are allowed to love your body on the days when the camera catches you at your best and on the days when it doesn't. And if no one has told you today or lately, you are more than a moment in time. You are more than a bad angle. You are worthy than a moment in time. You are more than a bad angle. You are worthy of being seen exactly as you are. So take that photo and don't stress about how it turns out.
12:44
And if this episode resonated with you, would you do me a favor and share it with a friend who might need this reminder as well? And if you haven't already, I'd love for you to leave a review. It helps so much in getting this message out to more women who need it. And hey, if navigating body image stuff like this feels extra hard right now. I want you to know that you don't have to do it alone.
13:03
Inside my Moot with Julie community, we focus on strength, consistency and feeling good in your body, not shrinking it for the camera, the workouts, the community it's all designed to help you build real confidence, not just when the lighting is perfect, but every single day, because here's the truth the strongest body is the one that carries you through life with joy, and the best progress photo is the one where you're smiling because you feel good in your skin. If you're ready to feel strong and capable and proud of the body that you're in, come join us. You can go to salemovmentwithjuliecom to get started and you can also find the link in the show notes below so that you can easily go check that out. If you love today's episode, I know you will also love episode 338 to the woman obsessing about what her body looks like. I will go ahead and link that in the show notes that you can also go tune into that after this. Thank you for being here, thank you for showing up for yourself, and I will see you in the next one. Love you so dang much.
14:08
All right, sister, that's all I got for you today, but I have two things that I need you to do. First thing if you are not already following me on the gram, be sure to do so. Julie A Ledbetter yes, it's with an A in the middle for that daily post-workout real talk, healthy tips and tricks and honest accountability to keep your mind and heart in check. The second thing be sure to subscribe to Apple Podcasts to never miss an episode. Thank you so much for joining me. It means the absolute, absolute world, and I'm going to leave you with one last thought. The most beautiful women that I have met in my life are the ones who are completely confident and secure in being authentically themselves. Remember that beauty goes so much deeper than the surface. So go out there and embrace your room, because you're worth it.