Why do you not post WIW pictures? - YouLookFab Forum

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Why do you not post WIW pictures?

Queen Mum

Veteran

One of my most very favorite parts of YLF is getting to see what you all wear in your day to day lives. Honestly, no fashion magazine could ever inspire me the way you all do.
So I'm just curious... for those of you who do not post outfit pictures... what is it that keeps you from posing and posting? time? insecurity? do you feel that we have all seen your stuff already so no reason to post?
Just wondering...

General

68 replies

Latest reply was from stringy

Louise

Veteran

I don't post very often I get afraid of people getting fed up of seeing me! x

Anonymous

I don't post often either because I don't have an available photographer and the pictures I take of myself are not good. I do hope to post more, at the moment my camera is acting up.

I also enjoy seeing pictures of outfits our YLF members create, and it is only fair for me to contribute too.

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

My problem is two fold:

It's difficult to get a good photo
I hate how I look in photos. I video much better, weridly. I think I just get too stiff when my picture is being taken.

bj1111

Veteran

for me, it's a matter of time. i think "oh, i'd like to share this with ylf" when i get dressed. this has happened to me so many times over the past month, that i even have post titles and self-challenges.

then the day just runs away from me, sans photo. by the time the day winds down, i'm so ready to peel of my duds (no matter how stylish) and get into my jammies.

*hangs head in shame*

Queen Mum

Veteran

Louise- I feel that way sometimes too... but I think that is just our own insecurities because there is honestly nobody here who I get tired of seeing posts. I may not click with everyones style, but I love to see and get inspired.
San- I wasn't trying to guilt anyone.... we all have seasons of not being able to post pics for some reason or another and that is okay. I do miss seeing your jaw-dropping style though.

Lynne

Veteran

Oh, Cookie, I feel like you're looking at me! I feel guilty that I get so much out of others photos and I haven't 'contributed'.......YLF is the first forum I've participated in and I feel nervous posting piccies online. What if someone that I know saw me? How embarrasment! But I am building up to it....thanks for asking a very good question and I do apologize..

Cookie

I do a lot of fund raising and earlier this year too much of my information got printed on a form that went out to the public. I ended up with a "stalker" and had to make some changes in my life to protect my family. I had to resign from a Board, we had to have our phone number (that we have had our entire married lives) disconnected, change Interent passwords, and I can not have my picture from any events posted for a while. No pictures online for me until the authorities say it is safe.

Queen Mum

Veteran

RT and BJ-- didn't mean to ignore you both. We were posting at the same time.
I certainly hear you both. It is a time challenge. If I don't get a picture first thing, then it just doesn't happen.

Lynne

Veteran

Kim, sorry, I've just called you cookie - apologies. Your photos are among my fave..

Cookie, I am so sorry to hear this....how awful for you.

Maya

Veteran

Lots of reasons.

-Taking pictures is time consuming and the results are often unsatisfactory. I do not have a photographer and my house is dark. After a 14 hour work day the last thing I want to do is take pictures of my disheveled self in a dark room. I'm certainly not getting up any earlier to do it either.

-I'm pretty formulaic about my outfits. I have been wearing the same handful of pieces all summer. Not much to show.

-I'm not usually in need of or desiring of feedback. I'm at a point where I trust my instincts. I'm not trying to be arrogant--I still post and ask for feedback on things I am unsure of, but I don't need or want every outfit to be scrutinized.

-A few things I wear are not looked upon kindly by the YLF community (hello brightly colored tights) so I doubt anyone will be drawing inspiration from them anyway.

-Privacy. This forum is full of lurkers. I'm not paranoid or overly protective, but making a regular habit out of posting pictures of myself is taking it too far for me. We all have different boundaries when it comes ot these things.

-I read a lot of the WiW's but don't comment because it is hard enough to catch up with the forum at the end of a day or over the weekend. Often the existing comments are things I would have said anyway. I have to prioritize and the WiWs are on the bottom of the list. Since I do not participate in WiWs, it would be unfair for me to post WiWs and expect others to give me feedback (which as I said, I'm not particularly interested in anyway).

There is plenty of inspiration floating around from the WiW regulars, so I leave it to them to volunteer their time in this instance. I simply choose to volunteer mine in different ways.

Hope that clarifies things.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Basically I don't like to ask Corey to take daily pictures. He gets annoyed if I have a huge batch of pics to take, and doing it daily would aggrivate him too. Another factor is the fact that our schedules don't always jive. He's out the door for work before I've even stepped into the shower, and when I return at the end of the day I often don't feel as fab and polished as I would first thing in the morning and am less inclined to have my picture taken.

Rose

Time! I work crazy hrs, and only look at YLF during lunch @ work.. like right now!

Rose

oh, but I sure wish I did the have time to do it, b/c I LOVE looking at everyone's WIW pics, to me it is one of the best parts of YLF and I draw so much inspiration from it.. so I hate to not "do my part" and post my WIW pics, I just can't seem to find the time to do it..
ps. I don't get sick of seeing anyone's pics here..

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I think Maya listed the main points of why I don't post outfits. It's hot outside and I'm not wearing a great variety of clothing right now. Plus, I think everyone has seen most of what I have anyway; I haven't purchased anything really new and different in a long time other than accessories. Also, it's time consuming. I've gotten really busy with school and other projects. I try to check in at least once a day and read the forum, but usually by that time, what I would have said has already been stated by someone else. I don't see a reason to post a lot of repeat things.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Cookie, OMG!!!!!!!!! I am SO sorry to hear of your trouble- that mustve been terrifying for you and your family....as to the question, with me, its both that I have*zero*computer savvy so I would need to have DH do it for me and I *HATE* the way I look, both in pics and IRL and seeing a pic of myself just slams that fact home for me...Im trying to get over that hurdle because I know I could get some great advice here.....

FiestyWife

Time & photographer. I have some things I'd really like to get feedback on but it just doesn't seem to happen. Hopefully when things calm down in a week or two I can get some up!

AJ

Veteran

Cookie, I'm so sorry about what you and your family have been through.

Lynne & Random Thoughts - You can always crop and submit a shoulder to feet pic just to show the outfit.

I also enjoy the WIW posts and try to contribute as often as I can. I suppose some might think I'm vain, but I do like to take daily outfit pics. Since I like to mix things a lot, the pics help me keep track of my remixes so when I'm pressed for time I can quickly glance through my album for an outfit. Also the album provides me a quick reference when someone is asking for wardrobe or accessory suggestions.

It does take time to take and post the pics but I'm getting faster at it.

Emely

I don't like taking pictures of myself (insecurity)
I am not up to YLF dressing standards yet (insecurity)

Hopefully one day I'll get over that and post a pic.

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

I'll get around to it. I don't know. I'm a weird mix of self-conscious and rebellious.

I suppose in some ways, my style evolved because I felt I could not do the "usual" well so rather than attempt and mess up I just went to the other end - defied what was "pretty" or fashionable. I grew up on the Eastcoast in a very preppy, conservative area. When I was in HS I was a punk rock chick, and in college a total rocker and was even once called out in front of class about being stylistically eclectic (It was art school and it was topically relevant so not quite as bad as it sounds). Yes, even at art school in NYC I was a little bit of a weirdo.

So in addition to thinking I look hideous in photos I get nervous about opening myself up to criticism. But I do want some YLF advice about some items I have so.... It'll happen! And I know everyone here is all about the positive reinforcement with constructive advice.

tarzy

Veteran

I try not to think about weirdo lurkers salivating over pictures of my sensible Clarks shoes. Ya gotta love the internet.

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

Oh, PS - the outfit that was the topic of discussion ended up with a thumbs up.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I certainly wasn't trying to make anyone feel guilty or have to feel the need to defend themselves. I apologize if that was how my question was interpreted.
I realize that everyone is here for different reasons and everyone has varying amounts of free time on their hands.
I would though encourage those who would like to post pictures but for whatever reason feel insecure about it to give it a go. I for one love to see what everyone is wearing.. be it to the grocery store or the oscars.
Cookie- what an ordeal to have to go through. I do hope that you and your family can feel secure and safe and not have to live in fear.
Anyhow.. thanks for all the honest responses. And don't feel that if you aren't posting picture that you aren't contributing.

bj1111

Veteran

kim...i think that many of us who don't post photos feel a bit guilty (i do anyway) because i realize how much effort it is to take a photo and post it. plus i think that the women who do it are very very brave to open themselves up for criticism, no matter how constructive.

i've certainly learned a lot from seeing how others put outfits together, what works, etc...so my guilt comes from knowing how much everyone who posts (photos or otherwise) have informed my thinking and by not posting i'm not paying it forward.

no worries about the question! learned a bunch.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

As I'm reading this thread, parts of it make me happy, while other parts make me sad.

Cookie, I'm so sorry to hear about those challenges. Hope you feel that things are adequately sorted. Good luck.

Kim, don't feel bad at all.

Lori

Veteran

Time, time, time. . .and I've also gotten to a place where I am very comfortable with my style. If I can look in the mirror and feel great about what I have on, I'm pretty happy, and don't feel the need for feedback. Also, I work with a bunch of stylish ladies who give unsolicited feedback often.

Some of my fav posts are the WIW posts. I draw inspiration from many of them also.

Sparky

Veteran

OK, Cookie gets a complete pass!!

I also love this forum for seeing how real people put together outfits on a daily basis, and seeing everyone's pictures inspires and delights me. I am still feeling pretty new here, so I am building up slowly to taking and posting pictures. I think I've only done one WIW. Our family's summer has been very ~ VERY ~ laid back, so I haven't had much to offer in the way of WIWs. That will change with the season!

I don't feel anyone needs to apologize if they don't post WIW pics. We all participate in the forum in our different ways, and they're all good.

marianna

Veteran

Couple of reasons:

1) I am super insecure and I scrutinize my pictures to no end. I can take 20 pictures and still be unhappy with how I look. (Too fat, weird look on face, outfit looks off, hair isn't sitting right, etc). I think I look better IRL.

2) I don't feel as stylish as all of you who post WIW pictures and I'm embarrassed of my lack of style. This is probably all my in head, but I feel awfully unstylish at times (I know it's not true, but I'm mental!)

3) I don't want to seem self absorbed by posting pictures of myself all the time.

4) I am unemployed and don't really do anything much of the day, so I often feel that photographing super casual outfits is silly.

5) Currently I don't have my camera with me.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Cookie that is just horrifying.

I simply do not have a cable to connect my camera to the laptop (my old laptop used the memory card) and as my camera is a relic a cord is proving difficult to find.

I love the WIW section of YLF especially seeing people style evolve.

Marianna, you have won prizes for your style!!!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I forgot to mention that you shouldn't feel that we *ever* get sick of your outfit pictures, Louise - or anyone else.

Marianna, you are showered with COUNTLESS compliments when you post. All well deserved and the truth. Chin up and wipe away those insecurities!

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