Behind the Lens

I see you all over social media looking flawless in every.single.photo.  It’s as though you have this quintessential life.  Each photo just happens to capture your exquisiteness, perfect selfies and the camera snaps just as you are caught laughing in the moment or in a warm embrace with a loved one. 

I’m borderline stalker (okay, I kid) but I am guilty of being somewhat consumed in this all assuming world of ‘perfection.’  And in fact, I have a love-hate relationship with it.  I love it for the obvious reason; it is pretty to look at.  After all, isn’t that the point? It’s beautiful photography, it’s art.  And come on, it’s hard to deny yourself of the pleasures gained from a photo of all those over-priced cosmetics on the Carrera marble counter surrounded by a vase of fresh peonies.  But, let’s get real; that is not how my bathroom counter looks.  And by no means am I saying that it’s not how anyone else lives.  My world is just a tad more chaotic most days.  And what am I doing?  Embracing the Chaos! These pictures are how my morning started and this is my reality: cracked make-up palettes, brushes thrown around and mistreated so badly that M.A.C. makeup brush connoisseurs would cringe as my twins used them as teething toys, coffee spills as I try to multi-task and drink while putting my “lets do this” face on for the day.  Not to mention the toothpaste droppings and retainer unpleasantly situated on my sink (not pictured to spare you the nastiness).  So the dislike part… I really don’t like seeing these photos since they elicit my OCD and my slight envy that I can’t keep fresh peonies alive even if I tried.  They also lead to adding more projects on to my husbands list and for that I too feel his pain. 

I can say that after being immersed in this idealistic world on social media, that it really can draw you in.  I am discovering that I am now motivated to get these ‘staged’ photos of everyday moments.  And my followers seem to be more drawn to them.  An on the flipside, it has me scrutinizing over this ‘perfection. ‘

What is perfection?

I still take refuge in the idea that perfection is being perfectly imperfect.  We were all born to be real, not perfect. Perfection is not really the only acceptable outcome.  Sometimes its better to have something with minor flaws, to show for your hard work at life then nothing at all.  Everything and everyone has flaws.  This “perfect” life behind the lens, it has flaws too.  These imperfections are all part of life and that is nothing to apologize for.  Being comfortable in our perfect imperfections, to me, is the true essence of something beautiful.

So, why not post that photo of you and your hubby in a passionate argument?  Or that picture of your child making messes and causing chaos in every room of the house. Maybe people don’t want to see that because it’s too close to reality.  The escape of seeing this other world that might exist is intriguing nonetheless. 

It might not change the way that we superficially look over following the lives of these people we only see behind the lens.  But when push comes to shove, don’t overlook that they are people just like you and I.  They are imperfect.  And that is where the attraction endures in these images.