Being called for a group picture

[Kaynil]

So I went to a wedding a few days ago. This in itself can be its own topic, haha. The now husband is a high school friend of my partner, so I know very little in comparison. Anyway the thing was semi-formal and it was mostly about their families, whose first language is Cantonese
Anyway, it brought that dreading moment of people egging you to be part of the group picture, people I don't know. I rarely like how I look in pictures I don't take myself. I get way too self-conscious and start thinking I will blink or open my mouth too much or too little or look weird or something. I just can't relax completely. I kind of have a "smile for the camera" gesture done, so basically most of my pictures I am doing the same expression> I have a hard time monkeying around, even if other people in the group is doing it.

It is just too awkward when you don't know most of the people in the group with you.
How abut you? Are you a natural or do you tend to shy away from group pictures?

 

[BlackMarch]

If it's with people I don't know, I'm definitely the type to shy away from a group photo. I just get the feeling of being out of place.

Weirdly enough, I took a group photo this evening and I only knew about 3 - 5 people out of 20+ in that group. I had to imagine a funny moment in my head just so my smile wouldn't have looked fake. :S

 

[AngelaMc]

I'm definitely not a natural in pictures, especially if I have no idea who the people are that are going to be in them with me. I have never been relaxed around people I don't know anyway and it makes it worse at events such as a weddings when everyone has a camera in their hand. Natural pictures are the best, the ones people are unaware of someone taking, if someone would take pics like this anxiety would definitely be lessened.

 

[Concernedgal]

Oh lord I hate my picture being taken. Why me? I'm like @AngelaMc . I never look natural in photos. I never show my teeth when I smile, there's nothing wrong with them.. I just dont.. never have. I've had my picture taken without my knowledge before and some of them look good but, others... lets just say that some pictures show the hopelessness and anxiety I feel. Everybody else is like" wow Michelle, what was on your mind that day or " why the long face?. I don't really know what to say to them . Aside from you guys, and my husband. I keep my mental illness a secret from the rest of the world.

 

[Decentlady]

Well I am certainly not a photogenic person and I see absolutely no reason to pose along with people that I don't know.

Infact, I stay far away before I get pushed into such situations. I have stopped taking selfies as I look really bad in pics.

 

[janemariesayed]

As I'm not really photogenic I abhor my picture being taken. I just feel embarrassed to think that anyone, literally anyone may get to see that picture. Maybe I know them, maybe not, but still, they will see my picture and say 'oh look it's her!' Whether they think well of me, or badly of me, in my own head it scares me. At times I've not had a choice and had to sit for photos. I felt that they were just false. Everyone smiles and pulls silly faces and it isn't how anyone actually feels. Maybe that is why I'm not keen on having a picture taken because I feel that it is false.

 

[misszerable]

The group picture has always been part of a gathering so I've been used to having my picture taken. I feel that I would be the odd ball if I don't and it's even more worrisome for me if I have to think what they might be thinking of me just because I did not join the group picture. In the automotive class I just attended, my classmates had been either teens or barely past their teens and they love to use their mobile phones during break or during classes (when the trainer is not around) to take pictures of the group in action. They once did this mannequin challenge and I had to join them or I'll be the official class killjoy. No, I'd rather have my picture taken than worry that I'd be the odd person out.