Are you camera shy? A new Dove global survey reported that 77% of women are uncomfortable having their photo taken, citing that they often feel self-conscious or uncomfortable because they do not feel they are beautiful. Also, 46% of women have de-tagged, deleted or removed a photo of themselves in a photo on a social network. Anxiety about their appearance prevents them from capturing precious memories, including photos of a beach vacation, their own wedding pictures or even photos of the birth of their child. As a result, these women are missing out on some of life’s most memorable moments because they are not happy with the way they look.
Dove is committed to creating a world where beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety and in response created a short film, Camera Shy, to raise the question why women hide from the camera as an adult, but loved the camera as a little girl.
View the Dove Camera Shy film:
To help women say goodbye to a camera shy mindset, Dove Global Self-Esteem Ambassador Jess Weiner offers these valuable tips:
– Ban beauty-bashing comments such as “I look so fat” or “I’m having bad hair day.” Negative talk makes everyone feel anxious about their looks. The more positive affirmations you make about your own beauty, the more your self-confidence will soar.
– Nobody is perfect. Remember that those “perfect” images of celebrities have been styled and retouched by a team of professionals from start to finish. There is no such thing as perfect beauty.
– Women should not get caught up about how they look in a photo, but rather think about when they are 70 and remember how great it will be to have captured that time in life.
– Finally, Focus on Making Memories. Instead of stressing about looks in a photo, women should think about how they will FEEL when looking back 5, 10 and 50 years from now remembering the joy they had at the beach with family or the celebration shared with friends. When women focus on the type of memory being made, they will find that their face and body will relax, resulting in more natural, genuine smile and true enjoyment.
You can also view the Dove Camera Shy film at www.youtube.com/user/doveunitedstates and join the conversation at #MyBeautifulSelf. For more info visit Dove and the Dove Self-Esteem Project www.Facebook.com/Dove or www.dove.ca.