Paperclipping: The Video Podcast | Design Your Story

I’d love to see some real buzz on the internet about tomorrow night’s Paperclipping Live, so we’re having a contest!

Instead of doing the typical drawing for prizes like we usually do, I am going to award a prize to the person who creates the most buzz about Paperclipping Live. Announce it on your blog, other people’s blogs (in the comments, of course), on the message boards…anywhere you think you might be able to drum up some interest.

Just tell people what it is, when it is, and leave the URL to Paperclipping.com (a linked URL is even better)! The person who makes the most announcements will win.

It’s okay if someone else has already posted about it on your favorite message board. You can post a second time. And don’t forgot non-scrapbook-related boards like craft, art, or mother-related forums.

To be considered, you must copy the URL’s of the posts where you left your message and paste them into an email to me. You have between now and the 6pm PST on Tuesday (tomorrow) to email me the URL’s of your posts. I will announce the winner during the live show. You don’t have to be present to win.

And don’t forget…to help me answer your questions (because I’m having trouble replying to all your emails), you can call the show using Skype. Call me, username: noellhyman. It’s totally free and you can call from anywhere in the world. See you on Tuesday at 6:30pm PST!

Note: If you’re unsure of the time difference, look for your city on this website and then compare it to my city, which is Phoenix.

Paperclipping Live is open to everyone, whether you have a Premium Membership or not.

I love these pictures of my mom and dad. I think my mom is so pretty. The picture below is not very sharp because I cropped it from a photo of three people. She wasn’t entirely in focus but the picture shows her naturally beautiful smile and I love it.

I am so proud of these photos that I’ve burned them to cd for all my siblings and parents, I’ve used one of them in mini-books I made for each family member, and I included both on a layout that will appear in Memory Makers Magazine later in the year.

This is why I was shocked when, asking my mom’s permission to publicize these pictures, she told me yes, but that she hated them!

Lesson #1: We are all WAY too critical of pictures of ourselves.

I had an a-ha moment a while back where I learned that not every picture of me has to be a perfect one. Most of us only like the really lucky photos when we happened to have gotten the pose and the smile just right. But our friends seem to love all the other ones of us, too.

Learn to identify why other people like the photos of you that you don’t like. And then learn to accept that that is just a part of you and it’s okay.

Lesson #2: It’s possible to become more photogenic.

My sister-in-law is a model and it’s fascinating to see her suddenly assume her photo-face in front of the camera. It’s a natural talent of hers. It’s not mine.

My natural talent is to perform. And I do often assume a performance “stance,” or posture when in front of an audience or camera. That part is natural to me, something I only became aware of when a play director pointed it out after one of my performances in high school. Since then I’ve observed that same stance in my photos and have noticed the difference it makes.

These postures and ability to make friends with the camera are skills we can learn if we want to improve the photos of ourselves.

Lesson #3: Learn through observation

Find pictures of yourself that you do like and notice the way you are holding your face. Compare them to other pictures you feel don’t flatter you. What is the difference?

Personally, I have to be careful about not lowering or raising my chin too much if I want a flattering picture. After various observations of what I did or didn’t like in my photos, I learned where to set my chin and I am now happy with most of my photos, which wasn’t always the case.

I also know to avoid side-profile shots because of my recessed chin. If I have to do one, I do best with if I raise my chin.

Improving your own photo-taking skills is really only secondary to learning to accept yourself in photos. You should be as happy with them as your friends and family are happy with them.

The layout I recently worked on in Paperclipping Live, about my girlfriend and I in hysterics, has plenty of photos that accentuate my long nose and my recessed chin. I love those pictures, though, because they show the fun and silliness of that evening. They show my genuine emotion. The layout isn’t about me looking good. It’s about me loving life and having fun with my girlfriend.

When you learn to accept your own pictures, you’ll feel more desire to share your personal story. That is so important, both to your loved ones who will cherish it, and to yourself who needs to share it.