Photo Shoots for 40+ Year Olds

I just finished reading my April 2009 issue of More magazine.  I love More magazine because it is for women of my age.  I can relate to almost every article and nearly every advertisement.  Last Christmas my husband (I mean Santa) put an issue of Cosmopolitan in my stocking.  “Cosmo!” I thought, “I haven’t read one of these in years.  This should be fun.”  Well I tried, I really did, but there was absolutely nothing in there that I found interesting.  The articles were all about how to “catch” a man and then how to satisfy him in bed.  Check and check (if I do say so myself!).  It was for twenty somethings and it was fun when I was at that stage but pretty empty for me at this age.

This months More magazine features the winner and four runners up for their annual “More 40+ Model Search”.  The winners range in age from 41 to 52 and these women are absolutely gorgeous but the best part is that they are non model, every day kind of women…only really quite stunning to look at.  The magazine shows them getting primped for their photo shoots by the hair and make-up people.  Of course they are wearing designer duds and have professionals seeing to lighting etc.

All of this made me think back to just a couple of weeks ago when I spent a few days with my partners so that we could do our own “Tara Cronica” photo shoot.  The first one in many I hope.  Ha! I never thought I’d ever say that because I’m not really a fan of having my picture taken, but we just had so much fun that day and shared so many laughs.  The most fun however, came when we three sat shoulder to shoulder peering into my lap top to view the 400 plus pictures that were taken of us that day.  My cheeks were sore from laughing so hard by the time we finished.  That’s not to say there weren’t some fine photos of all of us, but I have to tell you there were some pretty unusable ones too.  It was then that I learned that I must never ever ever lower my chin to my chest when I smile.  I had never before realized how many chins I was sporting!  Each one of us at different times had some pretty unflattering poses.  Phew! It’s not just me!  I have to admit I was a bit worried going in because I have never been a model and both my partners have modeled at different times in their lives – and really good at it!

What I learned from the whole experience (besides the too many chins part) is that I’m finally comfortable in my own skin no matter how wrinkled and saggy it has become.  I am what I am and I’m happy to be “me” now.  I think  my partners are like me in this way too and that is why we could have so much fun with it.  Sooooo, I thought you might like to share in some of the laughs.   I can hear Tracy and Jacquie gasping “Oh no…you wouldn’t!”  Not to worry girls, I’m just laughing at myself here.  Although I have some good ones for future blackmail…just kidding!  Enjoy the out takes now cause you won’t be seeing them again.