We often take pictures of others, but how many times do we take pictures of ourselves?

It is easy to hear the refrain, "I hate having my picture taken!" - but why is that the case? In formal situations, the control is wrested away from us and into the hands of the "photographer", leaving us feeling disconnected and uncomfortable. The results are somebody else's version of us, in which we look stilted and un-natural. 

By taking pictures of ourselves consistently, we take control of representations of ourselves - and learn to like the way we look. So take a picture of yourself. You can use a mirror for composition - or even a reflection on a window pane.