I like having my picture taken. Ok, I love it. But I’m shy. But that  might surprise you, especially if you know me (stop laughing) because I’m mostly an extroverted person. Put me in a room full of strangers and I’ll walk out of there knowing a handful of new faces. Put me in front of a yoga class to teach and I’m cool as a cuke. Ask me to ask the woman sitting next to me what she thinks of the chef’s special before I order it, you gotta deal. But throw me in front of a camera? I may need a little vodka to set the mood. These photos are just a few in a series that I took for the revamp of my professional website – the one I use to get jobs in writing, editing and yoga. If you’d like, you can check it out here. A new version coming soon (but that’s not on the List, so don’t hold me to it.)

It took some time for me to get truly comfortable with Cheryl (the lovely gal who snapped these shots) and not because she made me uncomfortable at all. I just tend to get a little camera-shy at times. Things like, “do I look okay?” or “Do I come off as a spotlight lover?” or “Is there spinach in my teeth?” cross my mind. Repeatedly. That ever happen to you around a camera?

Since Cheryl’s a photography student, I assumed she was younger than me. “You’re what, like 24, right?” I asked her as she was asking me about my life and what I do when I’m not having my picture taken. “No” she replied, “I’ll be 30 next month”, and then rolled her eyes. “Ugh,” she said, “I can’t believe it.” I nearly jumped the girl! “Oh, then you understand me!” I said, hugging her, thrilled that she would completely get me when I told her about this blog and my Birthday List an how turning 30 feels a little heavy sometimes. And she totally did – she got me. Ever since, we’ve been emailing each other and hope to get together soon. On a side note, I’ve been testing out two shades of red lipstick all month, to rave reviews from friends, Rob and even a stranger at a nightclub a couple of weeks ago. Hm, not bad, eh?

Dear Toronto Life, can I write for you? I love words, you love words… we can make this work, I swear.

Sort of what I look like when I’m blogging, but not really.

These boots, people, look at these boots! Full-out vintage cowboy. I picked these bad boys up at Vintage Depot in my new neighborhood (we move in just three weeks). $18. I would not tell a lie. Not about shoes, anyway.

Not sure what I was thinking here, but it was probably along the lines of, ‘I don’t know what to do with my arms!’

After four hours of shooting, wardrobe changes and brilliant banter with Cheryl, I decided that I’d like to do this again – a photo shoot, that is. I really do love exploring new ways to wear clothes, move my face and arms and express feelings or lifestyle details just with a look or stare at the camera. Above all though, I love being someone new for a few snaps. It’s an art – photography, I mean – and I’d love to be the subject of somebody’s creation once more. Just once. What an honor that would be. (Wow, this wasn’t easy to write or admit but…ahh.)

I want to do this again so much that I’m making it #22 on my List: When it comes to art, be the subject, just one more time.