That might not sound like a big deal. Most people just book the session, show up, smile a few times, and walk out with a folder full of updated images. But for me, this was something I had been avoiding. I’ve needed new photos for years. My face is all over the internet, and I’ve been using the same shots since 2019. The process itself only takes twenty minutes. That wasn’t the issue.

The truth is, I didn’t want to do it because I didn’t like how I looked. And instead of facing that discomfort, I kept finding reasons to delay it. Even with my wife, who is an incredibly talented professional headshot photographer and literally in the next room, I still couldn’t bring myself to schedule it.

Something changed recently. I’ve lost 20 pounds. I’ve been doing the work, taking care of myself, and feeling a little more confident. For the first time in a long time, I thought maybe I could stand in front of the lens without feeling completely out of place.

When the day came, I thought I was ready. I had my shirts ironed. I even had a little confidence in my back pocket. But the moment the camera came out, everything changed. I felt like I had never driven my body before. I didn’t know how to stand. I couldn’t remember how to smile. I felt awkward and stiff, unsure of what version of myself I was supposed to present. And this was happening while my wife, the person who knows me better than anyone and who literally has the right to make medical decisions for me, was holding the camera.