Although it was 10 years ago that Dove US launched their Real Beauty Sketches campaign, I only recently discovered the video. And truth be told, I am watching it repeatedly.
Dove introduces the three-minute version like this:
In one of the most famous Dove films, Real Beauty Sketches explores the gap between how others perceive us and how we perceive ourselves. Each woman is the subject of two portraits drawn by FBI-trained forensic artist Gil Zamora: one based on her own description, and the other using a stranger’s observations. The results are surprising…
Why does this resonate with me so much?
Because so many women (and men) arrive at the Pixel Roses studio for headshots or personal branding photoshoots feeling down about their looks. Whether it’s their hair, the size of their nose, their teeth, shadows or bags under their eyes, one eye bigger than the other (a trait nearly all of us have), a few extra kilos, whatever… the list goes on and on.
The point is, we all have our internal view of how we look, and of who we see in the mirror every day. Our visual sense of self, our beauty, our flaws and imperfections; sometimes both!
Yet, as this video illustrates perfectly, how others see us is different. If you watch it and you’re anything like me, the moment when someone sees their two sketches side by side is powerful and inspirational.
Our “sketches”
In our studio, the “sketches” we create aren’t made with pencil and paper. We create headshots and profile images with a camera, in partnership with the person in front of us. Even with our makeup service, Mandy keeps the look as natural as possible. We don’t want to hide who you are; we want to show you the beauty that others see.
The objective of our professional headshot and personal branding experiences is not just to create great images. It’s to create an experience that raises each person’s self-worth, with images that show confidence, authenticity and approachability.
We like to take a few “before” images at the start of each photoshoot. That starting point becomes our comparison for what comes next – the equivalent of the first sketch. Then we build rapport, engaging and having fun with each client, coaching and coaxing expressions and poses that bring out who they really are: their personality, their natural smile and laughter, how others see them and how they want to be seen.
From “before” to “wow”
Yes, we’ll consider any comments about your features, your good side, even how you part your hair and where it falls. But our job is to coach you through all that until we reach “wow factor” images – images that make your jaw drop. We love hearing a client say, “That’s amazing. I can’t believe that’s really me!”
Once a client is in that wow zone, there’s usually no stopping them, and that’s when a shoot really rocks. The results are the “after” images. Like the forensic sketches, they show how others (including us) see you, and they change how you see yourself.
Reaching those moments with clients is precious, and it’s why we do what we do. Hearing a client say “I look beautiful” or “I look gorgeous” gives us genuine pleasure, knowing we’ve helped them on the path to greater self-esteem. As photographers we have a real responsibility, and it’s so fulfilling to help our clients feel fantastic about themselves.
As one of the women in the Dove film says:
We spend a lot of time as women analysing and trying to fix the things that aren’t quite right, and we should spend more time appreciating things that we do like.
Let us show you what others see that you don’t, and you’ll learn to appreciate yourself more. Get in touch to explore how our camera can reveal the beauty and professionalism others see in you, share your thoughts on this idea, or simply say hello.