Weird when you're browsing a random Instagram profile and assuming they're unedited, and then they throw in an actually unedited one. How did the eye size change this much -

It doesn't look like she's wearing lenses as there is no clear limbal ring, though the proportions are similar to someone wearing lenses. So she just enlarged the entire eyes in most photos, and then threw in a few real ones for fun.

She's obviously really pretty regardless, it's just kinda crazy to me how common it is to run an online profile of your cgi self rather than the real one. Though I think throwing in more realistic photos is a good thing.

I grew up on an internet where the most editing you could do was high contrasting or blurring your pics, changing facial features was not a thing. Though it's inbuilt in every IG/snapchat/whatever filter now.

Also people who used angled images or high contrast were mocked mercilessly, I kinda don't think feeling your irl face is inferior, and needs shapeshifting to be acceptable is a cool trend.

And as a result young people get cosmetic surgery now as soon as it's legal...

I don't wear wigs or anything special since I think the 'real self is bad' whiplash is not very good for self-esteem, just showing up exactly as you are irl is the best thing for mental health. Anyway!

I'm considering how to approach taking+posting images again, and I think keeping a kind of distance is a good idea. I've been pivoting to a limited contact/no DM approach and maybe I can carry this concept into images. So not things that look like selfies.

Symbolic distance I mean, basically not making eye contact with the camera/mysterious lighting/gazing off into the distance. I can't really have friendly images while also making effort to limit communication. It sends mixed messages. Plus I am more comfortable with the above.

I want my online profile to be as accurate to me irl as possible, while avoiding being too happy or friendly (as I actually am) as this may be misinterpreted.

The goal is transparency, document the art/sculpting/design, associate the image of myself with my designs rather than it appearing anonymous or birthed of the internet, (too many people think uploaded online = copyright-free/public domain) but avoiding unwanted communication.

Nothing in the way I run my business, my designs, my attitudes, behaviour etc is the same as my peers, so I need to figure out my own approach to how I express myself online. Most people have a pre-made plan via copying someone else.

I've spent years trying to figure out an approach. Researched ye olde internet on http://archive.org , followed peer accounts to see what works for them. If I post a standard selfie I'll generally get some fans who I then feel guilty about when they approach me romantically.

The implications are far worse now since doing online sex work is a trend, and I dread any assumptions that could be made if I copied the behaviour of female peers in current year in order to seek their popularity.

With the niche dollmaking business I have spent years studying and training for, there were no plans, guidelines, tutorials or anything else to copy, and I think becoming myself online is going to have to be a unique approach too.

Tangent inspired by girl in the first Tweet, what I liked about her profile is she doesn't make eye contact in most photos, just looks to the side or gazes off camera.

She still looks friendly and kind, but it's more distant than a lot of profiles.

And I was already thinking yesterday about maybe going for the myserious elf gazing off into the distance theme. I honestly don't like making eye contact with the camera, which is apparently an autism trait (I'm not autistic, but ADHD) & I would be more comfortable not doing so.

Because there are so few skilled artists who also show themselves (video+photo) online, literally a handful - I wasn't not sure how to approach it, when comparing to people who basically model and talk to the camera and nothing else.

So basically I've been telling myself I need to do what a big Youtuber does, talk to camera/entertain, when that's *all* they do - because there are literally like 5 pretty girl artists who show their face as well as their art online.

There are a few Youtuber artists but they don't really make art, they kinda LARP as artists for young artists to use them as role model/inspiration. Their stuff is either plain bad, or skilled but limited/uncreative. The main thing they do is entertain.

Since I'm making very complex items that usually involve entire teams and factories to produce, maybe I can give myself a pass on being an 'entertainer' and admit I am uncomfortable with the boundary-crossing that comes with that.

Basically a very long thread to say I'm gonna do what I feel like doing, and ignore trends and fashions in regard to how I present myself online :p

Various reasons; nobody to copy/peers for guidance, possible bad consequences of copying e-girls and online celebs, and comfort.

If I just do whatever I'm comfortable with I'll never regret my choices, it won't ever seem dated, and mainly the ADHD means doing things I'm not comfortable/interested in is impossible anyway, so I have no choice.

Thanks to the random Instagram girl for being the header of this thread. From the explore page: missfl*ssyp*ts