I like real pic avatars

I'm into crossdressing just for the clothes so I have no pictures. Also I'm a klutz. I once tried to put up an avatar & failed. It doesn't matter!

I like to see people's avatars and pics too and will, as many of you will have noticed, have a quick peek at your profiles. That said, I completely understand that many do not want to expose themselves to possible discovery by whatever method, so I respect that decision in totality.

Does the desire to see people's pictures make you shallow? Not for a minute in my book. Many here will present themselves in the best light (I only post the nice pics believe me :heehee:) and the profiles are of limited use as they contain very little info really. All in, I like to converse with people I know by facial recognition, but in these days of the net, very little is 'wysiwyg'. (what you see is what you get)

Rebecca

For me it helps enhance connections more on a personal basis..... name with a face...... all be it fake name with a face.... vs fake name with a flake photo... lol. but in the scheme of things.... it doesn't really matter.... I have long term friends who I have never seen photos of and that's fine.....

I would love to see real avatars from all members but I understand the reasons why some prefer not to post one, now on a more personal level of communication I take more seriously the people I know at least by pictures

I like real pictures, if someone sees you on this site then they must be into it also, that's how I feel. I just googled my screen name and nothing came up about me that I posted on this site, now I also googled my real name and nothing related to crossdressing came up. I googled my other screen name from another site (not a CD site a porn site) and WOW, a lot came up lots of pics, no real face pics, I black out my face but there are some that if you knew me, then you would know it was me. I don't really care, I'm out for the most part, I'm too old to give a s**t what others think. But that is not for everyone, I remember what it's like to be afraid of people finding out, it messes with your head. Share pics when you are ready too.

I use a non-photo avatar to deliberately communicate an attitude and mood. When you look at that pic, you will get a bunch of information about me that a personal pic wouldn't show.

However, my profile pic IS me. I'm not glamorous. I'm in a Indian skirt, sports bra and loose top. You can't see the mascara, but its there. My body type & beard are impossible to miss.

Compare the two.. you have to agree that they present very different messages.

<3

- MM

I like to see what people look like as much as anyone, deep down I'd still like to find a local friend to do things with when the planets are aligned..

my avatar does not represent the way I look now, but its the me I have felt many times.. only when I look in the mirror or see pictures the reality of time really sits in.

my pictures are current so anyone can really see me as the woman I try to portray.

yes I'd like a 25 year old youthful body, but I'll settle for some where in time..

I so appreciate all the responses-- even the negative. Thank you all for taking the time to let me know how you feel. I like transparency and the chance to see who I am chatting with. Personally, I love taking and sharing pictures. It's fun!

its a good thread jenny,
when i first joined i never took a photo of Mikell never mind posting on the internet, once on the internet forever on the internet! but i felt that if most members had some sort of photo in their avatar i should reciprocate and i cropped my head off and posted, (new nothing of makeup then either), now some times i cant wait to post a foto or so,if only the camera would co-operate. deleted all but my new avatar today, i dont post my face on the open forum, found my threads using search engines, but in the private forums i usally share more verbally as well as photos as i never found anything from the private sections here when searching. silly but a comfort to me, but with the photos i feel a more genuine connection with that member when we connect, i do understand why some choose not to, but i dont feel as connected if that makes sense.....

LikeSara I like a face with the voice. No one is going to out anyone else, so step up to the plate and let us see you.

That's so true haha. I'm pretty new here and I've been contemplating joining or not and sometimes I would think "I better not, what if someone were to see" but then I thought the exact same thing you said, "what are you doing on the site?". I figured I'd be safe putting up my picture on here :D

If you are really interested in seeing who I am, maybe you should try to get to know me . Then after a bit of talking I will show you me . My walls are there for a reason ,maybe there should be some respect for that . Say Hey! Trinity Sue

Hell I am paranoid about having my femme pics stored in "pictures" on my personal unit for fear of some insidious hacker going in there and getting them. Much less posting them on a forum. Would love to do it to show all here what I look like.

My avatar is what I look like. I use it on a bunch of different sites. I just don't care if anyone knows I am transgender. Maybe, if anyone ever asked, it could be a teachable moment for them. But, guess what, nobody asks and nobody cares. If I wear makeup, tights, short shorts, blouses, breast forms and everything but a tutu nobody asks and nobody cares. Why is it so different for so many members on this forum? I just don't know.

My avatar is really me, but for now I prefer not to show my face. When I'm out to the world, which will probably be in 12-18 months, then I will post a proper picture.

Well there you go, I've done it and there's no taking it back now! Thanks to JennyLynn and all the rest of you for the inspiration. I really think this is something I needed to do.

I used to think pictures put a face to the poster and helped me get a mental image of who I was reading. Then I became aware that some of the photos were not of that actual person but some obscure (to me anyway) actress or political figure.

I might put a picture up someday. My hope is that with makeup and a wig, people won't recognize me as my male self.

I like real pics also. I admit my Avatar is not current but my profile pic is. I'm still working on polishing my look as a mature girl after years in the closet. Then a current Avatar will appear.

Maybe I'll change my avatar once I can convince the wife to buy me some hair..... Until then, well I'll just be scaring small children.

I'd love to post a pic. Still working on makeup and my hair is at a weird stage now can't do a thing with it.

<---me :)

I'll show my full face, if only for a day or two (see profile pic.) I took the photo when I went out last, make-up still a disaster but managed to hide the worst by going B&W!

With those eyebrows I'm sure I'll always look like a "man in a skirt"!

I also like looking at the avatars that the member show but if they don't I still read their post because they can still contribute valuable imput.
I don't show an avatar because one of the agreements I have with my wife is that I don't post picture on the internet, She never has trusted the internet,but we go out often to other towns while i'm dressed,so in a way it doesn't make sense but that's the way it is. Besides, I never was one for taking a dare to prove myself so if by not having a real picture of myself makes me less real then that's fine. I have a very accepting and supportive wife, she is the one that matters most.

Now you get it!

I like real pics too JL but pic or no pic, I'm happy to hear from others here. :battingeyelashes::)

I like real pics but I won't judge someone harshly for not posting one. People have lots of reasons to not use real pics on here.

I do too. Either my avatar or profile pic is the real me....you can try to guess which one it it's!

I went years with a "cartoon" avatar. I was worried about an outing that would never come and eventually I got the screw it mentality. Now it feels good to not have another way of hiding.

Good for all those who chose to take the "leap of faith". It might be difficult and scary to post your picture, but unless you have obvious identifiable backdrops, nobody is going to recognize you. I think most who don't post a pic are afraid they aren't attractive enough to feel a part of the community. Nonsense! Post your pic and let the folks here decide. Take the leap of faith and you might be surprised!

I was reluctant to post an actual photo of myself dressed. As with all of you, I was concerned about someone recognizing me. So far, that has not been an issue. Additionally, about twice as many of you viewed my profile after posting the photo.

For the record, myavatar is just me and is current.

well, I have a full facial beard, and have had for about 45 years. Everyone I know, including my SO complains when I shave it off. Makes for a not very attractive avatar in this environment. I do love seeing real pic avatars, and do think about pushing the envelope in that area, but understand that there may be issues for those who don't post pic avatars. That said, I am dressed now and dress almost daily. Is public presentation always necessary?
Hugs,
Trish

I use a real avatar just for the record lol

this is me, good or bad. the only pic i have and the first pic in over 20 years. I do apprieciate the real avatars as it helps me keep you all straight!

I like a real avatar. It took time to get the shot, but fun and worth the time.

I like real photos for the same reasons everyone else said. And in my time on here I have posted some photos of me (really it's true!). But I took them all down because I felt vulnerable. Now I am too old and wrinkly to be the deva I had in my head anyway, so I doubt that will be happening again.
Also, I have found that after a time I haven't a clue what anyone is called, but I remember the avatar no matter what it is.
It's just mental symbology when you get down to it.

I use a real avatar, but it was a big step for me getting on the internet so I can understand someone's reluctance to use a real one. I only put mine up after a friend saw it and said it didn't look anything like me.
Combine that with the low resolution and that it is pretty well buried in the backwoods of the internet so the risk of someone putting a real name on it is lower than winning the lottery. I they do, well part of the reason for the real avatar is to be more open about myself.
The only avatars that annoy me are the one's that are of a real 3rd party and not identified as such, or inappropriate miscellaneous body parts.

It's nice to associate a name with a face, but like others I certainly understand the reluctance to use a photo for an avatar. I'm out to enough people that I'm fine using my photo ... even if it is a couple of years out of date :heehee: .

I couldn't even imagine that I could be identified by my pic. Besides who else would be on here but us girls?

It took me a while to get up the courage to post a facial picture. It also took a bunch of makeup practice, a little photo enhancement and the proper lighting and ... well, I eventually got a few that I felt were good enough to post.

For those of us that are out and about and don't want show a picture, you should know that there are a lot of cameras that take our picture. From ATMs to wallyworld, if you're dressed you've had your picture taken. Every once in a while, I'll take my Renne picture and google it with images. So far.... nothing.

On another note. Much like the real world, there are those of us that have won the genetic lottery (not me). They know who they are and I'll bet they tend not to post their real picture here. They get inundated with PMs and friend requests and notes and I'm sure it's a pain.

However, for me, it was a coming of age so to speak that I got up the courage to post the pictures. As I've said in the past, for those of us in the closet, it's not a matter of "IF" we get caught, it's a matter of "WHEN" we get caught. Posting my pictures most likely speeds up that process... I'm good with that.

Renne.......

Well, I am bummed that my credibility and amount of "connection" with others on this site is reduced. But my professional credibility would be reduced if people knew that I cross dressed. It could threaten my ability to have a steady income.

when I register in this forum I putted my real picture which I have because my hobby photography so I love to take picture for my self every two or 3 months with dressed and make up and wig :)

That's one of the reasons why I signed up to this forum. I just loved how open some people are, and thought it'd be a way to open up myself.

I hear what you gals are saying here...

This is me... Damn painful way to small push up bra but the results are remarkable!!

Here is my real avatar photo.

For the longest time, I had a faceless image of myself with high heels and big boobs as a profile picture and, a picture of June Cleaver for an avatar. The very first time I completely applied makeup myself and wore a combed out wig, was when I first tried on my first french maid's dress. I was so overwelmed by the whole event, I forgot the apron that came with the dress. Stumbling with makeup and trying to look natural I just let the video record. That was the day I got my avatar shot, the profile pose that I've received many fabulous compliments about and, the inspiration to write the signature line below.

And a little bonus that I never imagined.
Street cred on this site.
And if anyone recognizes me, all I can say is, "Hi, there!" :tongueout

Real pics for me too, though I like to show off my legs and what ever I'm wearing at the time, not so keen to show my face even if I was wearing make up and had my hair done up, my bf says I make a good girl :o I still worry it could fall into the wrong hands you read about this stuff going on...just playing it safe

I had a REAL picture up till I discovered that the web-bots scan the general forum and when I did a search for CDs in my state my avatar came up along with some posts. So if a member wants to see me check out my profile. There are some people I don’t want to know. That is also why I don't post as much as I used to.

the real me