The cd and the camera

After seeing so many pictures of cd's in store changing rooms, a question popped into my head. Why? Why are you carrying a camera if you're out shopping? Is there some kind of thrill in seeing yourself in different outfits that you didn't buy? Obviously you could have taken those same pictures at home if you did purchase the item. Is it because you can have your own little fashion show without having to drop the $$ on the clothes? Do you take pictures of yourself at Home Depot holding a mitre saw? Standing next to the sawzall display? Maybe holding up a couple gallons of paint? If you go to the grocery store, do you take a camera with you so that you can have the lasting memory of you and a bunch of great looking bananas? I really doubt that you would ever see a GG snapping pictures of herself in a changing room, unless it were wedding dresses that she was shopping for. Maybe I'm odd, but I just don't get it.

Every phone made today has a camera, so carrying a camera is non-thing. As to the photo sessions, I take pictures to help evaluate myself later. There is also a theme on this forum of "if you don't have a picture, it didn't happen." So I think that is happening too.

After seeing so many pictures of cd's in store changing rooms, a question popped into my head. Why?

it is fun.

Why are you carrying a camera if you're out shopping?

ummmm.... Phone?


Is there some kind of thrill in seeing yourself in different outfits that you didn't buy?

Ummmm.... YES


Obviously you could have taken those same pictures at home if you did purchase the item. Is it because you can have your own little fashion show without having to drop the $$ on the clothes?

Again - sure!


Do you take pictures of yourself at Home Depot holding a mitre saw? Standing next to the sawzall display? Maybe holding up a couple gallons of paint? If you go to the grocery store, do you take a camera with you so that you can have the lasting memory of you and a bunch of great looking bananas?

Well hell yes! If that's what I like...


I really doubt that you would ever see a GG snapping pictures of herself in a changing room, unless it were wedding dresses that she was shopping for. Maybe I'm odd, but I just don't get it.


Every see an unboxing video on youtube or a haul video on youtube?

The young ones are way worse.

Why so much judgement? And why are you looking at pictures that disturb you so much?

I have to agree with pink.switch
If it's not your thing.... then move along. Nothig to see here. But let those that want to... do it.

I take plenty of pictures when I'm out hunting or fishing. I've got tons of pictures standing in front of houses and buildings I've built.
Why? Because I'm proud of the accompishments and/or want the memories to look back on.
In girl mode its no different. Just different atmosphere. Because I'm proud of the effort (maybe not the outcome) that I put out. Crytique the look, etc.
I don't post a lot of photos - because I do it for me. The ones I do put up are so people have someone to associate the conversations with. I don't think a shoe or skirt defines who I am. Nothing wrong with that mind you. Just not my thing.

Try looking at my daughter and her friends Facebook after they leave the mall... about 300 pix of them in dressing rooms wearing everything and anything...
c'mon every movie scene where there is a dressing room, theres always a fashion show montage with some upbeat pop music and 5 costume changes!
It's FUN! (Well i don't know first hand but it looks fun :-p)
Do you take pictures of yourself at Home Depot holding a mitre saw? Standing next to the sawzall display? Maybe holding up a couple gallons of paint? If you go to the grocery store, do you take a camera with you so that you can have the lasting memory of you and a bunch of great looking bananas? <--thats hilarious though, I"m going to have to do that and tag my daughter next time i see a dressing room album on her page :-D

If I try something on and it screams YES! then I buy it, if not, I may opt to take a pic so I can critique what is good and bad about it on me. It is part of the process of developing my owb style. I do not use the store to play dress up (and I have posted about this before). I won't try something on unless I have the intention of buying it. Every time you try on a garment in a store you make it potentially less sellable.

We are all forever 21 or maybe still 16 I guess that is why we take pictures

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Originally Posted by Sallee

We are all forever 21 or maybe still 16 I guess that is why we take pictures

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YES! forever 16 !

Gee Heather, from the replies so far seems that you just may be odd. Hell, why do men want to wear women's clothing items, why do some males like to play rugby and get the living snot kicked out of them, why climb a mountain or hill, why??? As you have read up until now, for future reference, for further evaluation, and probably the best reason because they want to. I bet we all have been looked at by someone else and then the looker wonders why about something we do, say, act or even wear. I wouldn't worry about it. I like looking at pics of people. Now I have to ask myself why?? Naw, who really cares, I sure don;t. Try it and it may work for you too.

Where r u seeing all these, "changing room pictures", Heather?
I don't see any in our Pic Forum here.

The last thing I would ever do is take a cheesy phone pic and post it here!

well i suppose if that's all you are interested in the pictures don't need to be in the changing room. Most department stores have a pretty liberal return policy.

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Originally Posted by Heather Daniels

After seeing so many pictures of cd's in store changing rooms, a question popped into my head. Why? Why are you carrying a camera if you're out shopping? Is there some kind of thrill in seeing yourself in different outfits that you didn't buy? Obviously you could have taken those same pictures at home if you did purchase the item. Is it because you can have your own little fashion show without having to drop the $$ on the clothes? Do you take pictures of yourself at Home Depot holding a mitre saw? Standing next to the sawzall display? Maybe holding up a couple gallons of paint? If you go to the grocery store, do you take a camera with you so that you can have the lasting memory of you and a bunch of great looking bananas? I really doubt that you would ever see a GG snapping pictures of herself in a changing room, unless it were wedding dresses that she was shopping for. Maybe I'm odd, but I just don't get it.

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LOL! - I'm with you on this one, Heather, and I don't buy the rationalizations either that some of the other posters here have put forward to justify this type of behavior.

What they seem to conveniently forget is that when they snap such pictures in store fitting rooms, they are doing so on private property (in this case, the retailer's or mall owner's premises) and can be deemed to be trespassing and violating others' privacy by doing so. It is the same principle that is followed by certain churches, museums, and business establishments that forbid photos to be taken on their property for a variety of reasons, all of which are perfectly legal and justifiable within the context of how they wish to interact with the general public.

Too bad that these narcissists can't just be honest and admit that they do this to get their jollies for fetishistic reasons, as opposed to simply dressing in women's clothing as an expression of their gender identity like the vast majority of us. This falls into the same category as having sex in public places because the possibility of being caught in the act is a huge turn-on for some people, and just heightens the thrill and the eroticism factor associated with that.

And where they really lose me is when it comes to taking photos of themselves wearing articles of women's clothing that they actually have no intention of buying. If they are not purchasing the item in question (or perhaps planning to buy it later upon further reflection), why does it matter if they look good, bad, or indifferent in it except maybe within the context of a "been there, done that, scratch it off my Bucket List" scenario and providing visual proof of that personal accomplishment.

My attitude generally is whatever turns your crank as long as children and animals aren't involved, and I'm not judging. But on the other hand, I also don't have sh*t for brains and my B.S. detector works just fine - thank you very much.

What does concern me, though, is that this is the kind of stuff that reflects badly on the TG community as a whole, and just serves to reinforce the creepy and fetishistic stereotype that the "haters" like to hang on us.

Leslie, I think you need to chill out a little on this one. Why the rant? You don't buy some peoples reasons, and I bet a lot of others, me included, do not buy yours, and neither you nor us really care what the other thinks. Narcissistic, cool word. Would that also apply to people who post picture threads or have their own real pic as their avatar? People taking pics in fitting rooms, women included, are not violating anyone's rules unless those rules are very publicly posted. They are not taking pics of products out on the sales floor and then running off to sell the pics to someone who wants to copy the item of clothing. If they like taking pics of themselves, so what? Rule No. 1, Forbid CD's from buying cameras.

"Fetishistic reasons"??? Where did you ever dig that one out of? Someone takes a pic in a fitting room and now it is a fetishistic behavior. I will call the BS on that statement. Yeah, there are probably a few rare CD's, TS's, and even GG's that may get off in a dressing room, but you labeling everyone that way is not correct. And your comparison of that with someone having public sex is really a very poor comparison. Why not compare it with a MtF CD or TG who uses the Women's restroom? Yeah, they must be fetishistic and perverts too.

I am glad that you only try on clothes that you intend to buy. But you can ask a lot of women and they will tell you that they try stuff on all the time when they do not intend to buy. Are they wrong too, or just us trans people? One reason is because they want to find out of the item of clothing, maybe style or whatever actually works for them. If it works, then they might decide when they can fit it into their budget and wardrobe, or when they might need it, like for a big company formal dinner dance. It could be a new style, shorter skirt, peplum top, pencil skirt, ankle length skirt or whatever. The store owners and staff know that to sell they need to let people touch, try on and then decide. They also know that a lot of customers have no intention of buying, but someday might, especially if the sales staff is helpful and accommodating. I could almost agree with you when it comes to maybe wedding dress stores. But even there, when the sales staff welcome a CD/TG into their store (and they probably read 99% of us) and let them try on wedding and bridesmaids dresses, I would guess that they are not expecting a sale. I bet that most brides to be go to several stores trying on dresses, many times before they ever get engaged. I know that my daughter did. A lot of people try on clothes, or even go talk to the software specialist in a tech store, and then go on line to buy the same thing for 40-50% cheaper.

You say that you are not judging, but you have already called this behavior fetishistic and narcissistic. Looks and sounds like judging to me.

Your last sentence seems to maybe reflect your own paranoia. Maybe all "T" people should just stay home and never go out to bother anyone, nor to give a bad image for anyone. That poor 6'-4", 300 pound CD with that great personality who lights up the room with their personality and character should just stay home. Rule No. 2, Only the cute ones should go out into the real world.

People go into dressing rooms to try on clothes for whatever reason. If they take pics and are not violating the clearly posted rules, then no one should really care as long as they are not soiling the clothes, nor damaging them in any way. Remember that the next time a bunch of young girls crowd into the dressing room next to yours, giggling and snapping pics. Please make sure to tell them about their narcissistic and fetishistic behaviors and let management know too. Can't let those young girls become poor shoppers now, can we?

I can easily accept that you, the OP and others may not like this activity. That is your opinion and right. But I am sorry, I just do not see that it is wrong, nor in most instances narcissistic and fetishistic.

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Originally Posted by Heather Daniels

If you go to the grocery store, do you take a camera with you so that you can have the lasting memory of you and a bunch of great looking bananas?

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I do have a pic of me with a banana in my pants but even though I swear it is a banana, the rules prohibit me from posting it here.

What business is it of yours anyway?

Some want acceptance and refuse to be accepting looks like.
If you don't agree with what they do move on and mind your own business.

Hi,

I do a lot of photography with in our groups , so we have a record of how we were dressed . yet i have very few of myself unless i get one of my friends or Jos to take some, if i do its only to check what i wear is good & suits me other wise out side of our groups im not that interested in photos of myself, ill put it this way im better behind the camara
takeing the shots than infront,

...noeleena...

I think it's the same reason people take pictures on their vacation. They want to document their adventure. For those of us who don't get out that much let alone try on clothes in the store it is a great way to relive the experience.

I did get a picture of myself holding a very large tin of pineapple in a supermarket in Hawaii.
I was dressed an shorts and singlet and posed with the tin in a cheesecake type of photo.
It was used on a poster to promote a pineapple eating contest.

Pineapple and cheesecake...mmmmmm!

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Originally Posted by AllyCDTV

I do have a pic of me with a banana in my pants but even though I swear it is a banana, the rules prohibit me from posting it here.

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Awesome! ROFLMAO

If I'm out shopping alone it helps to send a pic to a girlfriend or friends to get their feedback...

Well sweetheart here is my anwser on the question. A lot of people claim they dress and go out when I post on another forum I prove my words an am not afraid to say to closet people " it's so easy just do it". MY $.02 worth

Funny how much use my camera gets these days. Not in the dressing room but out and about dressed. Helps me relive the terrific experiences and, after trolling through many photos, finding the odd one that looks good. I treasure those and enjoy reliving the outings. Thank goodness for digital cameras and not the film of the old days.

I did have a major shop once when trying to renew my wardrobe. Great sales assistants who stayed an hour after close to help me. They enjoyed the experience too. Funny, after we'd about finished the manager said to me that we should have taken photos of each outfit. Oh, missed opportunity ... SOB. I suspect that they thought they would make more sales later that way. Or they just knew how CDers are wired.

As for only trying on things that we are contemplating purchasing. My wife scores about 1 purchase in 10 tries - far worse than me but I'm getting more discerning too.

So I guess that all puts me in the narcissistic and fetishistic category.

It's not just us doing it, GGs do it, too, using their cellphones (duh)! Check it out:

http://fittingroomgirls.tumblr.com/
http://changingroomgirls.tumblr.com/

So, Heather, I think it's just you... :P

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Originally Posted by Leslie Langford

What she said...

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Leslie, you know I am very fond of you but I have to agree with Allie on this one. I think to paint such picture-taking habits with a broad brush really misses the point of the different motivations that are out there for doing so. While I don't take your comments personally, nor those of OP, I can relate from the POV that Kelly stated. I have taken pictures in a dressing room all of twice in my life. The first time was technically not in the dressing room. It was at my fav boutique and at that time I had become pretty good friends with one of the employees. One day she snapped a couple pictures of me in two different outfits, neither of which I bought on that day. I even posted the pictures in these pages and not too long thereafter I returned and bought one of the outfits that I had originally tried on. The second time was last summer in a higher-end boutique and I snapped a couple mirror shots in the dressing room to decide whether to put the dress I was trying on on layaway. I lived with the pictures for a few days and then returned to the boutique to do so and paid it off in full within a month or so. As such, this is but a simple example of what should be interpreted as a legitimate reason to take such pictures. I hope your bs meter isn't going off at all ;)!!!

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Originally Posted by Heather Daniels

Is it because you can have your own little fashion show without having to drop the $$ on the clothes?

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Because personally I don't see the world as our playtime dressing room, I do put a higher degree of personal responsibility on our community when it comes to trying on clothes. The reason is because of perceptions. A natal female can try on clothes at 50 different stores without buying anything and the respective SA's probably wouldn't bat an eye in that they see this all the time. If one of us did that however, it's likely to be perceived as a being just a game and it would likely affect perceptions of those in the TG community who might follow in our wake (because SA's don't see us all the time).

Only the person trying on the clothes knows if there is any true intent to buy so the responsibility in my mind is purely personal. My opinion doesn't mean that sometimes you go shopping and try stuff on that just doesn't work out. It doesn't imply that one must actually purchase all the time. It's just that if there is zero intent to buy whatsoever, then perhaps one should examine their motivations for using the fitting rooms in the first place...and to bring it full circle, examine whether taking those dressing room photos is really a behavior you can be proud of.

To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson "If it does not break my leg or pick my pocket what business is it of mine." We all, and by all I mean everyone, of us is different. To lump newbies in with lifers is wrong. Would you expect kindergartners to act as college students? Each of us is on a different level. Some are way out there saying "Look at ME!" And some of us are meekly wondering "What would I look like?". Do you know what it feels like to be a teenage girl? I don't. But when my wife handed me her old make up bag I sure felt like I did. I think we are all, again everyone of us, is trying to have fun and figure out who we are. Like it. Don't like it. But don't judge it. It's like wrestling a pig. There is lots of screaming and hollering and the pig doesn't like it either.

Well, it appears that I've opened a big ol can of worms with this. I expected some backlash from my post, but certainly not to this extent. Lets see...so far I've been called a right wing conservative. I've been told to mind my own business and Ive been told that I need to be more accepting. Lets set the record straight.........
I did not pass judgement on anyone, I simply asked why do you take the pics. I said that I dont "get" it.
I am in fact a cd, therefore I do accept everyones needs here. I realise that we are all different and have different reasons for dressing.
Out of the 27 responses so far, I've only received about 3 that stated why they did this. Sarah Jessica's was probably the most valid reason and one that I can agree with.
Look.... go ahead and take your pictures with every dress from Macy's rack. It really isnt any of my business. This is the internet and therefore, its hard to write something and show the true feeling behind what you've written. A lot of you were pretty quick to jump the gun and say that I was being judgemental when in fact, I was not. I was simply asking a question.
Here's what really bothers me though. You all want acceptance. You all want people that see you out dressed to just say, " yea so what, its a guy who likes wearing womens clothes". When you take an armload of clothes into a dressing room, spend what has to be a very long time in there snapping photos of 16 different outfts and leave without buying a single item, what are the sale associates supposed to think about us? Are you shining a very good light on the TG community? Will you ever get the acceptance that you desire by acting this way? Think about it.
Ive been around here for a long time and I've seen some really strange things posted. One that particularly stands out in my mind was a thread asking if anyone wore pantyliners while trying on clothes,... just in case of an "accident".
Now be honest.... what does that tell you about that person? To me it shows what that persons intentions were all along. They weren't trying to see what styles look good on them. They were out to use the store as their personal playground.
Sling your arrows at me if you like, but I still think there are cd's who do this. Guess I'm being judgemental now.

Sorry, couldn't resist. :heehee:

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Originally Posted by Stephanie Miller

Sorry, couldn't resist. :heehee:

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No.... not big, just lumpy! :D Nice hat too.

Really----gimme a break we're CROSSDRESERS......... crossdressers handbook p.195 article No. 29b "...all crossressers must have pictures....otherwise turn in your membrship card"..................................Debra

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Originally Posted by Debra Russell

Really----gimme a break we're CROSSDRESERS......... crossdressers handbook p.195 article No. 29b "...all crossressers must have pictures....otherwise turn in your membrship card"..................................Debra

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I'm still waiting on my handbook. Damn union steward said she mailed it out last week.

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Originally Posted by Heather Daniels

Do you take pictures of yourself at Home Depot ..... holding up a couple gallons of paint?

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Hey! I'm just buying my makeup, OK?

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Originally Posted by AllyCDTV

I do have a pic of me with a banana in my pants but even though I swear it is a banana, the rules prohibit me from posting it here.

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Ally, you are so funny, you just made my day - again! Thanks, Steph
PS...I'm on my way to HomeDepot now.

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Originally Posted by Heather Daniels

Well, it appears that I've opened a big ol can of worms with this. I expected some backlash from my post, but certainly not to this extent. Lets see...so far I've been called a right wing conservative. I've been told to mind my own business and Ive been told that I need to be more accepting. Lets set the record straight.........
I did not pass judgement on anyone, I simply asked why do you take the pics. I said that I dont "get" it.
I am in fact a cd, therefore I do accept everyones needs here. I realise that we are all different and have different reasons for dressing.
Out of the 27 responses so far, I've only received about 3 that stated why they did this. Sarah Jessica's was probably the most valid reason and one that I can agree with.
Look.... go ahead and take your pictures with every dress from Macy's rack. It really isnt any of my business. This is the internet and therefore, its hard to write something and show the true feeling behind what you've written. A lot of you were pretty quick to jump the gun and say that I was being judgemental when in fact, I was not. I was simply asking a question.
Here's what really bothers me though. You all want acceptance. You all want people that see you out dressed to just say, " yea so what, its a guy who likes wearing womens clothes". When you take an armload of clothes into a dressing room, spend what has to be a very long time in there snapping photos of 16 different outfts and leave without buying a single item, what are the sale associates supposed to think about us? Are you shining a very good light on the TG community? Will you ever get the acceptance that you desire by acting this way? Think about it.
Ive been around here for a long time and I've seen some really strange things posted. One that particularly stands out in my mind was a thread asking if anyone wore pantyliners while trying on clothes,... just in case of an "accident".
Now be honest.... what does that tell you about that person? To me it shows what that persons intentions were all along. They weren't trying to see what styles look good on them. They were out to use the store as their personal playground.
Sling your arrows at me if you like, but I still think there are cd's who do this. Guess I'm being judgemental now.

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Thanks for your further explanation Heather. I am one of those that disliked your way of asking those initial questions. There is nothing wrong with the question, but when you compared it to taking pics at the home depot next to that miter saw (and I actually bought one there several years ago, without the pics though), that to me was an indication that you thought that CD's who took pics in dressing rooms were acting stupid. That to me is judgmental and unnecessary. I also agree that it is very hard to get all your thoughts down in a post without making it so long that no one would read it. I have several posts out there that I wish that I could take back, or had written with added explanations. In your second post here you then refer to taking the whole rack of clothes in to do a fashion show. How many of us CD's here really do that? That is a different situation than someone taking a few items in to try on a then taking pics of the outfits. I understand that you are exaggerating. Now, if you dislike the arm load of clothes situation, that is totally different than what I just compared it to and my response would have been, yes, that is over the top pic taking.

Since I have never taken a pic in a dressing room, I could not give you my reasons and accepted those that were given in other member's posts here. I have taken a pic in a restaurant bathroom before, because when I looked in the mirror I realized that I really liked my casual look for that night and I wanted to remember it. I still like that pic and look.

The last point I would like to make is is in regards to how what we do as CD's impacts how other's see us. In the big picture I truly believe that it has minimal overall effect when a CD is dressed or acts inappropriately when out. My reasons for that belief is that first there are very few that actually dress and act that way when out. Second, the few that see CD's like that are only a very small part of the whole, and of those that take it seriously what they see and react negatively to that are even a very much smaller number. We as humans see people all the time dressed differently and acting way outside the what we may individually consider the norm. Very few people go away from that experience condemning an age group, gender, ethnicity and even CD's as being representative of the whole. Why, because we already know and understand that the actions of one does not mean that all the rest are the same. Now, if that same minority of people who had the rare opportunity to actually see that type of behavior had more than one instance of that, then I would say that they could justify a similar opinion to the larger group.

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Originally Posted by Stephanie Miller

Sorry, couldn't resist. :heehee:

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Is that a banana in your pants or are you just glad to see us?

Funny this topic should come up... a couple days ago, I was looking through my Flickr page and I realized that a reasonable fraction of the photos were self-shots (taken of me, by me), and of those the majority were in changing rooms. This thread has helped me to understand why that is...

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Originally Posted by Heather Daniels

Obviously you could have taken those same pictures at home if you did purchase the item.

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The store is often way better for this. Floor-length mirrors, sometimes even from different angles, and much better lighting - after all, they intentionally design the changing room to make you look good.

I've also taken some pictures at home but I haven't posted them, because if someone who knew me saw pictures in my home they might recognize the place. (I actually removed a couple pictures from my set for this reason.) And my place has all sorts of distractions in the background, whereas the change room is bright and white and clean (usually!).

When I was younger, it was actually a lot harder to take pictures at home, since I lived with my parents, so pictures in the dressing rooms were all I had. And I do look back on those photos fondly. (I was so young! With abominable style! And a wig twice the size of my head! Ahhh, if only I knew then what I know now...)

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Originally Posted by Heather Daniels

Do you take pictures of yourself at Home Depot holding a mitre saw? Standing next to the sawzall display? Maybe holding up a couple gallons of paint?

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I was at the dollar store the other day and took a picture of a few locks on sale, to message my girlfriend and ask her if they were the ones she wanted. I've done similar things at various other stores, to comparison shop, to save an idea for later, or even just because I saw something that looked interesting. ("Sliming tea" in the Chinese grocery store? YES!)

It's much the same with the changing room. When I go shopping without my girlfriend, I send her pictures of what I'm trying on, and she says things like "Cute" or "No" to help me decide. (Or, often, "Cute, but no.") Or I go shopping one day with my camera, think about the photos of the clothes I took, and go back for the cute ones in a few weeks when they're on sale. And it does kind of make sense to take pictures of the clothes when they're on me, rather than on the hanger...

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I guess I take pictures in the change room for these reasons:
- Asking my girlfriend for advice
- Saving the photo for reference to purchase it later
- Memories / Vanity

In comparison, here are my reasons for taking photos outside of change room:
- Memories / Vanity

So... as it turns out, there are even more reasons to take photos in the change room, than not!

I've bought a reasonable number of the outfits in the pics I've posted (funnily, some of my outfits turn up in the changeroom and then elsewhere). And sometimes, looking back on the photos, some of the best ones turn out to be the changeroom ones, so I post them here :)

That all said, there's something special about the charm of an impromptu casual photo. Maybe I'll ask my girlfriend to point the camera at me the next time we go out...

to answer your question in th immortal words of john Belushi "why not?"