The cd and the camera

[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.

[Jenniferathome]

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.

[pink.switch.love]

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?

[Stephanie Miller]

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.

[Jenni Yumiko]

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

[Sheren Kelly]

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.

[Sallee]

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

[pink.switch.love]

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

YES! forever 16 !

[AllieSF]

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.

[docrobbysherry]

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!

[darla_g]

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.

[Leslie Langford]

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.

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.

[AllieSF]

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.

[AllyCDTV]

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 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.

[Amanda M]

What business is it of yours anyway?

[Tracii G]

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.

[noeleena]

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...

[Kelley]

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.

[Beverley Sims]

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.

[Jen60]

Pineapple and cheesecake...mmmmmm!

[pink.switch.love]

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.

Awesome! ROFLMAO

[MeganHenry]

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

[Carol A]

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

[Michelle (Oz)]

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.

[Jana]

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