Posting a real Avatar

[CharLee]

I find it puzzling that we all in some way like to dress as a woman, present ourselves as a woman or even become a woman but post an Avatar that doesn't picture how we relly look as a woman.

Some it seems post an Avatar of an image of how they would like to look, but we all can't be raven beauties. If you aren't embarassed about the way you look when en femme, why not post a true picture of how you really look when you are dressed ?

[Dolores(GG)]

An avatar is just an easy way to distinguish whose talking besides the name. It can be anything, it's pretty functional when you think about it. Some ladies might not have taken a pic they are happy with, or they just like that image...I believe the photo gallery is the place for posting pics of oneself so others can see.

I don't want to be rude, but it's somewhat judgmental to assume people are embarrassed by themselves if their avatar doesn't show them. I can see you in your avatar but considering the size of it (a standing photo) I can't begin to guess what you actually look like from it. It gives me just as little information as the person who put a cute cartoon or whatever- less even, since the cute cartoon someone choose tells me about them in some capacity- while a dark, faraway picture of a dress tells me nothing.

I also know that in the past, some members have been criticized by (few) others for keeping their beards or whatnot (because they can't shave them off, because they like them, who cares) and I could see not wanting to post pictures of myself if that could potentially bother me. To sum it up, this is a community and we all interact on different levels. I don't think you need to call out people on something as trivial as an avatar image. Heck, I don't even know if I uploaded one!

[Melinda Welsh]

My Avatar is a reasonable likeness of what I look like en femme , without posting a frontal picture of myself on the web, as I am still in the closet and only a few friends online know of my dressing . I also do not use makeup often ( about once or twice a year). I have posted a few pictures on the web but none showing my face .And the rules for avatars on this site say a face must be included. I think others have a similar reason for not showing a photo on their avatar.
Perhaps in the future things might be different.

[Karin]

Hmm. Interesting topic. I'm gonna point another thing out too heehee. I always use a faceshot pic for my avvy. This one is probably about four months old. A certain amount of what we do although in decreasing amounts for me personally, is to learn the art of disguise? As a result, the pic you see is indeed me in my femme mode, but I could walk right up to you in the street and you would never know it was me! These days the difference between 'everyday' mode and that of my avvy is a lot lot smaller than it was a year ago, but still I really don't think you'd recognize me in rl...

[Vieja]

It would be nice to have an avatar and I even have a picture of me which unfortunately looks like me. (A little old fat guy in a dress)

The problem is you first have to get the picture into the computer then you have to do something magic to make it fit into your

avatar slot. Since I do not excel in computer science, no avatar. And the world is a better place without it.


Vieja

[Paula G]

There are rules about what we can show here, I'm not sure when when I first joined I think I may have had some facial hair, against the rules. I also lacked he self confidence to show a picture of how I looked, the confidence in my appearance, and the confidence that I wouldn't be recognised. So I had an avatar which showed Edda from 9 Chickweed Lane not because I want to look like that, although it would be nice, but because I like the cartoon.

As I have grown in confidence, in myself and the site, I have used pictures of myself, and tried to keep them reasonably up to date as I have progressed.

[Carol Ann]

Heck I don't hide from the world as believe me the difference in my male mode and fem mode are two different people 100%.
On another forum they have a section for pictures of what is called "before and after", first is male mode the second is your fem mode. Believe me with some people (yes like me) you wouldn't believe the difference.

Now the only drew back is people who know you as a male will now know you when you dress and go out.
Me I am to old and been dressing to long to care, I am Carol Ann take it or leave it.

[Ivanka]

I would not worry too much about being recognized in the avatar. Let’s take CharLee’ avatar. It’s full-body 75x100 pixels picture. Can anyone be recognized by such an avatar? I do not think so. I think it’s not more informative than Melinda Welsh’s avatar.
I do agree with Karin that there are all female tricks available for us crossdressers, so there is little possibility to be recognized even if you faceshot pic for your avvy. Shave your beard, change your haircut, get dressed in the business suite rather than in a casual wear and your already look different. Add a female wig, make-up and U look completely different. A guy next door looks more like you than the female illusion/image that you created.
Besides, if someone does recognize you here, they have no proves, but you can always question them what they were doing in the crossdressing forum? Now it’s them who shall feel ashamed.

[Celeste]

I totally agree with Ivanka's comment about calling out the person who found you on a CD site...pot/kettle/black, as the saying goes.

My avatar photo is not at all incrimintating because although it's a closeup, I buried half of my heavily made up face behind so much hair (teasing out that wig was a lot of fun, by the way!) that no one would believe it was me.

C

[Sarah Ann]

I was able to add mine because I have a good camera and a tripod, and I live femme at home. I basically primped a little, picked a top I think is cheerfully colored, and did my best "Miss America" at a space off near the camera. Then I snapped it, massaged the size and crop area in Photoshop, and uploaded it. It simply isn't that easy for everybody.

As far as being recognized from it in drab, no way lol, and the resolution is too low to do any major magic with it.

I think we should all do what we feel comfortable with here, being pressured to conform elsewhere is why most of us are here instead of somewhere else...

[Wendae]

I originally used an elf for an avatar as I was afraid someone would recognize me. Then, I thought "Why are they on this site anyway?" I still use the elf on public sites and for Yahoo because there could be a slight posibility of someone recognizing me or the background. While I do get out and about now I still haven't done so with family other then my wife.

[Ralitsa]

well I'm not worried about anybody recognizing me or calling me out. I'm not ashamed that I'm a crossdress and anyway if you ever meet me I will probably be wearing a dress at the time.
I'm going with the "laziness" reason. I don't do the avatar of myself (or any avatar at all) because I'm just plain to darn lazy to bother with it all.
On second thought, laziness isn't grounds for permanent banishment from the forum, is it?????

[Ivanka]

Just wish to add that there are many more tricks than mentioned. I’ve just uploaded my new picture to my facebook page. Blindfolded and restrained Ivanka is waiting for her Master:) The scarf that blindfolds me covers significant part of my face, enough not to be recognized. At the same time it does not look like I am trying to hide under it. It’s just to comply with the BDSM theme. It looks way better, sexier, intriguing than a photo with a head just cropped off in the attempt to avoid being recognized.
As to the skills to meet the Crossdressers-Forum.com avatar requirements, shall I offer to optimize it for those who are struggling? I am happy to do it for one dollar or FREE for my facebook friends.

[SilverLady(SO)]

As to the skills to meet the Crossdressers-Forum.com avatar requirements, shall I offer to optimize it for those who are struggling? I am happy to do it for one dollar or FREE for my facebook friends.

Most camera software comes with the ability to create 'web-only' photos, 'thumb nail size' photos, and the like. There are also numerous free software downloads for working with photos, and they are all very easy to use.

Besides, there are enough members here that are willing to perform that assistance - free of charge - for any member, not just their "Facebook" friends.


- SL

[Ivanka]

SL (SO), you sound a bit annoyed with me Why? Do I sound greedy because I asked for one dollar? I simply thought that this resourse was too visited to be able to help hundreds if required but I can do it a whole day if paid at least a dollar per avatar and then no one has any technical problems. I heard people would struggle to get their avatar organized and there were no immediate response here that there were some help available (free and not free) until I mentioned the dollar. So, I think we have done a good job together letting people know there is a help available for them.