Here's what I tell every friend who's struggling with body image

It's simple and out of the box—and it totally works.

Hello friends!

If the question box on my Instagram every Tuesday is any indication, you all love a Q&A. I do too! So on today’s mini-episode of the Liz Moody podcast, I have Zack on to help answer your most pressing questions related to friendship, communal living, dealing with failure, and my favorite baby names (hey, you asked).

But since the Substack community always gets the extra tea, I had one listener write in asking about how to deal with body image issues related to an upcoming wedding. Listen, I’ve been there, and I have one tangible tip that really helps with this:

Schedule another photoshoot

I think most wedding-related body image issues come from feeling like this is your “one chance” to look your very best, because a professional photographer will capture the whole day. Obviously, you want to get it all right: The dress, the hair, the makeup (don’t get me started on how I feel about my own wedding makeup), and yes, the way your body looks.

I get that, which is why I think scheduling another photoshoot for a more casual situation can make a world of difference. We put so much pressure on these “once in a lifetime” moments to be the pinnacle of how we look, but what if they didn’t have to be so rare? What if you created more chances to feel beautiful, documented, and celebrated—not just on one big day, but on a random Tuesday morning in your kitchen, too?

One of my favorite memories is the impromptu photoshoot we did with our cat Bella the day she got her cancer diagnosis. My sister came over and snapped a few casual pictures of the three of us as a family, and they ended up being some of the most treasured photos I have. They weren’t perfect or planned, but they captured a moment that mattered.

I so treasure every single photo I have with Bella.

You can ask a friend with a good eye to bring their camera over on a cozy Sunday morning and take photos of you making coffee, curled up on the couch, or walking around your neighborhood. Or you can book a Flytographer session when you’re home or traveling (not sponsored, just genuinely love them). Wear something that makes you feel confident. Set the vibe with music. Focus less on perfection and more on memory.

That pressure to look 100% perfect on your wedding day? Officially yesterday’s news.

From the episode:

“I think one of the reasons we put a lot of pressure on our weddings in terms of how we look is because it's one of the only times in our lives where we have the hair and the makeup and the pretty dress, and we're taking pictures with our loved ones and capturing this special day.

If we captured more of our days, I don't think we would put as much pressure on the aesthetic component of weddings, and then we'd be free to enjoy the experiential component of weddings.”

The takeaway:

If you’re struggling with body image issues, whether they’re related to a big event or not, try this: Pick a day in the next month and plan a mini shoot that feels like you. I guarantee you’ll look back on them 10 years from now and they’ll be a treasured memory—and you’ll probably think you looked really hot!

For more hot takes on all your important questions, including how I plan to bring my communal living dreams to life, my favorite baby names (this was a controversial one), how to be more vulnerable with your friends and the thing I miss most about living in New York, head over today’s mini-episode of The Liz Moody Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. It would also mean the world to me if you could hit the ❤️ heart ❤️ on this post—it helps others find my Substack more easily.

Xo,

Liz

P.S. If you’re not yet a paid subscriber, it’s time to join the party! Paid subscribers always get key takeaways from each episode, full transcripts, and extra-special bonus issues on Fridays—this week, we’re taking a deep dive into the “notox” movement.

Key takeaways