There is no way I’d write something like his if it wasn’t part of the Zero to Hero Challenge!
How does anyone know the reputation they have? I’ve just been shredding a lifetime’s references and if you believed them I’d be caring, competent, organised, excellent communicator etc etc but friends and family I’m sure would have different ideas. The only way I can think of, apart from references, is what people have said to me. Now, what they say to others about me could be completely different!
People always tell me I’m “strong” which I find amazing because I churn up inside about everything but I do know it’s a common perception of me because I’ve often been asked to represent people in difficult situations. My sister-in-law however thinks I’m strong because I eat fresh fruits and salads while resisting all creamy, greasy concoctions. I tell her I just don’t like them but she can’t believe that could possibly be true.
I have a deserved reputation for being interested in plants and animals though certainly some people would know me as a plant-killer-through-kindness.
In the past my reputation would certainly have been as a crafty/arty person but now it’s more likely to be as a photographer who doesn’t like to be photographed!
I believe my family would say I’m always there for them if they need help but the knowledge that my youngest grandson had faith I could even “make it rain” during the recent heatwave is a treasure. Of course I didn’t disappoint him, overhead sprinklers are there to be used!
Musings of a Retiring Person 
I think most photographers do not like to be photographed. We are used to being in control and being behind the camera not in front of it.
The stupid thing is I see the character and personality in the people I take but when I look at myself in a photo invariably I just see physical failings!
I think when taking self portraits we need to try to capture who we really are instead of just taking our pictures. When taking portraits of others I can always capture their personality but I have yet to capture my own. I thought it was because I was using the timer on the camera so I bought a wireless remote. It is easier with the remote because your not going back and forth every shot. Someday I hope I can capture the real me in a self portrait.
Thanks for your response. It’s not selfies that bother me, I never take them! I think I get my best portraits of people when I catch them off guard, nice natural expressions.