Guardian Camera Club: Maxine Moss on self portraiture

Mother. Not a role but a part of my identity. We do sometimes look a lot happier about it all. It's big stuff though, still sometimes can't believe it's me that's a mum, I often can't find matching socks for myself. Didn't know how to arrange my face for this one. Decided to stick with do very little. The children were annoyed that I was putting the tripod in front of the tv. I rushed the shot a bit, it's a bit noisy. It captures the moment really well though. I think the irritation is palpable Photograph: Maxine Moss/Flickr

Chaos. I'm not sure what percentage of my time is spent on my knees looking for stuff under the sofa, in drawers, under beds, behind bookcases, but I'd venture that it's vastly above the national average. We are all untidy. I always have been. I blame my parents. My children will blame me. Fair enough Photograph: Maxine Moss/Flickr

Wife. That man is my husband. 15 years now. I put this picture of him dressed in a child's jubilee crown on facebook and he got 15 likes! He thinks that he went viral. My hands were not this wrinkled when we got married Photograph: Maxine Moss/Flickr

Smoker-not. I gave up years and years ago. Still miss it though. Still occasionally think of myself as a moody twenty something smoker. I used to smoke when younger because I often felt socially ill at ease. I lit this one, just wanted to take a shot to see how it is. It smelt horrid. I used to smoke roll ups anyway. I used to sit on the shed step like this. I miss the idea of it Photograph: Maxine Moss/Flickr

Clown. I don't act like this much, but all my life I've connected with people through humour. I like to think I draw more from wit than slapstick, but that's harder to convey photographically. You need to be there Photograph: Maxine Moss/Flickr

Unhinged. I'm a risk taker, sometimes. I got this idea after seeing nudity come up on the discussions for this assignment. First thought, no way would I do that. Then I started torturing myself imagining it. Then kind of daring myself, decided I might if it had a comical edge, and then the dare in my head kept prodding at me. My heart was pounding in terror that a car would come flying found the corner, even though I had my car parked with door open to sprint into. Just decided to see if I was brave enough. Turns out I was. Nearly gave me a heart attack though, and I have no idea what I would have said to the paramedics. I would never have done this in my twenties, or even my thirties Photograph: Maxine Moss/Flickr