if you think you look pretty..?

Question

..and you pose for a picture then it turn out to be hidious, is it a problem in photography, angels n lighting or what not, or do you really look that hidious in real life?
In short, do you trust the camera more or the mirror?

Answer 1

Always trust the mirror. I look horrible in all regular photos, but I had professional photos done, and I look like a model.

Go figure.

Answer 2

It's hard to really say without seeing the person. When you look in the mirror, it's easier to focus on just one aspect of your face. You may also tend to move your face into the most attractive position possible so that there's no double chin, no big nose, no dark eye circles, etc. If you had a professional photographer taking your pic, then she might put you in the right position so that you look just as good. But with impromptu pictures, you can't do all this and end up seeing how you look at "ugly" angles or bad lighting.
You might also want to consider the fact that you've been looking at your face your entire life. Our brain is wired in such a way to prefer familiar faces, explaining why our species likes community. The preference is almost like attractiveness and sometimes the distinction between attractive and familiar gets lost. Seeing yourself in the mirror, in the same position, may just be familiar while photographs are new and strange enough to negate this effect.
On the other hand, certain features like small eyes, undefined noses. round faces, oily skin etc look terrible in photographs yet people with those features still look good in real life. Sometimes, with a bad flash or lighting, dark skin barely shows up even though IRL it looks nice. These are hiccups of photography and going from 3-d to 2-d.

Answer 3

Some of the best looking people are not photogenic. I trust the mirror 100% before a picture.

Answer 4

Thats exactly what I think as well.....I seem to look better in the mirror, but I end up looking very weird in photos. I think I would go with the mirror for sure since like how you said about all those factor when the picture is taken.

-shake & bake

Answer 5

mirror. i think some people take better photos than others, and the lighting and etc. does play a roll. once a few years ago my husband and i thought we would save some $ and get some pics made at walmart of the two of us. i had seen pics of friends babies that turned out so great so i figured what the heck? (not hard to light a baby and make them look good it turns out)
our photos came back and i had terrible dark circles under my eyes, and a dark shadow under my neck that made me look like i had a double chin. i think the lighting was really off, my husband looked just as pitiful. i am no supermodel, but i knew i didn't look that bad! :)

Answer 6

I DEFINETELY trust the mirror more, ive been wondering about this too for the longest time. Try taking a picture of yourself with flash on, and then one without, theres a huge difference in lighting.

Answer 7

No, not at all. In fact, I've noticed this with a lot of people including myself. I think I'm decent-looking, but my pictures always turn about pretty bad! Not most, but quite a few of them. It's because more than half of this world isn't photogenic, so no one is really great at taking pictures. Why do you think the modeling and entertainment industries are so small? Cuz a lot of people are shallow and looks are a main part of it. :-)

Got any pics? I'm sure they aren't that bad

Answer 8

It means you're just not photogenic. You're not meant to be photographed. I learned this over the yrs and it sucks but oh well. I know I'm not ugly. People tell me I look so much better in person than I do in my pictures. It's inevitable.

Answer 9

Mirror and video cameras too! Try taking ur self portrait many times to find your best angle.

Answer 10

mirror. when people see you they're seeing you in action as opposed to a single frame that a picture shows.