Dislike your own appearance in some circumstances?

edamame721 · Apr 20, 2014

I'm normally okay with mirrors in my own home, but I hate the way my face looks in photographs and in the barber/hairdresser's mirror. There's just something about the really bright fluorescent lighting.

Has anyone ever had a similar experience where they dislike their appearance in certain circumstances?

Badjedidude · Apr 20, 2014

I generally prefer how I look in a mirror rather than in, say, a photograph or video. When I look in a mirror, I usually think I'm decent/average, but when I see myself in a photo... ugh. SO not flattering. lol

AmytheTemperamental · Apr 20, 2014

Yes. Daily.

Today, I was testing out my webcam, and I had to turn it off instantly. I did not like how I looked at all.

The Replicated Man · Apr 21, 2014

It depends on the lighting. I having a noticeable lump in the middle of my forehead that is hardly noticeable or extremely visible depending on the angle of the light. It ruins every picture I take.

I hate it. Like, I have actual hatred for this piece of my body. I'm going to have it surgically removed as soon as I've stowed the 2k.

edamame721 · Apr 21, 2014

Badjedidude said:
I generally prefer how I look in a mirror rather than in, say, a photograph or video. When I look in a mirror, I usually think I'm decent/average, but when I see myself in a photo... ugh. SO not flattering. lol

I've heard before that most people's faces aren't symmetrical. We get to know our own appearance through mirrors, but in a photography or video, we see our face as others see it -- so our face is flipped and we don't like it. Maybe that explains it for you?

Hearmenow2012 · Apr 21, 2014

Yeah definitely. I don't mind having photo's taken as I don't look that bad most of the time and usually I'm not bothered when I'm looking in a mirror either, however there are times when I feel down on myself for letting myself get like this especially in regards to my weight.

Veruca · Apr 21, 2014

edamame721 said:
I've heard before that most people's faces aren't symmetrical. We get to know our own appearance through mirrors, but in a photography or video, we see our face as others see it -- so our face is flipped and we don't like it. Maybe that explains it for you?

Whoa Edamame...you just made it all make sense!

Most of the time, I don't want to shoot at my reflection in the mirror, but I definitely want to pulpify all pictures of me. Except for the Instagram ones cuz I'm filtered beyond recognition in those

Triple Bogey · Apr 21, 2014

edamame721 said:
I'm normally okay with mirrors in my own home, but I hate the way my face looks in photographs and in the barber/hairdresser's mirror. There's just something about the really bright fluorescent lighting.

Has anyone ever had a similar experience where they dislike their appearance in certain circumstances?

mirrors are okay, I look allright.
photo's I was awful

WildernessWildChild · Apr 21, 2014

Too much self-criticism here.

SonDEre-ix · Apr 21, 2014

I was actually a child model and I'm quite comely, but I have noticed I'm significantly less pleased with my appearance in fluorescent lighting like you.

Boreal · Apr 21, 2014

Fluorescent lighting and webcams are just awful in general. :/

TheRealCallie · Apr 21, 2014

I tend to dislike my appearance the majority of the time. But my car's mirrors are the worst.

GirlwithCuriousHair · Apr 21, 2014

Mostly I'm okay with how I look in pictures, but every now and then I see a picture and it's a complete shock to me - it's like I have completely different features. Ugh.

I guess it really is about perception - if you only know yourself from mirrors, you're probably only seeing your face from certain angles and with certain expressions. You don't see the full picture.

LadyDaria · Apr 21, 2014

I think Mirrors make us look wrong. I enjoy my appearance there but NOT in photos. I used to think it was because I was overweight but then I lost weight and didn't look much better. I try to take more photos now. Also, I found out that there are tricks to looking good in photos. For a full photo you should do what they do on the red carpet and stand with your hands on your hips and shoulder's back. In other words, strike a pose. On face photos, always pretend you are laughing at he funniest thing ever. For me.. having to smile seems to put my head in a straight position --while when I TRY to put my face in a straight position.. it seems to come out crooked.

Another thing... shocking but it really depends on who is taking the photo. When my brother would take the photo I would look horrible. When anyone else would -- I would look better. I think there can be a subconscious bias if someone you don't adore is taking the photo, perhaps one reason why models have preferences for certain photographers.

Peaches · Apr 21, 2014

ugh, I just had a picture of me taken, I was playing with a 2 years old child, and maybe it was the contrast in size but I looked like an elephant. It does depend on who is taking the photo, I agree. Also, I always put my face in the wrong position so instead of looking prettier I look uglier - I think there is a whole science behind how to show your face to the camera to look better. Some people look nicer thin, some people look nicer with some build, I guess it depends on the face structure.

lonelyfairy · Apr 21, 2014

Same thing!! I always feel that I look pretty when looking in the mirror but the photos... are different story. I'm not photogenic at all.

Case · Apr 21, 2014

I have body issues. In the past I would wear clothing to hide the fact that I was a really skinny kid. This meant that I often wore long sleeve shirts and jeans in the middle of summer-time. Then, I'd sweat like a pig, and people would ask me why I didn't wear t-shirts and shorts. I never had the confidence to tell them that I feared being laughed at.

Since those early days, I have overcome the thought that people would laugh. I now wear t-shirts and think I look fine. But I don't wear shorts as a public service. I'm one of the palest people I know (Irish/Finnish ancestry,) and my legs actually blind small children if not covered up. I'd rather spare the public of this rare mutant power.

On the other hand, covering up for all these years as a skinny pale guy, I probably decreased my skin cancer risks, so I have that going for me.

quead64 · Jun 16, 2016

I still wear baggy clothes. when i was younger i thought i would look better, worked out and everything, but as i grew older i realised i would look like this forever. i had a lot of hope when i was a young man that got me through a number of situations

Bluey · Jun 16, 2016

quead64 said:
I still wear baggy clothes. when i was younger i thought i would look better, worked out and everything, but as i grew older i realised i would look like this forever. i had a lot of hope when i was a young man that got me through a number of situations

How come you feel the need to wear baggy clothes?
sorry if you have already said just I have not seen that anywhere.

Bebeskii · Jun 16, 2016

I am satisfied that I am quite handsome but with my body I am not satisfied. That is exactly why I have to go to gym for few months so that people would not call me small or skinny. In general, I am bit insecure about my whole look. I bet it is quite common among youths

Dislike your own appearance in some circumstances?

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