Ever wondered Why You Look Different in Photos Than You Do in the Mirror?

Yesterday evening, before you went out, you’re pretty sure you looked real good. So who the hell is this schlub in the Facebook album from last night, tagged with your name? It’s a phenomenon nestled somewhere between universal annoyance and urban legend: People see something different in the mirror than they do in photographs and better yet, you don’t even look like what you see in the mirror, other people see a whole different you. More often than not looking in the mirror is controlled, predictable and palatable, while seeing your pictures is an endless source of nasty little surprises; Its why we subconsciously rush to see how we look in the picture. So, why the disparity? The answer is complicated, but it boils down to this: Your eyes, your brain, your mirror and your camera are all conspiring to sabotage your body image.

Pictures

It’s the camera, The camera does actually add ten pounds! Camera sensors may be absorbing the same photons as our eyes, but they’re doing so through a complex lens that can actually change the way you look. People see us in a “3D Perspective”. A camera sees in 2D while the human eye in 3D. This means that when we see with our eyes we see height, width and depth. With a camera we only see height and width. There is no way to have the depth in the picture as a photograph is a flat medium. With two eyes, the human brain is able to see the three dimensional aspects of someone’s face, even when viewed directly from the front, and it gives much more information than cameras. The face may appear to be fuller than it actually is in real life. The lens seems to bloat the centre by a fraction, but that fraction is sometimes a little too much. Since the lens-bloating isnt easily identifiable, people will instantly assume you’ve put on abit.

Do you know we have little insects living on our faces?

Lens distortion isn’t the only way a camera can screw with your visage. Flash illuminates subjects harshly, turning elegant faces normally accented by soft shadows into a flat, shadowless, cadaveric horror shows. Your make up will look pretty good in real life but once the flash hits it, it fails to bring out the texture the eyes see so often it will look overdone.

Whether these effects are annoying or used to advantage, they mean that what you see in photos is different than what you really look like. 

Mirrors

I don’t mean to imply that the camera is the only liar, here, because mirrors are just as guilty. For one, they flip your image. The You you’re most familiar with, then, is actually an exact opposite of how you look to others. Granted, it’s an intuitive reversal, so it doesn’t bother us when we see it, but it implants a self-image that’s intrinsically wrong. On top of that, there’s the problem of perspective. People stand close to mirrors, but see their whole selves. Just because you look a certain way from three feet away doesn’t mean you’ll look the same from 15. You actually look better when looking from further away though, both in pictures and in the mirror and in real life!

You will always be looking slightly down at the rest of your body. You will pose for yourself, to achieve the most flattering look. You will hide fat behind folds of clothes, or minimize a strange facial feature with a tilt of the head. Other people, including photographers, don’t see this version of you. They see a version that you are rarely privy to. It’s a bit like how people hate their own voices on tape. Lenses may distort, but in a powerful way, these uncomfortable photographs are closer to reality than our careful image in the mirror.

How to actually look better

Well in the mirror, its what you make of it for that moment, theres no way your hair is gonna stay like it was whilst looking in the mirror. And its impossible to keep the same pose whilst out, throughout the whole day! but when taking pictures you can make sure you’re giving it your best after all it only makes sense to bring out your best in pictures for the world to see.

OH MY GOD SO THAT’S WHY MY WONDERFUL BUTT LOOKS SO FAT ON FILM!

Do you dislike having your picture taken because you always seem to come out looking hideous? Have you ever felt jealous of your friend who always comes out flawless in photos? What’s the deal with pictures? While being photogenic just comes naturally to some people, there are a few things that anyone can do to look better in photos. 

Do looks always matter. What’s the difference between Personality Vs Character?

Understand that being photogenic refers to the ability of appearing very attractive in photos. It is important to grasp that being naturally beautiful or striking does not necessarily translate to being photogenic in photos. Being photogenic is about awareness of how to put your best self forward, and knowing how to express your charisma for the camera. These are learned techniques, including applying your knowledge of the best backgrounds, lighting, and positioning for a good photo. 

Don’t look at the camera; look through it.

Here’s a few tips from me. Get rid of a double chin. Tilt your head up slightly and try to position yourself so that the camera is a little above, or at, your eye level. This will hide a double chin effectively. You can also put one hand under your chin as though you’re resting your head on your hand (keep the thumb side of your hand out of the camera’s view, if possible). Don’t actually rest any weight on the hand, however, or you will push the skin into an unflattering position. Also, try resting your tongue against the roof of your mouth.

Think happy thoughts. An unnatural, forced smile can make you look stiff and weird. When people are smiling and waiting for a photo to be snapped, their facial muscles can be caught in all sorts of strange positions. To remedy this, try to time your smile so that you don’t have to hold it for too long. Also, imagine something funny (don’t be afraid to chuckle a bit, even) or think of someone—your spouse or child, for example—who makes you happy. By doing so, you’ll get a genuine smile. Regardless of how you choose to smile, the happier and more relaxed you are, the better.

Is there any truth to Palmistry?

Smile with your eyes. Nothing projects happiness and beauty like smiling eyes: a happy, somewhat mischievous expression of the eyes. To achieve this effect, imagine that the camera is a person you have a crush on walking into the room. This will create wider open eyes and a relaxed, three-quarter smile. Chances are you unconsciously do this all the time; the trick is to be able to bring it out on demand, so practice the smiling eyes in front of a mirror, and creating a smile “trigger”.

The more opportunities you have to practice in front of the camera, the better.

You want to bring out a glow! when seeing pictures, we only say wow or leave comments when we’re intrigued. Its the eyes we see first then the smile and then rest follows. Fake it till you make it. People are often photogenic because they like having their picture taken. They are therefore relaxed and happy when the camera appears. They know exactly how to stand, know their good features and always hide the bad side. You need to practice!

For a few moments before the picture, fill your cheeks full of air – really try to inflate them stretched like a trumpet player, then slowly exhale through your mouth. This relaxes the facial muscles and gets rid of jaw-tension. Another technique is to inhale then put your head down onto your chest, closing your eyes and slowly exhale. when you lift your head up, it will get rid of ‘the stare’. When stretching your neck, tilt the chin down a little bit to avoid the up-the-nose shots. Nobody wants to see them buggers!

Photoshop It!

Depending on the situation, always enhance your pictures with an editor. If you really are bothered, you can even use spot/blemish removal tools but I’d avoid them. This’ll only lead to depression! I like adjusting the brightness, contrast and saturation to help bring out your features so always use this, its only medaling with the light so what the camera has captured remains you!

Humans pick out confidence instantly! If your not confident then forget it, your picture wont be true enough to say its beautiful. If you don’t like others looking at you whilst taking pictures just forget them. Imagine your all alone in your room and being open and sexy. Once the pictures are up on Facebook, everyone will notice you first! On a final note, its bad practice to constantly look at your own pictures, you’ll lose confidence in yourself. No one is perfect. No one has a perfectly symmetrical face. You are you and you are beautiful.

With the increase of selfies, can you guys leave a comment below, tell me your opinion about looks and what we see

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