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Original poster

Be honest. If you put photos of yourself on social media, do you filter them?

103 replies

Aldibaldi555 · 13/09/2019 10:31

Ok so everyone I know my age (35-40 bracket) looks amazing on Instagram / Facebook.

I point my phone camera at myself and my goodness I look like sh1t!

Blotchy skin... I just can’t explain it I look hideous.

The sad thing is it means I have next to no photos of myself and DC as I look so shit Sad I genuinely get upset that if I died or something DC would have literally one or two photos of me Sad

I don’t think I’m bad looking, and indeed pre-kids I was told I was pretty.

Without meaning to sound vain, there’s people I know in real life who I would say I’m as good looking as, but they look great on Insta / FB and I look crap.

So, is everyone filtering photos?
What filter do you use because I need it!!

OP posts:
AmIThough · 13/09/2019 10:33

Yep! Flick through the Instagram filters - different ones will flatter you on different pictures based on lighting etc. You can also increase/decrease brightness and things like that which always helps.

newmefor2020 · 13/09/2019 10:34

I think everyone uses a filter these days. Take a photo, click edit on your photo on phone and that’s it. I don’t massively filter, just a bit Grin

StroppyWoman · 13/09/2019 10:35

I don't, but then I am a scruffy bugger who can't be arsed with makeup nevermind filters etc. but the majority of photos I've seen on social media are filtered up the wazoo. It's stupid. No one looks like that in real life.

Yoghurty · 13/09/2019 10:37

I don't use filters on photos of me, but I am definitely choosy about which photos I put up- I only put up the flattering ones! I think that's normal though

StormBaby · 13/09/2019 10:37

Im older than you and I don't filter. If anything I lighten them slightly. I think the heavily blurred pics look ridiculous.
I don't have any photos of my late mum for exactly this reason, she hated pics of herself.

Lauren83 · 13/09/2019 10:38

I never filter mine, although it does take me a while to find a photo of myself I don't hate

Comefromaway · 13/09/2019 10:39

The only time I ever filter a photo is if the lighting isn;t good/flash didn;t work and I make it a bit brighter.

OrangeJustice · 13/09/2019 10:40

I don’t filter. I don’t care if I look old. I am! And I can tell the people who do use filters and some of there are in danger of blurring themselves into oblivion. What’s even the point?

jaggynettle · 13/09/2019 10:45

Have been guilty of using a filter but I try and not over do it - am 39, permanently knackered and have some lines where I never had them before! Some of those snapchat filters make you look like a Barbie doll 😂 if anything I just brighten up some images

lazylinguist · 13/09/2019 10:46

Nope. I have never filtered a photo of myself. I don't even know what filters there are or how to use them, because I've never looked. I don't post pictures of myself that often, and when I do, it's because I am somewhere interesting or doing something fun with my dc etc, not because I want to show off my looks Confused.

I've also just quit wearing make-up after 30 years of feeling I had to wear it to stop myself looking pale/blotchy/rubbish. It took me a few days to get used to seeing my actual normal face and... whaddyaknow, it turns out I just look like a normal person without it!

TheFormidableMrsC · 13/09/2019 10:53

I don’t use a filter to make myself look smoother but I sometimes apply a warm filter because I am quite cool toned. People know what you look like so no point in trying to look 16 when you’re 50. I do wear make up though, including a decent foundation so that helps. Taking in the right light helps. I turned 50 very recently so it’s normal to have a few lines round your eyes etc. I don’t hide them

Soola · 13/09/2019 10:55

No filter but I make sure my profile picture on Facebook is taken in good lighting and with perfect make up and hair.

I want to look like me but me at my best and if it takes 500 poses/shots to get the right picture than so be it!

EmmiJay · 13/09/2019 10:55

I do for my instagram page but on my ig stories and Facebook I don't. Funnily enough because of filters I began a skincare journey that has really paid off. My skin wasn't terrible before but now its just jazz hands glowing.

TheFormidableMrsC · 13/09/2019 10:56

What I also meant to add to my post was that you should filter away if it makes you feel good! Particularly if you want some really nice pics with the kids. There’s loads to choose from! Have some fun with them OP 🙂

P1nkHeartLovesCake · 13/09/2019 11:00

You need to take pics of you and the dc, one day all they are going to have is photos. It really is Important.

Most times we don’t look as bad as we think, we are normally the most harsh critic of ourself.

Try black and white photos? Can hide many imperfections imo.

No I don’t filter my photos but I do only upload decent pictures (I.e good lighting, very happy smile etc)

Goatrider · 13/09/2019 11:01

I rarely post selfies but I don't use filters and when I'm out with friends and we take pics there aren't any filters applied. Obviously don't share really unflattering ones!

We're late 40s/50. I think we accept how we look (with wrinkles, saggy bits etc.) and we view photos as capturing a moment.

AnnaMariaDreams · 13/09/2019 11:04

Didn’t know this existed until this thread, so no I don’t

tierraJ · 13/09/2019 11:06

I have the option to make my photos 'vivid warm' which makes everything brighter but it's not an actual filter so no.

I use my photos for Facebook & online dating without filters so no man will get a shock if they see me in real life.

Runningsmooth · 13/09/2019 11:13

No, but I also look shit.
Someone I hadn't seen in a while put up some pics of themselves. I thought 'wow, she looks fantastic. I barely recognise her. She has lost loads of weight and she looks beautiful.' Saw her in the flesh a couple of weeks later and she looked the same as the last time I had been speaking to her. She still puts up pics of this other person that looks nothing like her. It's a bit weird.

ISmellBabies · 13/09/2019 11:19

I'm 37 and I don't know how to use filters! I don't think I have them on my phone. Dh has a thing on his phone that can make your face look slimmer! Not much point in photos if they don't actually look like you though tbh.

Nottobesoldseparately · 13/09/2019 11:19

Nope, never use them.

I am however one of those annoying photogenic people. Even when I look shit I look ok.

Other people use filters on photos they take of me tho. I look weird and don't like it.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 13/09/2019 11:21

No, not really. Sometimes... but then you see people who all the pictures they post of themselves are filtered, and all the ones other people post are not, and they look like different people. I've never wanted that!

Youngandfree · 13/09/2019 11:22

No but I might start 😂😂🙈

BeepBeeep · 13/09/2019 11:26

I don't, simply because I wouldn't have the first clue how to use them.
Equally, I don't put pics of myself on social media either.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 13/09/2019 11:28

I don't filter. But I worry too much about social media distorting our view of reality/normality anyway.

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