Does anyone else think they look much worse on video?

[Idontknowhatnametochoose]

As the title says - does anyone else look awful on video and/or camera? I've videoed myself briefly for medical reasons and I'm quite upset by how I look. I've never been the most attractive person in the world, plus I've gained weight, but I don't think I look too dreadful in the mirror, or at least I'm passable. Video is a whole different story and I'm actually shocked by how ugly i look on camera. It's not just my weight, but my face is much fatter which makes me look even worse. I've never been looks orientated but I don't want to look like a freak.

Can being on video make people look a lot worse than they really do, or is this just me? I definitely need to lose weight but I can't do anything about my features.

Honestly, it was awful having to look at myself talking and potentially see what others see.

Most people are horrified when they see themselves on video.

I can guarantee you that you don’t look like in real life. Video isn’t the same as the human eye.

I look hideous on camera, I am not especially attractive anyway but I look ok, but on camera especially if I smile I look really unattractive. Just my skin and bone structure looks horrible. Other people look incredibly photogenic and look as good, if not better in photos than in real life. I’ve always been the same, and now I just hate having photos of myself taken anywhere.

I think we have a mirror face. I've noticed some of my facial muscles automatically lift a bit when I look in the mirror which obviously helps, so that when I catch sight of myself in an unexpected mirror or see a photograph it's a bit shit.

Do people see their own faces when taking a selfie? They'll be able to go into mirror mode if so or that pouty lip like a blow up doll thing

Really ? Why ? I think we look exactly as we look on video . Why wouldn’t we ? We have an image in our heads of what we think we look like and it’s usually better than what we do look like ?
Hence feeling surprised when we see images of ourselves .

This is making me feel great since I have a podcast interview next week. Gah.

Disagree. Have you ever tried to tell a friend how good looking someone is and then have to go through pictures going "oh no s/he looks much better than this in person". I think a few people are photo/videogenic, most people look much better in real life. Video is 2D so flattening, bad lighting, weird contrast, catches strange angles.

Think about your set up carefully, do a practice recorded run. Put the camera at eye level or higher, nice lighting and clear background. Maybe a bit of makeup if that's your thing

I don’t know anyone who likes themselves on a video. It’s a trope for a reason!

Thank you so much. I plan on looking up what colours to wear or not wear. I'm not going to be in control of anything, as I'm the one being interviewed, so sort of at a loss as to what to do with posture etc. I'm sure I'll look like a fool but hey ho!

passport photos are the worst, I hate them and after getting a new one a feel I definitely need a face lift

I look much better on video for some reason. I'm naturally very unattractive. I always get surprised-sounding 'You look nice!" type comments if I appear on a video.

I can't bear seeing myself on video but I don't think that's uncommon.

This thread is brilliant 😁
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/3886944-To-be-annoyed-that-no-one-has-ever-told-me-I-look-like-an-actual-sea-monster-in-real-life?page=1

I look pretty awful in videos and photos but I don't feel like that in real life. I also sound like I'm not all there (a lovely phrase 😂)
My mil who was short (under 5ft) and fat (20 stone) had a slim face and always looked far better than me in any photos. She was incredibly photogenic.

Wasn't it the old adage that the camera adds 10 pounds.

I was in a teams meeting this morning and the angle of the camera somehow made me look like I was wearing one of those fake pairs of glasses with a nose attached. My nose isn't even that big.

Me!! When we all went on zoom at the beginning of the pandemic, i got really upset at seeing myself (consider myself pretty average looking, not amazing, not terrible). The worst was when someone would share their screen with everyone's faces on it (ie what they saw on the screen - i literally couldnt believe what I was seeing looked absolutely awful!! And felt i must be completely deluded when I looked in the mirror and didnt see myself as bad as that. Not sure if relevant, but now i reverse the camera on my phone (can't remember if it's a reverse image or mirror image, but whatever it is it worked and I feel like I look in the mirror again). Just an idea!