Does anyone else hate seeing photos of themselves?

[carol1234568]

I avoid pictures whenever possible, but was forced to have some taken for work recently.

When I saw the pictures I was horrified. What I saw was obviously me but it wasn't the image of the person I imagine myself to be or the person I see in the mirror even. For the first time in my life I thought I looked old. And chubby. I've definitely gained weight but didn't realise quite how much until I saw these photos.

It's shattered how I feel about myself and I can't help but feel like a frumpy cow.

If I could go the rest of my life with no photos I'd be happy.

turnofthescrew that's me exactly, biggest nose but looks ok in real life but in photos good god! especially if I'm smiling it looks like an arrow pointing down when really my nose is quite upturned and when o smile in the mirror it doesn't look like that!
must be the angle and lighting

Me too, I have a special photo face, six chins and a scowl

Hell year. I developed a Bell's palsy 11 years ago and am still very wonky. Not really noticeable in real life as the face is dynamic but when static, it's awful. I avoid all photos even though I know I will regret too few with the children

That should be hell yeah...

I am a size 12, I work out regularly, and eat sensibly, but I always look double the size in photos, with my multiple chins, its like whaaaat. There was a thread about body fat % on AIBU a few days ago, I wanted to post a full picture of myself to support my answer, but I thought best of it, as I looked like a fat blimp in my photo, despite looking different in real life and when I see myself in the mirror, I am fine with how I look. In a photo, it is awful.

I am Mediterranean descent, so have thick well defined features, not delicate fair complexion, which makes it look even worse. Try a big nose, thick eyebrows, horrible shaped face. At combat bootcamp, the instructor has a habit of sometimes taking group photos to put them up on her page after a work out, oh my god hot and sweaty, even worse .

I look absolutely awful in photos, I’ve never seen a picture of myself I like. My sister on the other hand looks absolutely gorgeous in pictures, but she also spends a lot of time practicing posing and working out what angels look flattering etc, which I haven’t got the energy for!

I love photos of myself now I'm thin again selfies are always best though as I take about 50 then choose the best one

Yes I have a horrible squint I can't hide

@BrandNewHouse one thing I don't mind too much is looking shit in photos with my DS. I'm constantly asking DH to take more photos of me with him.

That does sound very sad. I wish I had more photos of my late mum and I don't think that's a selfish thing to want.

I think most people do. I was just thinking the other day actually how for basically the entirety of our human evolution, until very recently, we didn't ever have the opportunity to see ourselves. Unless it was the reflection in a body of water maybe, or somebody drew us. And with the drawing it was static. Mirrors weren't even invented until the 1800s.

So it seems normal that it's totally alien for us to see a static image of ourselves!

For what it's worth, it's probably likely that you look more like the moving mirror you to others than the frozen image in a photograph so you might be closer to your original perception than you think.

Anyway, if it's been a wake up call that you're unhappy with your appearance, use this day to decide to do something about it. What would make you more into the image of yourself you'd be happy with? Losing weight? Toning up? A makeover, hair, makeup, clothes? Instead of letting it get you down, acknowledge to yourself you have the power to make changes to your appearance if you really want to.

A blooming facelift walking, but cannot afford that. I have been working on my shape for 5 years, and have lost 3 stone, work out every day and eat sensibly. My arms are still flabby and my double chins stuck our. As I am Medetrranean descent, my features are quite heavy, not delicate, so not much I can do about that.

I always look awful in photos. I was recently at a party where photos were taken and face booked. Grim. I told our wedding photographer that to get enough for the album he'd literally need to take 100's. It was a struggle to choose enough where I didn't have my eyes shut, look drunk or double chinned etc. I have a very asymmetric face and it shows on photos, I look really odd. People tactfully say ooh it's not the most flattering picture is it? 🙄

I hate photos of myself. I am petite, slim, good hair, nice eyes, get lots of compliments. But all I see is my bad teeth, ugly smile and big nose!