Not photogenic

[Bubblylikechampers]

Not AIBU but it really does piss me off!!

I'd consider myself fairly attractive. Not pretty, but definitely 'ok' looking.

I could take a thousand pics and I look absolutely awful. Yet most people no matter what are so photogenic.

Why is this? My holiday pics at the moment are depressing as hell.

Any one else find this??

Early forties?

Are we guessing your age OP?

I look hideous in photos. I have only ever had one photo of me that I liked, and probably less than ten that I think are ok.

One reason I think is that my face is quite asymmetrical and this shows more when captured as a still.

After a second look, maybe mid 30's

And of course I xposted.

I'm going to be rude here and ask if that's you smiling hard, or just trying to work out how to take the photo? You look as though you're trying to work out how to take the photo, if I'm completely honest.

But you don't look bad, just not super smiley.
When I was young I used to not be able to smile properly - spent ages working on my cheek muscles to pull my mouth up better on both sides (used to be wonky and only go up on one side) and now I have a better smile (still not photogenic but I don't have a wonky smile any more!)

Honestly? You look FINE! Great teeth, symmetrical face and it looks like you have beautiful strong brows which frame your face. I think it’s just because it’s you that you feel the way you do!

Umm, I actually GENUINELY look shit in photos. You, OP, seemingly don’t! Although I guess if your utterly stunning in real life you only look very pretty in that photo...

Troll like in a photo and normal in real life.

It could be worse, I'm troll like in real life and in photos. I have no mirrors in my house because of how awful I look.

You look pretty to me. In fact pretty enough that I'm now a bit cross with you for posting this thread.

I think you look to be in yours 30’s, mid to late.

You’ve got good teeth, nice eyes and lovely skin. You do look to be squinting from the sun.
Do you think we’re used to seeing very glammed up 20 somethings and although I’m not keen on that look, comparing ourselves to filtered, very made up images?

I have to put dog photos online, because of my work (dog sitter) I’ve found that it’s easier to take a short video, go through it, then freeze frame, screen shot and hey presto, decent photo. You could ask them to video, instead, then pick a frame.

One of my friends is absolutely stunning - she really is beautiful. I have never ever seen a good photo of her. Even her wedding photos were bad. It’s so weird as she gets complimented all the time about how pretty she is. She’s a bloody lovely person too.

“So Deadgood, are you saying the photos are a more truer representation of what I look like? Please don't depress me further 😬”

Well, the “problem” is that you are expecting to see one face, and see another. It’s not that your face flipped one way is attractive and the other way isn’t. It’s about the gap between what you’re expecting to see and the face you actually do see!
You can see this effect in action by looking at someone else’s face in a mirror. I saw my friend in a mirror once in a changing room. I was shocked to notice that her jaw and mouth were really quite off-centre - I’d never noticed it before, it was only because I was expecting her to look like “herself” but I sae the mirror image. She didn’t look bad - just asymmetric, which I’d never noticed before, and therefore less like herself.
But yes it’s also to do with animation, having a good camera smile, and bone structure. Lots of people just aren’t photogenic but lovely irl. Others (Kate Moss is said to be one) aren’t that special in real life but come alive in front of the camera. Lots of models are like this tbh.

Personally I hate staged photos - the kind where you have to stand in a row and “smile!” face on to the camera. I always look awful. I look much better on an angle in a candid shot.

Well I think you look lovely op :) honestly.

We are our own worst critics...

I think you look pretty but I can imagine that you look even prettier in real life actually. Maybe 35 or so, could be younger.

You look lovely in that photo, OP! Much prettier than me. I agree with the poster who says you look a bit like Jennifer Aniston.

You look great in that photo. You’ve got good bone structure, nice teeth and look healthy. Seriously if you think you look like a troll in that picture I’d not like to hear what you’d have to say about me. I’m nowhere near as pretty or photogenic as you.

I can’t work out if your perception is distorted or your definition of beauty.

Whaaaaaaat! You look lovely. If I didn’t think that then I wouldn’t have commented at all. If you’re un photogenic then there is no hope for me. I look like a small gargoyle in virtually every pic. Truly horrible. I hope to god I don’t look as bad in real life. I’m no beauty but I don’t think I look as grim as I do in photos. I think you might have helped me though because if you think you look awful in pics then maybe the ones I hate of myself are also not as awful as I think.

Bloody gorgeous!

Me too!

I am no super model type, but I look positively satantic in photos.

There's a place nearby that takes passport type photos and when I went the photographer laughed out loud at my hideous photos. I know that sounds like he was being rude but if I was as hideous in life as I am in photos he wouldn't have laughed or been surprised...so I was quite reassured, and laughed too.

You look pretty, but a bit scared!

I think you look lovely in that photo OP, I actually think you look early thirties.

I also am reasonably attractive (in my head at least ), but mostly, I take a terrible photo. Every so often, about 1 in 50 I get a nice photo, so recently I took a photo that I think looks how I think I look. I put it up on facebook as my profile picture. MIL kindly told me I looked weird and it looks nothing like I actually look! I think it is because I looked attractive in it and she clearly doesn't think I am .

You look lovely in that picture! I look like an old hag in all pictures and refuse to have my photograph taken.

I can’t work out if your perception is distorted or your definition of beauty.

I would imagine it's her perception. Isn't it the case that most people see themselves as much less attractive than others do?

You look lovely OP. I would say early 30s.

My god, if I was only that un-photogenic.

I'm not an ug-dug in real life, but I'm no stunner.

I don't let anyone take pics of me anymore.