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??

I'm the same. I think I'm normal looking and in a mirror before I go out I think I look quite nice. Then bam, photos of the evening out appear and I look hideous. Not even remotely nice. It's so depressing as I think do people see mirror me or photo me? Videos though I mostly look alright

Apparently the reason for it is my face is not quite symmetrical and it's emphasised in photos.

Photogenic people have very symmetrical faces. So look fab in a picture as it's a 2d image. It's why little kids also look great as their facial features are not yet fully defined as such and only as you grow up do these inconsistencies in the symmetry start to become more noticeable in 2d images.

It's why kids can't have biometric passports and go through the quick passport thingys at airports, because their faces don't yet have all the detailing needed to scan them properly.

I could have written this!! I’m no stunner for sure but my photos make me look absolutely hideous! Its a standing joke among friends and family that no matter how well I scrub up when you take a photo it’ll look like I’ve just got out of bed. I have discovered the secret though: an iPhone 10 camera. DH got one and it’s worth it for the camera alone, it’s all soft angles and good lighting and if I stand with my left side showing I look almost like I do in the mirror. Take a photo on my right side and it’s horrific 😩

Can I join in? I have no problem with my 'self image' - I look in the mirror and think ' hmm, not bad for an old bird'! However, if I reluctantly see one of the very few photos of myself, I think 'OH MY GOD! Is that how others see me?'. My driving licence shows some grim-faced old bat, not ME!

YES to the poster above that says it’s about symmetry. I have a very asymmetrical face which (I think) looks ok in real life but dreadful in photos. And I have friends who are quite normal looking but look AMAZING in photos as their faces are totally symmetrical which just photographs better. Same with models - a lot of them aren’t particularly beautiful, but they have nice cheekbones and symmetry, so they look great in photos.

I like to convince myself also, like others have said, photos can’t capture personality and charisma. Which also works the other way round - I had a flatmate who was a proper stunner in photos but dull as dishwater and it seemed to be backed up a lot by her online dating success (or lack thereof) Loads of initial interest but never got beyond the first meeting.

I’d rather be better looking in real life - I think it’s just hard when the whole of social media is based on photos and you look like a wonky weirdo.

There were two former schoolmates signed by Storm, and neither of them - particularly the boy - were anything special irl. The camera just loves some people it’s often down to bone structure and having a ‘lean’ face so the shadows can be created easily with light.

OP I was just about to guess early to mid thirties

It's your facial expression - as pp have said, you look uncomfortable. I think a lot of us do this - it feels somehow "vain" to give the camera a big smile so we almost deliberately look awakward so peope will know we're not posers.... then we're disappointed with the photos!

Definitely not overly comfortable having my photo taken! But that's generally because I never look right in them. Even the photos taken of me where I'm relaxed, I still look uncomfortable!

To the posters that said I look similar to Jennifer Anniston 😀. I get told that an awful lot. More so when my make up is on and hair more tidy. And I should take that as a compliment. But on studying Jennifer Anniston's face, I think she has quite manly features which is something I'd rather not have.

Errr well given that Jennifer Aniston has topped world’s sexiest women polls since the 90s I think if you start getting pissy about being likened to her that maybe you have oddly unrealistic standards and should examine them. I mean I was on your side to begin with but it was the manly features thing that got me.

Well no one looks good from that second angle

But really you look fine, great, normally photogenic

I'm the same! I've been told I am better looking in person than in my photos! I've learnt it's all about light, angles and taking hundreds of photos to get one good one!

I totally agree with some of the other comments that some people who particularly attractive always seem to look good in photos!

I think there are lots of us out there!

OMG you're gorgeous. I promise hand on heart I'm not just saying that. Why would I.
What would I have to gain from it
I mean if I did think bad id just keep my mouth shut.
I hsve zero issues with saying. I think im quite very attractive in the flesh. However on camera. It is an entirely different story.

It does also works the other way. You get people who are super model material on camera but not exactly stunning in the flesh.

Peakpants- to be fair if Jennifer Anniston had my body, she wouldn't be rated top 100 sexiest women!! It has more to do with it then her face.

I'm a woman therefore I don't want manly features.

I think you look nice-great teeth!
I hate my photos, one of my eyes always looks so much bigger and my smile looks like a grimace which shows off my wonky teeth.
I actually think I look quite nice in the mirror and look younger than my years but in a photo I just look terrible.
Over the Years there have been some horrible ones and I usually end up either trying to crop myself out or deleting.

Gosh op you are really attractive, this is me, oh dear oh dear😥😥😥😥😥

I'd have to kill you all. If I put my mush on here as Youd all know I ugly I am.

Plus I'd probably crash the whole Internet.

If I take a selfie in a certain light and at a certain angle I can like quite good but if anyone else takes a photo of me I look pretty awful!

Gosh OP you are lovely! Great skin and hair and a pretty face. Flaunt it sista.

A couple of things...

Some people move well, and look really nice in real life, simply because of the way they smile, or look (with movement). If you capture a still, all of that movement is lost and it can look unflattering.
The same can happen in reverse too, where a still can be flattering but real life less so.

Another issue is that a lot of people tense up when having a photo taken and it's very hard to stop that happening. Often you'll find candid shots that you didn't know were being taken far more flattering. Sadly not as easy to set up.

Looking up a little does tend to be very flattering especially with very good light - as it can help remove shadow under eyes etc and give your skin a clearer look. If you're doing selfies, do them in bright natural daylight if you can, with a slightly upward look.

As for the images you posted? - You've not a thing to worry about. You're attractive. A little less worry about the camera and you'll look even better.

oh, one final point - dont do selfies too close up - lenses on phones tend to be slightly 'wide' which can give a slight fisheye look when close up and distort your face.

I'm v unphotogenic, but take comfort in the song by Ani Difranco when she sings "it took me too long to realise that I don't take good pictures cos I have the kind of beauty that moves".

I'm v unphotogenic, but take comfort in the song by Ani Difranco when she sings "it took me too long to realise that I don't take good pictures cos I have the kind of beauty that moves"

That is precisely what I was trying to explain in my post. It's a hard thing to explain, but one that most of us experience in someone.

Aeroflot - You're such a flirt! :-)

My chin usually vanishes on photos. I have a perfectly normal chin in real life that seems to be invisible to a lot of camera lenses.

Jennifer Aniston’s Face looks manly OP? I can see where the problem lies now. You need glasses!

I look awful in photos, really awkward and embarrassed unless its a candid one where I don't know there camera is there. We had pictures taken professionally recently and I hated all of the ones of me but my 7 yo DD begged for me to buy the one of me and her and she loves it so much she keeps it next to her bed and takes it on sleepovers with her. I make more of an effort to be photographed now for her because she thinks I'm beautiful in photos even if I don't