I think I look ok (ish) so why do I look like an old lady in photographs?

[LostMarbles99]

When I make an effort, I look ok- not amazing but fine, happy enough.

However when I look at myself in photographs I look like an old lady. I don't have eye bags but I look like I do in photos, why is this?

Anyone else get this?

I can look pretty old in photos, but also have the advantage of doing photography as a serious hobby (have all the gear) and have got pretty good at taking flattering photos of people!

It's all to do with lighting - if light falls at the wrong angle onto your face then lines and shadows will be accentuated, so you need to make sure that light falls evenly onto your face, with as little shading as possible.

If you're going to take a selfie with your phone, go and stand by a window and make sure the light is falling onto your face (you may have to experiment a bit with the angle/direction of your face), but it will make a big difference.

If you're having your photo taken outdoors, the shadow effect will be a lot worse if the sun is shining as you'll get loads of shadows on your face (for this reason, wedding photography is a nightmare if the sun is shining). Either use the flash on your camera to fill in the shadows, or move into the shade.

I've got a big circular reflector which I use to bounce light onto the face - it gives a lovely radiant effect (I've done quiet a few portraits of friends so that they have nice, natural pics for dating sites etc) and will shift unsightly lines. You can get a similar effect using tin foil stuck to a piece of card!

Finally, when I'm trying to get people to pose naturally for photos, I get them to turn away from the camera and relax their face, then turn towards the camera and smile only at the very last minute, so that their expression is more relaxed and natural.

If I had the time (v difficult with a small baby) I would spend all my time taking nice photos of people to cheer them up!

eagle you sound lovely!

I think I look relatively ok and not too thick, but when doing a videoconference I look completely and utterly gormless. I have this weird haunted look and my hair looks ridiculous. I am infact a total minger and never realised!

I still think I'm not nearly two stone heavier than I used to be and sadly good lighting can't do anything about this

there was a thing on bbc last year about this. It's because we're used to seeing our mirror image which is the opposite to a photo image or something. They showed lots of people photos of themselves mirrored and not and everyone preferred the mirror photo and not the 'real' one but partners chose the 'real' one because that's what they were used to looking at.. not sure I've explained it very well.

I think it was a Horizon programme

My most ghastly trick is to accidentally turn the phone camera onto myself - that really is a truly hideous misfortune - I look absolutely awful and it is quite depressing .

I like to prepare myself for a mirror and kid myself that I look like that all the time !

Another here with reverse body dysmorphia . Perhaps it's a blessing !

My DH also takes a great picture btw.

me too, I think I look ok in real life. I see a photo of myself and sink into a depression.

I would love just one great photo. I can get all dolled up and go out with mates and when I look at me / them I think I'm looking ok, about on a par. Any photo will reveal they are glamorous, polished and poised but I look like a pointy chinned, hook nosed witch with too much make up on.
I like to think I just don't photograph well, not that I am a total minger, but I do fear the latter.

I think it is the i phone it is too realistic I used to look fine till I got an iPhone then had a horrible shock! Look ok in the mirror and on my sons nokia lumia. It is all about lighting isn't it when you get older.

I always think I look better on video than camera, too, Bluetooth. Very odd it is.