Yup. Camera don't lie.

I don't think its a one to one thing. Some people just "sparkle" in a way that is not captured in photos.

My DD likes to watch Americas next top model and I have seen several episodes. Some of those girls are downright homely but their photographs are stunning. Granted professional makeup, photographers etc but the camera definitely loves them.

I look horrible in almost every picture I take. I think I am pretty attractive. I also get hit on a lot by men. Women constantly ask me for style and design advice when I shop. So I must have something going on. I wish I photographed better. I never thought to teach myself how to do this ha ha ha ha.

Anonymous wrote:One of my best friends is gorgeous. Like we can't go anywhere without her getting hit on multiple times. But she almost always breaks the camera. She looks nothing like herself in photos. Always squinty, weird faces, shadows. I'm much much less attractive than her in person but look way better in photos. It's now a running gag how bad she looks on film/pixels.

I know a girl who in real life has pale skin, strawberry blonde hair and is just so naturally pretty. But then in pictures she looks washed out and her smile doesn't look the same. Drop dead gorgeous in person but if you only saw her pictures you would think rather plain. It's very strange!

One of my best friends is gorgeous. Like we can't go anywhere without her getting hit on multiple times. But she almost always breaks the camera. She looks nothing like herself in photos. Always squinty, weird faces, shadows. I'm much much less attractive than her in person but look way better in photos. It's now a running gag how bad she looks on film/pixels.

Anonymous wrote:
It depends how you define beauty. In real life, facial mobility and expressions contribute to your perception of their beauty. In photographs, that doesn't come across. Everyone can look horrid in a photo - double chin, big nose, bitchy resting face, etc. You really have to figure out how to pose and how to pretend to look natural for a photograph. Practice in front of a mirror. Models learn how to do this.

This. Some people's looks just don't translate well to a two-dimensional still image. I always look like I have a huge double chin in photos that I don't have when I look in the mirror. I don't have a really well-defined chin. I also have a bit of a baby face, and that translates in photos to a fat face. If I want to take a good photo, I have to pose really carefully, not smile too much, etc. I know other people like this--in real life, they are perfectly normal-looking, but their photos just kind of distort everything.

My husband photographs really well. His face is more angular than mine.

I'm the OP of the "I"m Horribly Un-Photogenic" thread, not of this thread.
Maybe I am also ugly, in which case that's my problem, but I've been told that's not my problem and that my problem is that I take hideous pictures.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My MIL is ugly AND unphotogenic so her photographs are HORRIBLE. Picture an ugly woman trying to poop softballs.

Sounds like you hate your MIL!

I'm not a fan, but it's well acknowledged by all that she doesn't photograph well. She readily admits it herself. Before anyone takes a photo.

Anonymous wrote:My MIL is ugly AND unphotogenic so her photographs are HORRIBLE. Picture an ugly woman trying to poop softballs.

Sounds like you hate your MIL!

Anonymous wrote:Videos are more reflective of reality.

Perhaps that's because people have time to relax.

Anonymous wrote:We all tell ourselves that oh, we're much more attractive than our photographs.

But then there are people who photograph stunningly but are also really good looking in real life.

So...a picture doesn't really lie.

I'm not photogenic, but I am not ugly or unattractive. In person, my personality, intelligence, sense of humor, style, and sexuality make up for any awkwardness in my features. The French call it "jolie laide."