Are you wondering why you look better in a mirror than in pictures or in real life? You are not the only one who feels so about yourself. Thus, in this article, we have provided a piece of detailed information on why people look so different and better in mirrors than in photos.
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Furthermore, you will always learn how to take better pictures with every click either with your smartphone or a digital camera.
Note: This article will be divided into two distinct sections. The first part will discuss why you look better in mirrors than you do in photographs, while the last section will entail tips on how you can always click the best shots of yourself.
7 Amazing Reasons Why You Look Better In Mirror Than In Pictures
You see yourself in the mirror and are sure that it is the real you. But when we see your reflection in a picture, you might feel awkward about your face and appearance – Why is that so? Why do you look better in a mirror than you do in pictures?
Here are 7 reasons why you look better in a mirror.
The Mirror Reflect Objects
When you look in a mirror, it produces an inverted image of what you really look like; that is, mirrors reverse the directions of the photographs at equal yet opposite angles from which you stand.
For instance, if you place or draw a dot on your right cheek and then face the mirror, you will notice the dot on your left cheek. Therefore, the images you see of yourself in mirrors are quite different from what someone else sees when viewing you face to face. However, many people find it difficult to believe this fact because of the “self-face” factor.
Technically, the mirror renders a two-dimensional image of you -thereby, it cannot capture all the features, shapes, or depth of your face (the most vital visual representation of oneself).
Portrait photography aims at capturing the personality, character, and emotions. It can either be candid or artistic. Portrait photography requires more than just the ability to understand your camera settings, lighting, and composition.
You must also possess the ability to connect with your subjects and capture their unique qualities. So, it is a difficult but rewarding genre of photography.
Click Below to read a comprehensive guide to learning and mastering the art of portrait photography.
The Self Face
The face is one of the most important visual representations of people. Everyone, including adults, checks their faces in the mirrors every morning before outings and nights before bedtime. Aside from these, we are also accustomed to using mirrors when brushing our teeth and getting ready for the day.
So, we are familiar with the reflections of ourselves; and feel bad when we see the opposite in pictures. Therefore, to look better in pictures, we must acknowledge that the mirror images are reflected versions of ourselves and shouldn’t be taken seriously.
The Camera Lens
The camera lens also plays a huge part in how you look in photos. Although it is a common conception that a camera cannot lie, it does. A digital camera cannot capture everything about you – it only records some parts of you depending on the angles or your positions.
A camera lens can distort certain features of your face making it look larger or smaller depending on the distance and position between your camera and your face. For instance, if someone is clicking a picture of you from a distance of about 4 feet, the closeness of the camera to your face will tend to render an image that appears distorted – you might notice that your face will look more rounded, your nose a bit larger, and your ears a bit smaller.
Perhaps, you decide to record the photographs from a more reasonable distance; in that case, you might notice that your face will appear less distorted, and all other features will appear more relative. Hence, we recommend that you always click several shots from different angles.
Your Mindset
You have psychologically inclined your mind to believe that you look better in a mirror rather than in a photograph. Perhaps, because you often examine your face in a mirror more than you take pictures. Therefore, you are more aware of your reflected image than you are conscious of how you look in reality. To curb this, we recommend less use of the mirror and clicking more self-portrait pictures.
Lighting Condition
When you look in the mirror, you often consider the lighting condition in your room. You ensure it is well-lit and the surface of the mirror is clean, but that is not usually the case when clicking photos. Most people ignore light conditioning when recording self-portraits and thereby get bad images of themselves.
Body Movement
Aside from these, your body movement or positioning is another possible factor why you look better in a mirror than in pictures. You always ensure you are at ease and calm whenever you look at yourself in the mirror- resulting in good inverted images.
But, the reverse is the case when you are posing for photographs. Sometimes, camera shakes can also result in bad pictures of yourself – something you don’t experience when looking at yourself in the mirror. Image blur and noise are also some reasons why you might look ugly in photo shoots.
Camera Settings And The Photographer
The camera settings and the photographer’s proficiency can also determine the outcome of your photographs. Therefore, we recommend that you always hire professional photographers for your shots.
Nonetheless, in a case when you are clicking selfies with a digital camera or smartphone, ensure the settings are suitable for the scene and the light conditions. Modern smartphones and cameras are designed to make recording self-images or videos easier, even for entry-level users.
7 Professional Tips On How To Look Better In Pictures And Record Good Photos And Videos Of Yourself
Several people often complain of not being photogenic (looking attractive in photographs). Therefore, in this section of the article, you will learn how to organize yourself, the scene, pose, and click stunning photos and videos of yourself, even without experience.
Use A Good Camera Lens
The first step to looking better in photos is to use a good camera lens. One of the most important things to remember is that the camera lens can distort your appearance and make you look thinner or heavier than you actually are.
This distortion can be helpful in some ways, but it can also be misleading and create an unrealistic representation of your body. Therefore, if you are a photographer or model with a digital camera, we recommend that you always click images with a good lens.
The following are some examples of photos taken from different angles and with slightly different expressions. Notice the difference in appearance and posture:
To avoid an unrealistic representation of your face or body by the camera lens, always try to take a photo from a low angle so that you are taller and appear slimmer. You should also keep your shoulders back and stand up straight with your chin pointed towards the ground. Lastly, make sure that you are smiling because it will make your teeth look whiter and more even.
Groom Yourself
Make sure you are well-groomed and clean. You should wash your hair, shave or trim your beard or mustache, and wear clothes that fit properly.
Perhaps you are preparing for a group photograph or event; in that case, make sure you are wearing clothes that match the occasion and that the colors complement each other. However, ensure you wear clothes that fit well. Clothing that fits well will highlight your body shape and make you appear slimmer than clothes that are too big or too small for your body type.
Furthermore, when posing for a group photo shoot, avoid direct exposure to the sunlight – it can deform your image.
In the group photo above, you can see the effects of direct exposure to excessive light when posing for a click. Therefore, always groom yourself and ensure to take proper shades.
Quick Tip: Avoid wearing black and white clothing, as these colors can wash out your skin tone and make you appear pale or washed out. Try wearing different shades of blue, red, or purple instead for a more flattering color scheme.
Use A High-quality Camera And A Sturdy Tripod For Selfies
When clicking and recording self-portraits and videos, employ a quality camera with a sturdy tripod for the job. There are several high-quality entry-level digital cameras below $1000 in the store. However, you can check out the Nikon D3500 or Canon EOS Rebel T8i.
These will help you to capture well-detailed and stunning photographs of yourself, even in poorly lit environments. Furthermore, a sturdy tripod like the MACTREM 80 will help reduce camera shakes when recording pictures.
Perhaps you are using your smartphone; in that case, we recommend clicking pictures with good camera apps. However, if you feel your phone’s default camera is lit, you can use it but do not forget to compose yourself well.
Use Natural Light
Light is an important tool in any form of photography. Although your camera comes with its in-built flash, we do not recommend using it. Instead you should also use natural light from windows or lamps instead of using a flash when taking a picture of yourself. However, you can ignore it if you are a professional and know how to set up the light, especially in poor light conditions.
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Click More Pictures
By clicking more pictures, you will get used to your appearance in photos more than how you look in a mirror. Basically, this will override your mind about how you feel about your photograph.
We recommend recording in RAW format. This will give you the room to edit the images according to your preference without reducing the quality. Furthermore, we also recommend clicking photos of yourself from different angles or positions – knowing your best angle is vital, especially when you want to look better in a photo than in a mirror.
Note: You can discover your best photo angle by trying out different positions.
Use Compositional Tools Or Guide For Your Photos
You can use compositional guides like the rule of thirds and golden ratio to compose your shots and look better in photos. You can learn more in our article – How To Become Photogenic In Every Click?
Be Yourself And Smile
To appear better in photos, you have to feel relaxed when posing for the camera. The camera can also capture your mood and body signs. Thus, it is important to smile when clicking your images. Smiling is the most natural way to make yourself look good in a photo. Furthermore, it is also important to accept your look and be confident about your shape, face, and body.