Greeddd
teenagelovestory is watching over me
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2025
- Posts
- 35
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Ever wondered why you look bad on pictures, but better in the mirror?
song:
Mirror vs photo debate (settled)
People keep saying "photos never lie" when that's literally not true lmao.
A mirror gives you the most accurate facial proportions because there's no lens distortion. The only difference is it's flipped.
A proper portrait (taken from like 2–3m away with a normal/portrait lens) is the closest to what other people actually see. Not your front cam held 30 cm from your face.
Selfies are basically a distortion test. They make your nose look bigger, midface look weird, jaw less defined, etc.
On top of that, your brain is mirror-trained.
You've seen your mirrored face thousands of times, so when you see the non-flipped version in photos it looks uncanny even if everyone else thinks you look normal.
Studies also show that the same person can look like a completely different individual depending on angle, lighting, lens and expression.
A camrea simply tries its best to recreate your face by millions of pixels, its no where more accurate than nature, a mirror.
Within that, a picture exposes your skin quality in a bad way.
WARNING
Do not use this to cope your way out, this thread is there to teach you about whats more accurate, if you look bad you obviously also might just be ugly. (In most cases!)
TL;DR
Mirror = best for checking your actual proportions, and what you actually look like. (just flipped).
Proper portrait = closest to what people see.
Selfies = don't doom over them.
IRL mogs both since people see you in 3D with movement (real time).
Sources:
Links to studies, sources
Hey there boyo, if your quality sucks, dwbi. You look different IRL, so quit stressing about it thinking its over, you could be good-looking and still have horrible pictures.
Have a good one, dont cope tho, chad never has bad photos.
@teenagelovestory
song:
Mirror vs photo debate (settled)
People keep saying "photos never lie" when that's literally not true lmao.
A mirror gives you the most accurate facial proportions because there's no lens distortion. The only difference is it's flipped.
A proper portrait (taken from like 2–3m away with a normal/portrait lens) is the closest to what other people actually see. Not your front cam held 30 cm from your face.
Selfies are basically a distortion test. They make your nose look bigger, midface look weird, jaw less defined, etc.
On top of that, your brain is mirror-trained.
You've seen your mirrored face thousands of times, so when you see the non-flipped version in photos it looks uncanny even if everyone else thinks you look normal.
Studies also show that the same person can look like a completely different individual depending on angle, lighting, lens and expression.
A camrea simply tries its best to recreate your face by millions of pixels, its no where more accurate than nature, a mirror.
Within that, a picture exposes your skin quality in a bad way.
WARNING
Do not use this to cope your way out, this thread is there to teach you about whats more accurate, if you look bad you obviously also might just be ugly. (In most cases!)
TL;DR
Mirror = best for checking your actual proportions, and what you actually look like. (just flipped).
Proper portrait = closest to what people see.
Selfies = don't doom over them.
IRL mogs both since people see you in 3D with movement (real time).
Sources:
Links to studies, sources
Variability in Photos of the Same Face (Cognition)
Reversed Facial Images and the Mere-Exposure Hypothesis
Selfie Distortion (JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery)
Reversed Facial Images and the Mere-Exposure Hypothesis
Selfie Distortion (JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery)
Hey there boyo, if your quality sucks, dwbi. You look different IRL, so quit stressing about it thinking its over, you could be good-looking and still have horrible pictures.
Have a good one, dont cope tho, chad never has bad photos.
@teenagelovestory
