What do we actually look like?

[Jamesol1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jamesol1]

Ok so when taking a selfie or having a picture taken off me I hate the way I look. My face looks fatter, my face doesn't look very symmetric at all... but when looking in the mirror i think i look a lot better. But also when i take a picture of myself through a mirror... I still think i look much better.
I mean i guess we should accept which ever way we do look in real life. But I was planning on making a dating profile so i was going to use pictures of me through a mirror... but then if we meet up and I do actually look a lot different to that of me in a mirror...
I know this is stupid and there is stuff about this on the internet... I just can't find an answer in regards to a picture in a mirror though.

[DickerSchwanz Senior Member Member of the Month Sept 2015 Find all posts View Profile Close DickerSchwanz]

You are used to the mirror image. It depends much on angle and also the lense of the camera.
I think most people look best from slightly the side and face a bit down.

[Jamesol1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jamesol1]

Yeah I seem to look best at that angle. I guess the real way to find out may be to ask someone while facing the mirror If I look the same in the reflection as I do in real life. We and a friend were discussing this... he said I looked the same. But then I'm reading things saying everyone thinks they look good in the mirror and often think they look better then they do, only pictures tell us how we actually scale up.

I would like to know how I really look so i can then decide upon what girls I can have a chance at getting.

[DickerSchwanz Senior Member Member of the Month Sept 2015 Find all posts View Profile Close DickerSchwanz]

I think you should just go with the one you are most comfortable with. From some perspectives and espacially lenses you look different cause face features get smaller and others bigger.
What you really look like? Lol no one knows . Its in the eye of the viewer. A photo is totally different to a 3d meeting where your face is shown dynamicly. I think its quiet normal to think of some photos as weird. Just go with one you can stand behind "thats me ".

[Alcander Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Alcander]

I would like to know how I really look so i can then decide upon what girls I can have a chance at getting.

I think the secret is realizing that you have a chance at getting just about any available girl, John. Don't disqualify yourself based on your own looks but rather swing for the fences and go after that traffic-stopping stunner or the cute geeky girl on your commute. They have the same insecurities as you and hey, you never know, you might be just their type. If they aren't into you, don't take it too personally as it may be evidence that they have a terribly superficial personality and suddenly they may not seem as attractive as you first thought.

I understand wanting to present your best self and with regards to DickerSchwanz's "eye of the viewer" comment: it truly is just that. Even in a mirror, if I've had a horrible day, I may think I look like ugliest gremlin in the batch and conversely, on the right kind of day, I may feel/look like the sexiest baby-faced, hazel-eyed panty-soaker walking the streets. Guess what mindset gets me more attention from the girls.

P.S. Every schmuck that dates online uses the mirror selfie and it always looks lame. Why not have your friend take about a hundred candid photos of you and then you can pick the best three for your profile?

[TheAnimal220 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close TheAnimal220]

I believe it was Charlie Sheen who said something along the lines of; Go after the hottest girl in the bar, she's the loneliest one there because every guy is too scared to approach her.

Yeah I suck in pictures as well. Some people are just photogenic as hell, and others are not. Also, you are always your own biggest critic. Ever heard your own voice on a recording? Every time I hear it I think to myself: "jesus I sound like a bitch..." But it hasn't stopped my from talking to people...

[Jamesol1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jamesol1]

@Alcander Thing is though I take 1 picture of me through a mirror and I like it. I have lots of pictures of me and I don't like any of them. My face looks unsymmetrical... different features on my face look smaller etc. I know I'm pretty pathetic making a deal of it but it's been bothering me so i'm trying to fix that.
I mean do you think I look pretty close/almost the same in real life as a still picture but through a mirror?

@Animal 100% on the voice thing. I cringe when i hear my voice ha.

Attractive girls (at school) have shown interested in me so I'm thinking/hoping i must be better in person.

[longerlastingnoob Senior Member Member of the Month Jan 2015 Find all posts View Profile Close longerlastingnoob]

You're definitely just over critical of yourself. I was the same, with pictures, and the voice aghh, even seeing a video of myself somewhere I would think I looked weird the way I walked or moved, that's stupid though when I actually thought about it.

100 % just too hard on yourself.

[closed224 Senior Member Member of the Month Dec 2014, Feb 2017 Find all posts View Profile Close closed224]

The mirror is flat, one dimensional. Cameras are now designed to get depth. Go with the picture out of the mirror. You will show more character. You look better, sound better than you think. You are wonderful. Be all you can be. They will like it.

[closed224 Senior Member Member of the Month Dec 2014, Feb 2017 Find all posts View Profile Close closed224]

The mirror is flat, one dimensional. Cameras are now designed to get depth. Go with the picture out of the mirror. You will show more character. You look better, sound better than you think. You are wonderful. Be all you can be. They will like it.

[Jamesol1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jamesol1]

Thanks for the comments guys! I was thinking of making a dating profile... I didn't want to make one using pictures of me through a mirror incase it's not what I look like/ I actually look worse in person. But I guess it should be ok.

[Sequoia Tree Senior Member Member of the Month July 2016 Find all posts View Profile Close Sequoia Tree]

I've also thought that I looked more handsome and symmetrical in a mirror.

[Jamesol1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jamesol1]

How accurate do you think a picture through a mirror of myself is to how I actually look? Is my face just the other way around? Like will myself head on just look slightly different but by no means worse or better? That is what is really bothering me.

[TheAnimal220 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close TheAnimal220]

There's no telling. Home bathroom mirrors usually makes you look a little better because of dimmed lighting. Ever seen yourself in a public bathroom with fluorescent lighting? It's a straight f***ing distaster.

In terms of accuracy; pictures and movies can not do better than represent a 2 dimensional image, and it always comes out worse than it is in reality. Ask any photographer to what lengths they have to go to to make a picture of someone look 'natural'.

Stop worrying about it. If you're constantly self concious of how your face looks, people are gonna pick up on that vibe and it's only going to reinforce your negative self image.

[closed224 Senior Member Member of the Month Dec 2014, Feb 2017 Find all posts View Profile Close closed224]

John, it really is OK either way. Send the pictures you are most comfortable with. No more than 3-5 pictures. No dick pictures unless they specifically ask. You are fine. You are handsome. Women want to date you, and men wish they were you. Make the profile. Submit the profile, go on some dates. Be yourself. Accept your date for herself. Dance like no one is watching. Make a joyful noise. Have fun. You are perfect. Wonderful. Awesome. Go, man, make the profile. Enjoy