ok ..so whose lying the camera or the mirror...???..!!

[Kathy Smith]

If you can sort out a point-n-shoot camera with a flash you'll get far better results. The low-res cameras intended for web cam use are useless for this job, their resolution and colour balance are totally shot-at, even with good lighting. I usually use an old 3 mega pixel camera on a lightweight tripod, using the self-timer. I've no real complaint about the results.

Remember too that the mirror reverses your image left-right. We get used to seeing our reflections like that and things look "wrong" when we see ourselves as others see us.

[UNDERDRESSER]

Cameras do not see things the way that the eye does. Depending on the light source, the colors can change markedly. If you ever see someone made up for a television appearance, they look frankly weird.

[AllieSF]

The problem is that you are using the light from the computer screen and if you have a more modern web cam, it may have its own blue light brightener tied into its own software that will not always result in a flattering result. If you took those same pics during the day with enough natural light in the room, your results would be totally different. So, as others have recommended, get yourself a small digital camera with a decent flash, improve the overall lighting wherever you want to take your pic and practice to get the true results that you want.

Your scenario here makes me remember a Seinfeld episode where he was dating this very attractive woman who suddenly looked very eerie, think vampire movie eerie, when she was in certain lighting. Jerry Seinfeld couldn't figure out what made her go from fashion model beautiful to vampire scary until someone suggested that he needed to find the right lighting to see her.

[Julie Denier]

I think you look great!

[elliemoss]

yes I feel your pain. Always happens me, I look in the mirror and think "whos that cute foxy chic staring back at me?" then I look at the pics and think "where did that huge man/woman beast thing come from?", seriously though you look great we are all our own harshest critics.

[eluuzion]

Lots of factors influence mirrors and photos/videos.

In a photo or looking at yourself on your laptop screen when you are making videos or taking pictures, the image you see is “correct” with reference to “left and right sides”. When you raise your right hand, the hand raised in the image is on the left side of the screen (or photo), as people see it (you) in real life.

Left/right reversal- the mirror reflects a reversed image of you. Look in a mirror and raise your right hand. The mirror image of you is raising the hand on the right side of the mirror. If that was a real person facing you raising their right hand, the raised hand would be on the other side. Try shaking hands with yourself in a mirror. It does not happen that way in real life. So in a mirror, you are always seeing a reversed image of yourself.

If you want to know what you really look like (to others)…put two mirrors perpendicular to each other (push them together into a corner). Or just buy one of these…
http://www.truemirror.com/

Foreshortening- the distortion of perspective.
In photography/video… Like a standing person where the upper part looks closer and larger than the lower part…and the person looks shorter than they really are. (The cause here is the camera angle is too high at a relatively close distance).

Gee, do you think this has anything to do with the appearance of being well-endowed in a porn video?

Look into a mirror and hold out your hand. Look how close (and big) your hand looks compared to your body and how short your arm looks between the two. That is foreshortening.

Here is a link to a basic physics tutorial explaining mirror imaging. Factors like distance and lighting and how they affect image. Pretty interesting.
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/refln/u13l2b.cfm

So as usual, defining “reality” is always based upon individual perception of it. Add/remove/adjust the angle, color and lighting and anything can happen (especially when you turn out all of the lights, lol).

No wonder we have difficulty figuring out who we really are...

[Natalie D]

Hi Jess,

Don't worry it's the camera...honest.

There's a reason professional photographers charge a lot of money to take pictures.
Its all about lighting and camera angles. That's before you even start to think about shutter speed, aperture, etc and of course pro cameras and lenses. It a lot harder to take a natural looking picture of someone than you may think. Let alone trying to take one of yourself without the equipment or proper lights.

You may get lucky using your laptop camera but the odds are staked against you.

How often do you see pictures in the press of top models not looking so good when they are snapped outside of a controlled photo shoot?

If you really want to get some decent pictures of yourself you will need a decent camera, tripod and remote control. Then just play around with it. Have a bit of fun and find out what angles work well.

[Cari]

This may just be me but I am very critical when I look at photo and video when dressed.
If I go back a few days later I see a bigger picture good and bad.
At the time I see the new things I tried and the first impression is off a bit.

By far my best pics are under sunlight or incandescent bulbs the flash really does play tricks.
I have a floor lamp with three bulbs and some smaller lights I use makes a big difference.

One question I used to go to support group meetings with flourescent lights.
That was kinda harsh and I dont think I ever looked good
Anyone have any tips for that harsh office type lighting ?

I do look good by dim bar light which is a good thing :-)

[Patsy]

You're not alone Jess. When I take webcam photos I usually have to sit down and have a nice cup of tea to get over the shock, and I'm really beautiful (joke).

[erickka]

Forget that stupid camera! You're one cute blonde! The pic with the better lighting (seated wearing blue blouse) shows you off the best

[Jessicajane]

LOL...thanks for the comments girls...its good to know that others have the same frustrations that I do...it was just such a shock to see a "chalk and cheese" difference...but hey in truth I just loved being Jess for a few hours...thanks Joanne for taking the children out !!!

Next time I will sort out a decent camera, and try again..!!...

[Jessicajane]

LOL...OMG never thought anyone would compliment my clothes...!!!....but it does feel nice on..!!

[Teri Ray]

Well if you ask me it depends on your camera. For example I have a cheap digital camera that can only give me a picture of me, that I find looks acceptable, on a ratio of 1 good for 50 bad. Used to think it was actually me looking silly, looking fat, crooked smile or whatever now I am happy to believe that its only the cameras fault. Come to think of it sometimes my computer misspells words. Yeshh these electonics time are hard.

[Jennifer Marie P.]

You look pretty and for the camera theres days that you wont like the pictures.