Do you believe the mirror or the camera?

[minalost]

My imagination never lies. I'm sticking to that.

I'm all for that! I alway look good with my eyes shut and my minds eye wide open !

My thanks to all for your advise on make up and lighting with a camera. I'll have to give some of it a try next time out...

Additional thanks to eveyone who said nice things about my profile photo...

[TGMarla]

I believe the camera way more than I believe the mirror. In the mirror, I often love the way I look when en femme. But the camera doesn't lie, and for every really good photo I take of myself, I have four or five others that prove I'm little more than a guy in a dress. I think that when we look in the mirror, we see more of what we want to see, rather than what we are actually seeing. Cameras are the opposite; they show us the reality of the situation, whether we like it or not.

[Super Amanda]

I think that when we look in the mirror, we see more of what we want to see, rather than what we are actually seeing. Cameras are the opposite; they show us the reality of the situation, whether we like it or not.

I think it's just the opposite...the completely motionless, unchanging image of a photograph seems more like a misrepresentation, IMO. Not to mention any kind of artifacts that may show up that change a picture slightly.

In a mirror, you see what is being reflected, unbiased, just reversed.

Imagine walking down the street along a building with highly reflective windows. Now imagine that there are dozens of other people around walking along with you. When you look over at the reflections walking along, do they all look "better" somehow than they do when you just look at them?

I agree that we can see what we want to see to a degree, but I think mood makes more of a difference. There were times when I took a few dozen pictures and hated all of them when I reviewed them. But after a day or so, I found that I did in fact like many of the pics after all. And on the flip side, I've had pics that I thought I looked soooooo beautiful that I had to make an avatar pic out of it, then a few days later I look at the picture and wonder what the heck I was thinking...

So which one to believe in? I live full time, so I have to believe in my reflection, and whether in a bank, or a grocery store or my sons elementary school, when I catch my reflection, standing there among the general public, I smile, and I like what I see, because it's me!

[ReineD]

I believe the camera is more accurate too, but the issue at least with me, is stiffening up in front of it and having a forced or an unnatural appearance. I hate having my picture taken. This shows, in just about every shot.

[Andromeda]

I would go with the mirror. The camera's image is influenced by many other elements such as lighting and the camera's settings.

[Kaz]

I love the profile pic... it is a real person!

I look better in "some" photos and not others - oh the joy of digital photography!

I do "not too bad" pics occasionally (no photoshop)... but real life (mirror) I am a middle-aged guy doing what he shouldn't!

But when in the pink fog... it all looks good!

xx

[Tasha McIntyre]

I don't like my camera sometimes

Sometimes its just little things like the flash lighting seems to emphasise every flaw in my sometimes woeful attempts at applying makeup.

Other times I look in the mirror and think "hey that looks great, let's go shopping" and take a few photos before stepping out. Later when I see the photos it's like uggggh uh ohhh, that skirt's too short girl, or something similar

Tash

[Sheila]

I hate both if I am in front of them, they show a fat short middle aged woman who is nothing like the sexy svelte girl I feel inside

[NicoleScott]

I like and use both the mirror and the camera. The mirror gives me feedback for the present. The camera gives me feedback for the future.
The camera lets me see myself from an angle other than the straight on view the mirror gives me, unless I use two or mirrors for side and back views.
To see yourself best with either mirror or camera, lighting is vitally important.
One trick I use to see if the picture might turn out good is to set a mirror on a stand (I use a makeup mirror on a pedestal stand) next to my camera on a mini-tripod. I can check the lighting (shadows don't like me, and the feeling is mutual) and the pose. When it looks right in the mirror, I click. I use a shutter timer and know within a second when the picture will be snapped.
Doing all this, trying to make the best photos possible, within the limitations of the equipment, I still feel lucky if 1 in 10 or more turn out good. Yes, we are our own worst critics, but I know a bad pic when I see one.
When cd's post questions on how to do good makeup, I often reply: practice.
I think the same goes for good picture taking: practice. In both cases, make mistakes and learn from them.

[Angiemead12]

i love the camera!

[NancyTO]

Camera seem more critical and captures you from different perspectives and angles. Yes the flash tends to go through your make up at times and not give you a great complexion.

When I look at my friends in the camera, they look exactly like I reconize them looking like at the time of the picture. So I trust the camera more.

Say Cheese.

[Debb]

I would prefer to believe the mirror, but the camera seems to be more objective.

Neither. The safest bet is to go by how others react to us.

I had to quote both of these, for accuracy. I also prefer the mirror; I must get close, as I'm near-sighted, and the mirror I use is not a full-length one... this gives the result of it being only my face, and all I see is the makeup/eye shadow/lipstick/earrings, and I'm pretty for a moment.

Then I go and screw-up and take a photo. Back to reality (sigh)...

But yeah, Denise has it. Reactions tell us a lot, and really it's the fact that we're live-action, smiling, etc .. that makes all the difference. Just being people.

[Barbara Dugan]

I think the mirror because for better or for worse looks more real

[Lynn Marie]

[SIZE="3"]Lighting is everything and your profile picture looks great. You made me look![/SIZE]

[skylance]

Interesting question, my opinion is that neither one can lie, they r both accurate, but there tends to be a lot of differeneces with lighting, environment, the photographer, perceptions, etc. in the mirrors and the cameras. I honestly believe that use both can help to improve your image, if your willign to put in the effort. Anyways, just my

[Frédérique]

Do you believe the mirror or the camera?

[SIZE="2"]What about a camera with a mirror?

I believe in what I see, which means I believe in reflected light and how we (as humans) perceive it. This is my religion – see my profile page. Mirrors don’t lie, but you can fool yourself (if you’re not careful) by only seeing what you wish to see. On the other hand, photography is a selective, artistic process that can be manipulated to bring out what you want to see, or, in this case, how you want to look. It takes a little knowledge and practice to be able to shape your images as you see fit, using a camera as a tool of expression. This "education" comes by way of trial-and-error, so keep trying…[/SIZE]

[missdanie]

Helloooo, ladies...

Here's a question right up my alley! I've been a professional makeup artist for almost 20 years and in the last decade, I've performed portrait photography, mostly for artists in the music industry. Before I switched course and pursued a nursing degree, I worked as a graphic designer, doing more photo editing than one can shake a stick at. These days, I teach anatomy & physiology while I pursue my MSN, but I maintain and continue to professionally use my makeup/photo/graphics skills. I'm genetically female and stereotypically female, too.

I give all this background to let you know that I understand the 9,392 factors involved in image and portraying it, including: physical anatomy, cosmetics, styling, posture, cameras, lighting, image capture, and attitude. So here are some random, unordered observations based on that experience:

1. Cameras do, in fact, lie. They can see things human eyes do not. Yes, it's possible that your mirror image perception is based on imagination, but before jumping to the conclusion that this is so, consider other possibilities first. I'm assuming no one here is using professional lighting.

2. If your foundation or concealer contains physical SPF like zinc or titanium, the camera will tend to skew the color, usually for the lighter, even if you are not using a flash. For a host of reasons, I like using professional brands for CDs and MtFs, like Cinema Secrets, Make Up For Ever, or RCMA. The finish is less flat, more natural.

3. If you are photographing yourself and you are using a flash, this problem will be even worse, and this will tend to happen even without physical SPF. The flash will reflect off of any light pigments, any shinier spots on your face, anything that is closer to the camera, etc. Skin tones pretty much have no hope of looking even.

4. If you are lit from the back or from above or below, this will emphasize shadows in places where you probably do not wish to see shadows. If you have applied contour makeup, the camera and lighting will probably conspire to make some areas look gaunt and other areas look bloated. Again, this isn't how things actually look.

5. The best lighting is natural light, or at least enough nicely toned artificial light, from behind the camera. Lighting yourself well gives you a fighting chance at appearing as lovely as you actually do.

6. Back to the foundation and concealer. Use less makeup and more blending. I'll say it again: less makeup, more blending. If you need more coverage, apply several thin layers rather than one thick layer. This will always look better -- always! -- both in life and on camera.

7. Make sure the undertone of your makeup matches the undertone of your actual skin. This is something that is far more obvious on camera than in life, though it's fairly noticeable to others in life. Don't stop the makeup at some arbitrary point on your chin, either. Blend it into your hairline, onto your ears, down your neck. Go all the way down to the decollete depending on how you're dressing.

8. Use great lighting and a good mirror to do your makeup! This will help you to develop a critical eye. Flip frequently between magnifying and regular mirrors.

9. If you see a tinge of blue/grey color at the facial hair areas, consider using a salmon-toned "beard cover" before applying foundation. Don't cake on foundation or concealer to solve the problem; you need to neutralize, not pile on more skin-toned makeup.

10. One problem I notice a lot is that people go "makeup-happy" and go all-out with eyes AND cheeks AND lips. This doesn't photograph well. In life, it doesn't look so hot, but in photos, without benefit of an animated expression, it's even worse. Pick a feature and go with it. Use makeup on the rest, yes, but consider them supporting actors.

11. An eye makeup problem I've noticed frequently is that most eyes should not be lined all the way around. Try lining and shadowing the outer 2/3 of the eyelid only. This creates the illusion of wider-set eyes.

12. Resign yourself to taking 100 photos for each one you like. Just decide ahead of time that that's the way it is. Pro photographers throw away a lot of photos, too.

13. Keep in mind that a photo is a moment in time. It could be the moment you're blinking or the moment that you're changing position or a moment when you're feeling awkward. It's difficult to capture a dynamic personality in a photo. I find that animated faces are harder to photograph than others. Some of the most attractive people I know look really bad in most photos of them. This is why photographers are employable!

14. When posing, to start: Try to look UP slightly at the camera. Lean TOWARD the camera and think about keeping your neck LONG. Pretend there's someone just behind and above the camera and you're telling him or her a sly, funny, wry story. See what happens to your expression.

15. If you feel stiff or awkward, jump up and down a few times and keep taking photos. You might be surprised.

Okay, I've written a novel!

I don't have the time or the space here to talk about application techniques or cosmetic formulations, but these are important. I'm going to hang out at crossdressers.com for a little while, so if you have specific questions, feel free to ask them.

-D

[t-girlxsophie]

They both take turns at telling me giant porkies.They gang up on little ol' me at me lol. thats why my fave pics are always from a distance,I've only took maybe half a dozen that I'm really happy with