Nikon SLR Cameras

Why aren't I photogenic

Heather
Heather

I recently bought a Nikon D3100 for photography and filming. I used to have a normal standard digital camera, a camcorder, a iPhone and on each camera it made me look long, big eyes, long chin, wonky slanted face and withdrawn skin.
When I tried to film off of the cameras, I sounded deep, and as if I was mumbling - and it made my face wonky, wider, longer and just not me.
I tried doing a first vlog today for YouTube and it just does the same, long face, huge eyes, and ridiculous voice.
Is it the lighting, is it the camera, is it me?
Filming and photography is what I wanna do, and I want to be on both sides of the camera - as I'm very insecure, I pay attention to my looks a lot.

What's the issue? It's really annoying!

Added (1). And my photo here is what I DO look like, as the camera was pointing towards the mirror… And for some reason mirror shots make me look me.

Guest
Guest

The reason isn't nessarsarily that you are unphotogenic it is due to the fact that you are used to seeing your face in a mirror. This means you are used to your features being the opposite essentially, so when you see a photo of yourself, you are the opposite to normal. As you said in the additional details, you like the mirror shots of yourself. If you are still bothered by this get some free photo editing software and on most of them you can mirror a picture and then you will look like you again.
hope that helps

CiaoChao
CiaoChao

You need a proper microphone and then you need to use a long lens (at least 50mm), which means you will have to be further away from the camera. You probably are photogenic (everyone is), but you're just not using the camera properly.

Ron T
Ron T

You're pretty, but maybe you should try some modeling tips. Many models aren't even pretty, but they can take great pictures. One way is to turn your head slightly instead of looking at the camera straight on. You have to take a few pictures to find your "good side" It's very difficult to take a great picture of yourself. Mirror shots are incredibly terrible (just look at all the bad shots on facebook). Find someone to take pictures of you. You can try to do it yourself with a tripod and the timer on your Nikon, but its so much easier to have a friend snap some of you. Best of luck.
http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-the-perfect-headshot-six-tips
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-take-good-headshots

Jim A
Jim A

Heather, lets be honest. You, at least in your photo, are a pretty girl but… You can't hope to shoot photos of yourself and succeed.

Makeup is very important I'm sure you know that. Second though, and this is most important, you need a photographer's eye to help you strike a post that will be most attractive… You can't hope to do that by yourself.

Third, regardless of a person's looks, most girls are never happy with the way they look so give yourself a break. Find a good friend who knows what he / she is doing around a camera, have that person do some poses. Do your hair in various ways, do your makeup for evening lighting, as in going out to a movie or for dinner. Get some decent light on your face as in from a large window and let this photographer friend pose you… You don't pose yourself, take direction… The only way to get really nice photos.

I do children from time to time. Of course children aren't always patient enough to strike and hold good poses but one of my subjects, age 7, knows exactly what the camera is all about and takes direction very well. Look at this shot.

Is she attractive? Of course but that's because she takes direction in front of the camera.

Look here.

Again, this gal knows how to take direction rather than trying to shoot her own photos.

Heather you're a pretty girl but you can't hope to take nice photos alone. Get a photographer to help you.