Do you ever look at photos of yourself and ask, “Is that really me?” I have heard it time and time again from friends who say, “I hardly recognize myself in pictures anymore.” There is a very simple explanation for this. If you are wondering what it is, read on.

Each morning when you wake up, you look in the mirror and you see an image of yourself. You become familiar with this image because you see it every single day of your life.

But the image you see in the mirror is NOT what everyone else sees.

The reflection you see in the mirror each morning is a REVERSED IMAGE of how you appear to the world, and to the camera.

Here’s a photo to illustrate.

A camera captures an accurate depiction of your image. A mirror does not.

Bravo if you already knew this information about mirror-reversal. You also already know that small changes occur in our facial features slowly, over time. Gravity, weight gain/loss, and sun exposure can contribute to wrinkles, sagging skin, etc. Therefore, our facial symmetry is altered as we age. According to renowned face reader (physiognomist) Rose Rosetree: “Asymmetry happens. In fact…it is the single most universal way our face changes over time.”

“Asymmetry happens. In fact…it is the single most universal way our face changes over time.” … Rose Rosetree

So it boils down to this: between slight changes in our facial features over time, PLUS a reverse image in the mirror, NO WONDER WE DON’T RECOGNIZE OURSELVES IN PHOTOS.

TRY THIS EXPERIMENT

• Stand in front of a mirror.
• Using your cell phone take a photo of your reflection.
• Now turn your camera on yourself and take a ‘selfie.’
• Compare the two photos. See how the first pic is the reverse of the second? (This is how the world actually sees you!)

You probably can’t tell much of a difference in these photo reversals. But I bet George Bernard Shaw and Erma Bombeck would be their own worst critics.

 Now you know who that impersonator is in your photos. It’s your camera double!