hey y’all~ this might be a bit of a superficial issue, but i’ve noticed lately that whenever i take a photo, i’m not really comfortable with how it looks naturally. i think it's been like this for a while but it really hit me the other day.

it's become a habit to add filters, up the brightness, and change the lighting so that i think i look healthier and more glowy~ sometimes i even feel the urge to get rid of some flaws in photoshop/change the angle a bit. i also have a couple of those asian beauty apps that “beautify” your skin. i don't change my facial structure but this makes me feel bad when people post compliments. (kind of like it's fake?) :/ this sometimes even extends to photos taken by others. i look at them and i just think of all the ways i could make it look better...

what do you guys think? how much editing is "too much" editing? has "selfie culture" (for lack of a better term) affected you or how has it not? this is just something i’m curious about because i think it’s starting to effect my self esteem and it'd be cool to hear some different perspectives or advice! thanks!!

I think people doing a bit of editing on selfies is totally normal (and something I do myself). Like, 'wow, this is a nice photo, but look there's a cat hair/red spot/etc. that I would be like to be rid of.' Boom. Done.

I think as long as it still looks like you and you're not manipulating and editing yourself to the point of unrecognizable, or adding features you don't actually have, it's okay.

Selfie culture hasn't really affected me a whole bunch. Though I am really envious of people that can always seem to take really good ones, haha!

Thank you so much for the reply! Yeah, I think it's a bit of a norm nowadays for people to at least put on a filter or two. I'm going to try to cut back on the amount of editing I do from now on. Thanks for the assurance!!

Ah, that's good to hear. T^T;; I always seen tons of girls on my instagram feed with hundreds of flawless selfies so that's another problem for me haha.

Almost everyone I know is somewhat self conscious in photos. It seems to be a very common thing, so don't worry about that side of it, you aren't alone and many of us can empathise with you! :)

I get what you mean about editing selfies too. I think I've only ever taken about two selfies in my entire life (I really hate having my photo taken, unless I'm on stage where I'm basically fearless) and I only took the selfies because they were for something I was joining in with. My first selfie involved me doing something specific, but having more creative freedom in the second one, I ended up grabbing one of my guinea pigs and have him sit on my shoulder in the selfie. He's very handsome and photogenic so I decided it'd help take the focus off of myself.

I think I still fiddled with the contrast and colour balance before showing them to anyone though. And to be fair, editing is a talent/hobby in itself, be it tweaking a photo professionally or just adding fun and cheesy colours and special effects.

We've all got flaws, but I always think it's much easier for us to see the flaws in ourselves than in other people.

Lol, I hate my selfies more often than not on average. I'm only just getting half skilled with makeup application which makes it a little easier. I know the feeling, I edit mine too but I also learned the hard way that you simply sometimes just don't do selfies. (I wound up on 4Chan as a joke once so that didn't go well at all.)

[edit]Wtf typo.

A little editing is never a bad thing. I like to throw filters on sometimes just because of the cool colors they make xD

I know people who fully EDITED beyond belief on their photos through makeup apps and such, and I think that is a bit overboard :x

Do what you like!!! Its no ones selfie but yours c:

I think that's something most everyone struggles with at some point. That's one reason why I'm not a huge selfie-taker. I feel like it feeds the problem of not being completely happy with how I look sometimes. Like Dulcey said, it's so much easier for us to see our own flaws. I find that the pictures of myself that look the best are the ones that I (or others) have taken when I'm happy and confident. Maybe if you're really unhappy with how you look in pictures, and it's a longstanding problem, try walking away from doing that for a while and focus on other things in life that make you feel happy and confident. Then come back and see if anything's changed? Perspective can make a huge difference. :)

omg thank you so much for everyone’s insight

gotta remember i am my own worst critic! but it’s so hard to build a sense of self confidence in my image haha aw that’s so adorable c: i used to have a hamster, i love little pets like that!

thanks so much. i’m really going to try to repeat this to myself a lot. like a mantra ; _ ;

oh my? ;__; that sounds kind of traumatizing. i hope that it didn’t hurt your feelings too much :/ people are mean for no reason

ahaha i also started getting into makeup last year after not having wearing it ever. i kind of enjoy it but at the same time i kinda wish i didn’t feel the need to use it at all

thanks for the words of empowerment i actually have makeup apps like that but i never post those photos lMAO I just play around ;__; not that shameless yet x__x

i think i just always compare myself to other people and it really drags me down! but it may help to step back and see if there's anything i can do to prevent this

Eh, I've never really posted any selfie online since so...

I KNOW THAT FEEL, I know it well.

Yeah, comparing is an awful cycle that never ends. :( Just remember that you were not made to be like somebody else. You were made to be you! I agree, and I hope stepping back will help you a lot. Feel free to message me if you need to vent or want encouragement/support (or if you need anything else). I enjoy helping!

i think that because people have edited so many selfies, its become more of a trend. back in the day, when social media first flourished, so did pro anorexia blogs and things of the like. Social media has always had a negative affect on the way people see themselves because it leaves us open to so much more comparison personally, i have learned that its silly to compare the way i look to others simply because I /dont/ look like them. I'm never going to. certain things compliment my features that wouldn't look good on anyone else. Sometimes people look really cute with stuff that looks god awful on me.

Its all about learning to love yourself for who you are, being able to rather than point out the negative things, point out the nice things about you. For example, if you get ready in the morning only thinking about a blemish or a roll of fat, you will probably dress and emanate that feeling for the rest of the day. But if you get ready and think of how nice your eyes and hair are, and you dress to that, you will look great.

Beauty isn't a physical trait so much as it is a state of mind.