24 Jan 2014, 1:30 pm
Hiya--
I'm a Yankee woman, 45 Y/O. Unless the DMV or an employer demands it of me, I will not have my picture taken.
Some folks--my age--find this strange, especially in this day/age. See, although there is no way to validate what I'm about to say here, I was asked if I was a model often enough for my head to blow up around what wound up being my only useful social asset. Twenty-some years later, I'm still capable, w/ a lot of time-consuming effort on my part, to look attractive enough that some others assume that I photograph well. I do not.
Even in selfies, the right side of my mouth droops in a physical crease I am unable to conceal. The left side is now trying to do the same thing. I have a severe frown/scowl line, have used Botox in the past when I could afford it, and my eyes are now so hooded that I appear vaguely Asian. (I am five-eight, and have packed on forty pounds since my pseudo-modeling days.)
If I could look halfway sane in photographs, I'd take a few, even though I find myself on the ugly side these days.
Which is a dumb-ass thing to fret about, seeing as there is so much more.... 
24 Jan 2014, 5:18 pm
I understand what you mean.
My experience has been that mature faces are more susceptible to the shortcomings of poor photography. That is often why those who look attractive in real life may not photograph well - the blame lies with crappy photography.
On the other hand, I have seen good results with those who find professional photographers who know what they are doing.
Cellphone or webcam selfies are rarely the friend of anyone over 40 
