When you look in a mirror, the image you see is reversed, as the mirror reflects things in a way that flips your left and right. This is why you may look different in a mirror compared to photos. In contrast, when you take a picture with the rear camera of your phone, it captures a true, unflipped image of yourself.

Most people are more familiar with their mirrored reflection, so it often feels more natural to them, while the rear camera's photo can seem unfamiliar or less flattering. This doesn’t mean that the photo is the “real” you — both are accurate representations, but the mirror image is simply what you're accustomed to seeing. The rear camera photo is just a raw, unflipped version, showing you as others typically see you.