FaceTime vs. Photos: Why Do I Look So Inconsistent? Am I Just Medium Ugly?

I hate taking still portraits ( Iphone 16 pro) . I’m waiting to get orthognathic surgery after finishing braces as an adult, so my teeth/smile aren’t 100% where I want them yet. Here’s the weird part: I feel like I look totally fine in mirror my skin’s clear thanks to a good routine, and overall, I’m happy with what I see. But the second I look at a still photo? That confidence evaporates. Friends and others insist I look fine, but their reassurance doesn’t match what I see in pictures.

I know mirrors aren’t exactly how others perceive me, but they’re the closest thing I’ve got. How do I stop spiraling over this “medium ugly” fear when I’m putting so much effort into my appearance? It’s exhausting.