How do you take a self-portrait similar to what you see in the mirror?

To take a good self-portrait, I'd look in the mirror, see the expression/angle/light I like, and... fail to capture it.

Any tips on exposure, positioning of the camera (e.g. relative to the eyes), focal length/lens to use.

What it boils down to:

• What is the digital (optics, settings) equivalent of an eye?


• How do you position the camera in such a way, so that the image resembles what you would have seen? (elevation, angle, distance, focal length)

I am not talking about photographing through the mirror. The mirror is only a tool here.