diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 4dd7b66d1c..99e3f5be12 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -1983,6 +1983,9 @@ void Application::updateMouseRay() {
     bool showWarnings = Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::PipelineWarnings);
     PerformanceWarning warn(showWarnings, "Application::updateMouseRay()");
 
+    // make sure the frustum is up-to-date
+    loadViewFrustum(_myCamera, _viewFrustum);
+
     // if the mouse pointer isn't visible, act like it's at the center of the screen
     float x = 0.5f, y = 0.5f;
     if (!_mouseHidden) {
@@ -2030,11 +2033,12 @@ void Application::updateVisage() {
     _visage.update();
 }
 
-void Application::updateMyAvatarLookAtPosition(glm::vec3& lookAtSpot) {
+void Application::updateMyAvatarLookAtPosition() {
 
     bool showWarnings = Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::PipelineWarnings);
     PerformanceWarning warn(showWarnings, "Application::updateMyAvatarLookAtPosition()");
 
+    glm::vec3 lookAtSpot;
     if (_myCamera.getMode() == CAMERA_MODE_MIRROR) {
         lookAtSpot = _myCamera.getPosition();
 
@@ -2224,20 +2228,21 @@ void Application::updateMetavoxels(float deltaTime) {
 }
 
 void Application::cameraMenuChanged() {
+    float modeShiftPeriod = (_myCamera.getMode() == CAMERA_MODE_MIRROR) ? 0.0f : 1.0f;
     if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::FullscreenMirror)) {
         if (_myCamera.getMode() != CAMERA_MODE_MIRROR) {
             _myCamera.setMode(CAMERA_MODE_MIRROR);
-            _myCamera.setModeShiftPeriod(0.00f);
+            _myCamera.setModeShiftPeriod(0.0f);
         }
     } else if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::FirstPerson)) {
         if (_myCamera.getMode() != CAMERA_MODE_FIRST_PERSON) {
             _myCamera.setMode(CAMERA_MODE_FIRST_PERSON);
-            _myCamera.setModeShiftPeriod(1.0f);
+            _myCamera.setModeShiftPeriod(modeShiftPeriod);
         }
     } else {
         if (_myCamera.getMode() != CAMERA_MODE_THIRD_PERSON) {
             _myCamera.setMode(CAMERA_MODE_THIRD_PERSON);
-            _myCamera.setModeShiftPeriod(1.0f);
+            _myCamera.setModeShiftPeriod(modeShiftPeriod);
         }
     }
 }
@@ -2315,13 +2320,10 @@ void Application::update(float deltaTime) {
     // check what's under the mouse and update the mouse voxel
     updateMouseRay();
 
-    // Set where I am looking based on my mouse ray (so that other people can see)
-    glm::vec3 lookAtSpot;
-
     updateFaceshift();
     updateVisage();
-    _myAvatar->updateLookAtTargetAvatar(lookAtSpot);
-    updateMyAvatarLookAtPosition(lookAtSpot);
+    _myAvatar->updateLookAtTargetAvatar();
+    updateMyAvatarLookAtPosition();
 
     //  Find the voxel we are hovering over, and respond if clicked
     float distance;
@@ -2898,8 +2900,8 @@ void Application::displaySide(Camera& whichCamera, bool selfAvatarOnly) {
         }
     }
 
-    bool renderMyHead = (whichCamera.getInterpolatedMode() != CAMERA_MODE_FIRST_PERSON);
-    _avatarManager.renderAvatars(renderMyHead, selfAvatarOnly);
+    bool forceRenderMyHead = (whichCamera.getInterpolatedMode() == CAMERA_MODE_MIRROR);
+    _avatarManager.renderAvatars(forceRenderMyHead, selfAvatarOnly);
 
     if (!selfAvatarOnly) {
         //  Render the world box
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.h b/interface/src/Application.h
index ddd8d16c56..f3f4f3dbb2 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.h
+++ b/interface/src/Application.h
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ private:
     void updateMouseRay();
     void updateFaceshift();
     void updateVisage();
-    void updateMyAvatarLookAtPosition(glm::vec3& lookAtSpot);
+    void updateMyAvatarLookAtPosition();
     void updateHoverVoxels(float deltaTime, float& distance, BoxFace& face);
     void updateMouseVoxels(float deltaTime, float& distance, BoxFace& face);
     void updateHandAndTouch(float deltaTime);
diff --git a/interface/src/Camera.cpp b/interface/src/Camera.cpp
index 8729ef58b6..be7e7bac50 100644
--- a/interface/src/Camera.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Camera.cpp
@@ -123,6 +123,11 @@ void Camera::setModeShiftPeriod (float period) {
     const float MIN_PERIOD = 0.001f;
     const float MAX_PERIOD = 3.0f;
     _modeShiftPeriod = glm::clamp(period, MIN_PERIOD, MAX_PERIOD);
+    
+    // if a zero period was requested, we clearly want to snap immediately to the target
+    if (period == 0.0f) {
+        update(MIN_PERIOD);
+    }
 }
 
 void Camera::setMode(CameraMode m) { 
diff --git a/interface/src/Camera.h b/interface/src/Camera.h
index 7b95ce97f1..b5bf6ea0b7 100644
--- a/interface/src/Camera.h
+++ b/interface/src/Camera.h
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ public:
     const glm::vec3& getPosition() const { return _position; }
     const glm::quat& getRotation() const { return _rotation; }
     CameraMode getMode() const { return _mode; }
+    float getModeShiftPeriod() const { return _modeShiftPeriod; }
     const glm::vec3& getTargetPosition() const { return _targetPosition; }
     const glm::quat& getTargetRotation() const { return _targetRotation; }
     float getFieldOfView() const { return _fieldOfView; }
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
index f0f950adc1..e2e364c616 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ static TextRenderer* textRenderer(TextRendererType type) {
     return displayNameRenderer;
 }
 
-void Avatar::render(bool forceRenderHead) {
+void Avatar::render() {
     glm::vec3 toTarget = _position - Application::getInstance()->getAvatar()->getPosition();
     float lengthToTarget = glm::length(toTarget);
    
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ void Avatar::render(bool forceRenderHead) {
             getHead()->getFaceModel().renderCollisionProxies(0.7f);
         }
         if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::Avatars)) {
-            renderBody(forceRenderHead);
+            renderBody();
         }
 
         // render sphere when far away
@@ -286,16 +286,14 @@ glm::quat Avatar::computeRotationFromBodyToWorldUp(float proportion) const {
     return glm::angleAxis(angle * proportion, axis);
 }
 
-void Avatar::renderBody(bool forceRenderHead) {
+void Avatar::renderBody() {
     const float BILLBOARD_DISTANCE = 40.0f;
     if (!_billboard.isEmpty() && getLODDistance() >= BILLBOARD_DISTANCE) {
         renderBillboard();
         return;
     }
     _skeletonModel.render(1.0f);
-    if (forceRenderHead) {
-        getHead()->render(1.0f);
-    }
+    getHead()->render(1.0f);
     getHand()->render(false);
 }
 
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h
index b9433f15dc..be98254696 100755
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ public:
 
     void init();
     void simulate(float deltaTime);
-    void render(bool forceRenderHead);
+    void render();
 
     //setters
     void setDisplayingLookatVectors(bool displayingLookatVectors) { getHead()->setRenderLookatVectors(displayingLookatVectors); }
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ private:
     bool _initialized;
     QScopedPointer<Texture> _billboardTexture;
 
-    void renderBody(bool forceRenderHead);
+    void renderBody();
     void renderBillboard();
 
     void renderDisplayName();
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp
index f65566fe14..fed6716ffa 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ void AvatarManager::updateOtherAvatars(float deltaTime) {
     simulateAvatarFades(deltaTime);
 }
 
-void AvatarManager::renderAvatars(bool forceRenderHead, bool selfAvatarOnly) {
+void AvatarManager::renderAvatars(bool forceRenderMyHead, bool selfAvatarOnly) {
     PerformanceWarning warn(Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::PipelineWarnings),
                             "Application::renderAvatars()");
     bool renderLookAtVectors = Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::LookAtVectors);
@@ -83,16 +83,16 @@ void AvatarManager::renderAvatars(bool forceRenderHead, bool selfAvatarOnly) {
                 avatar->init();
             }
             if (avatar == static_cast<Avatar*>(_myAvatar.data())) {
-                avatar->render(forceRenderHead);
+                _myAvatar->render(forceRenderMyHead);
             } else {
-                avatar->render(true);
+                avatar->render();
             }
             avatar->setDisplayingLookatVectors(renderLookAtVectors);
         }
         renderAvatarFades();
     } else {
         // just render myAvatar
-        _myAvatar->render(forceRenderHead);
+        _myAvatar->render(forceRenderMyHead);
         _myAvatar->setDisplayingLookatVectors(renderLookAtVectors);
     }
 }
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ void AvatarManager::renderAvatarFades() {
     
     foreach(const AvatarSharedPointer& fadingAvatar, _avatarFades) {
         Avatar* avatar = static_cast<Avatar*>(fadingAvatar.data());
-        avatar->render(false);
+        avatar->render();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.h b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.h
index 115423e618..24921f45dd 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ public:
     MyAvatar* getMyAvatar() { return _myAvatar.data(); }
     
     void updateOtherAvatars(float deltaTime);
-    void renderAvatars(bool forceRenderHead, bool selfAvatarOnly = false);
+    void renderAvatars(bool forceRenderMyHead, bool selfAvatarOnly = false);
     
     void clearOtherAvatars();
 
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index 3bb156edcf..50b182c20c 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ void MyAvatar::orbit(const glm::vec3& position, int deltaX, int deltaY) {
     setPosition(position + rotation * (getPosition() - position));
 }
 
-void MyAvatar::updateLookAtTargetAvatar(glm::vec3 &eyePosition) {
+void MyAvatar::updateLookAtTargetAvatar() {
     Application* applicationInstance = Application::getInstance();
     
     if (!applicationInstance->isMousePressed()) {
@@ -683,14 +683,9 @@ void MyAvatar::updateLookAtTargetAvatar(glm::vec3 &eyePosition) {
             }
             float distance;
             if (avatar->findRayIntersection(mouseOrigin, mouseDirection, distance)) {
-                // rescale to compensate for head embiggening
-                eyePosition = (avatar->getHead()->calculateAverageEyePosition() - avatar->getHead()->getScalePivot()) *
-                    (avatar->getScale() / avatar->getHead()->getScale()) + avatar->getHead()->getScalePivot();
                 _lookAtTargetAvatar = avatarPointer;
                 return;
-            } else {
             }
-
         }
         _lookAtTargetAvatar.clear();
     }
@@ -724,9 +719,10 @@ void MyAvatar::renderBody(bool forceRenderHead) {
     _skeletonModel.render(1.0f);
 
     //  Render head so long as the camera isn't inside it
-    const float RENDER_HEAD_CUTOFF_DISTANCE = 0.10f;
+    const float RENDER_HEAD_CUTOFF_DISTANCE = 0.40f;
     Camera* myCamera = Application::getInstance()->getCamera();
-    if (forceRenderHead || (glm::length(myCamera->getPosition() - getHead()->calculateAverageEyePosition()) > RENDER_HEAD_CUTOFF_DISTANCE)) {
+    if (forceRenderHead || (glm::length(myCamera->getPosition() - getHead()->calculateAverageEyePosition()) >
+            RENDER_HEAD_CUTOFF_DISTANCE * _scale)) {
         getHead()->render(1.0f);
     }
     getHand()->render(true);
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
index 2b5be47419..2e80a9408d 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ public:
     void orbit(const glm::vec3& position, int deltaX, int deltaY);
 
     AvatarData* getLookAtTargetAvatar() const { return _lookAtTargetAvatar.data(); }
-    void updateLookAtTargetAvatar(glm::vec3& eyePosition);
+    void updateLookAtTargetAvatar();
     void clearLookAtTargetAvatar();
 
     virtual void setFaceModelURL(const QUrl& faceModelURL);