Should I retouch pics of people?

[kenny]

Last night I attended a work-related party.
I brought my camera as I'm quite shy and it gives me something to do.
I also LOOOOVE to take candid portraits of people living it up after a beer or two.
I have a nice zoom lens and don't use flash and as the evening progresses can adjust the camera to take decent pics in candle light.
I think I'm quite good at anticipating people's expressions; I've often been told that was they best pic anyone has ever taken of me.
I consider this anticipation of how faces change to be an art form.

Anyway, the group was in the 45 to 60 year age range.
Let's face it, our skin ain't what it used to be and it was hot yesterday so people wore clothes that exposed lots of skin.
Razor sharp close ups can be brutal at emphasizing blemishes, age spots, wrinkles etc.

A year ago I took pics of my SO's 2-year old niece and her mom was mad I removed a blemish on her daughter's cheek which she considered to be a "cute dimple".
That got me reconsidering the assumption I had that retouching would always be appreciated, though of course how mom feels about her little girl is quite a different dynamic from how a 55 year old feels about his/her own appearance.

I'm editing last night's pics.
Then I'll place them on photobucket and email everyone the password.

The decision-making process while retouching is interesting.
I would never remove a distinctive birthmark or a dark mole from someone's face.
However, I have been removing the most some of the age-related unfortunate spots and visible spikerweb veins from both men and women face and hands.
If they are VERY distinctive I leave them there.
I am not editing out wrinkles like crow's feet, or trying to make a 50 year old look like a 20 year old; Subtlety is my guide.
I should mention this was not a paid gig; it's hobby photography.

I realize people vary so I want to gauge what you all think.
Would you want pics of yourself to be tastefully retouched?
I'm curious if there is a large majority who favor one or the other.

Should I leave everyone's skin alone or is it nice that I'm making people look a tad better?

(Edited for grammar and spelling)

 

[ieatbugs]

No, and if I was that kid's mom I would be upset too. Women are judged and scrutinized on their appearance to an unnecessary degree and we should be reinforcing the opinion that no one should feel the need to change how they look to satisfy other people, because it isn't anyone else's business.

I think it is horrible to suggest that a child's appearance needs to be photoshopped or 'corrected.' People should be valued for who they are and not what they look like.

Age related spots shouldn't be considered 'unfortunate' - they are a natural thing that every single person on the planet will experience.

 

[Autumnovember]

Personally, I love it! I loved taking my engagement pictures and wedding pictures not having to worry about the little details of my skin because I knew it would be edited out. I like when peoples faces are only slightly edited. I hate when its too much, the person ends up looking like a doll and not real.

I recently was at a few events where there were photographers capturing the night away. When I saw the pictures online, after being edited, I was thrilled, mainly because it was done tastefully and we all looked great. Not in the LEAST bit offended by it whatsoever.

The mom that got upset over you removing what you thought was a blemish? #firstworldproblems

 

[Autumnovember]

No, and if I was that kid's mom I would be upset too. Women are judged and scrutinized on their appearance to an unnecessary degree and we should be reinforcing the opinion that no one should feel the need to change how they look to satisfy other people, because it isn't anyone else's business.

I think it is horrible to suggest that a child's appearance needs to be photoshopped or 'corrected.' People should be valued for who they are and not what they look like.

Age related spots shouldn't be considered 'unfortunate' - they are a natural thing that every single person on the planet will experience.

Obviously they shouldn't be considered "unfortunate" but tell that to the millions of people who do whatever they can to prevent, prevent, prevent.

 

[Haven]

I would just do whatever you think is best. You weren't hired to take these pictures, you did it as a hobby. We have several hobbyist photographers in my college, two of whom never show up to an event without their equipment. They always take a ton of pictures and then send out links for everyone to see them. Sometimes they'll print pictures and give them to people. We always just ooh and ahh and tell them they're great pictures. Your colleagues will know this this your hobby and you're doing it because you're proud of your work, so I'd be surprised if anyone would be critical of either choice you make. If they're decent people they'll be supportive, they know you're doing this because you love it. It's hard to be critical when people are pursuing their passions.

 

[ieatbugs]

No, and if I was that kid's mom I would be upset too. Women are judged and scrutinized on their appearance to an unnecessary degree and we should be reinforcing the opinion that no one should feel the need to change how they look to satisfy other people, because it isn't anyone else's business.

I think it is horrible to suggest that a child's appearance needs to be photoshopped or 'corrected.' People should be valued for who they are and not what they look like.

Age related spots shouldn't be considered 'unfortunate' - they are a natural thing that every single person on the planet will experience.

Obviously they shouldn't be considered "unfortunate" but tell that to the millions of people who do whatever they can to prevent, prevent, prevent.

I thought Kenny's use of the word unfortunate was very telling, and I think that it is a very unhealthy attitude. The growth of cases of fatal anorexia since the frequency of photoshop in advertising, the massive sales of anti-aging products and increase in cosmetic procedures...just because people want it doesn't mean it's a good thing. I'm not in support of taking away people's choices, I'm in support of not assuming that other people's appearances are something "to be fixed" because that's not our place to say, and if someone decided my face needed fixing, it would feel pretty hurtful to me, and I don't think that's okay.

 

[Autumnovember]

No, and if I was that kid's mom I would be upset too. Women are judged and scrutinized on their appearance to an unnecessary degree and we should be reinforcing the opinion that no one should feel the need to change how they look to satisfy other people, because it isn't anyone else's business.

I think it is horrible to suggest that a child's appearance needs to be photoshopped or 'corrected.' People should be valued for who they are and not what they look like.

Age related spots shouldn't be considered 'unfortunate' - they are a natural thing that every single person on the planet will experience.

Obviously they shouldn't be considered "unfortunate" but tell that to the millions of people who do whatever they can to prevent, prevent, prevent.

I thought Kenny's use of the word unfortunate was very telling, and I think that it is a very unhealthy attitude. The growth of cases of fatal anorexia since the frequency of photoshop in advertising, the massive sales of anti-aging products and increase in cosmetic procedures...just because people want it doesn't mean it's a good thing. I'm not in support of taking away people's choices, I'm in support of not assuming that other people's appearances are something "to be fixed" because that's not our place to say, and if someone decided my face needed fixing, it would feel pretty hurtful to me, and I don't think that's okay.

You're really finding anything to pick at, huh? Kenny's use of the word "unfortunate" resonates with how a lot of people UNFORTUNATELY feel about age spots and NOT just because of media and advertising. You're taking the photoshopping to an extreme here. Nobody said Kenny was going to change peoples weights with his editing. In terms of cosmetic procedures, you said just because people want it doesn't mean its a good thing....so does it mean its a bad thing? If someone chooses to have a procedure done its not really my business and I'm not going to sit here and say that its neither bad or good. So, you're against editing of wedding pictures too then, I assume?

 

[Dee*Jay]

Kenny, I *personally* wouldn't object to a little "improvement" (e.g., if you took a pic of me with spinach between my teeth, I would not be at all offeded if you removed the greenery from my choppers), and I think the key is to edit with a subtle touch. No one will be fooled if the 5'2" 200 lb receptionist suddently looks like a tall svelt starlet of course, but I don't think many people would be bothered by a little "help." One potential gauge I would like to throw out there though is if you're looking at a characteristic in a photo and thinking, "Should I or shouldn't I...?" I would go with shouldn't.

BTW, please feel free to improve any photos you ever take of me, in any way you want!

 

[ieatbugs]

No, and if I was that kid's mom I would be upset too. Women are judged and scrutinized on their appearance to an unnecessary degree and we should be reinforcing the opinion that no one should feel the need to change how they look to satisfy other people, because it isn't anyone else's business.

I think it is horrible to suggest that a child's appearance needs to be photoshopped or 'corrected.' People should be valued for who they are and not what they look like.

Age related spots shouldn't be considered 'unfortunate' - they are a natural thing that every single person on the planet will experience.

Obviously they shouldn't be considered "unfortunate" but tell that to the millions of people who do whatever they can to prevent, prevent, prevent.

I thought Kenny's use of the word unfortunate was very telling, and I think that it is a very unhealthy attitude. The growth of cases of fatal anorexia since the frequency of photoshop in advertising, the massive sales of anti-aging products and increase in cosmetic procedures...just because people want it doesn't mean it's a good thing. I'm not in support of taking away people's choices, I'm in support of not assuming that other people's appearances are something "to be fixed" because that's not our place to say, and if someone decided my face needed fixing, it would feel pretty hurtful to me, and I don't think that's okay.

You're really finding anything to pick at, huh? Kenny's use of the word "unfortunate" resonates with how a lot of people UNFORTUNATELY feel about age spots and NOT just because of media and advertising. You're taking the photoshopping to an extreme here. Nobody said Kenny was going to change peoples weights with his editing. In terms of cosmetic procedures, you said just because people want it doesn't mean its a good thing....so does it mean its a bad thing? If someone chooses to have a procedure done its not really my business and I'm not going to sit here and say that its neither bad or good. So, you're against editing of wedding pictures too then, I assume?

Of course I'm not against editing of wedding photos. I'm not against editing, period.
I'm against editing without consent when there is no reasonable expectation of such a thing. Imagine someone randomly walked by and snapped a photo of you, and then was like "here, took a photo of you...but by the way, I fixed your nose, cause it looks funny."
That's a pretty unwarranted and needless criticism.
I'm against needless criticism. Why can't people just generally be who they are and make their own personal decisions without having someone else try to make them for them?
Obviously when you pay someone to take your wedding photos, you're consenting to that. The photographer should have the discussion with you about your expectation.
I don't think there is a reasonable expectation about an amateur person just casually taking photos changing your appearance.

Just being people consent to cosmetic procedures doesn't mean they aren't feeling unnecessary pressure to do so.

 

[CJ2008]

I think the key is subtle.

I wouldn't be offended if you made me look a little better, almost where I would have to wonder whether it was retouched. But no so much where it would be so obvious because to me that would imply that you think there's something to fix. So for example - if my skin was really ruddy,I wouldn't mind if you improved on that a bit, made it somewhat less reddish - it would bother me if all of the sudden I had a porcelain-looking face.

 

[soocool]

If people are gracious enough to let you take their photo no need to photoshop. They know what they look like and don't expect anything else. The one exception to the rule are teenagers with blemishes. My DD and her friends (guys and girls) insisted that I photoshop out any facial blemishes when I took photos at school events, proms, and graduation.

 

[Aoife]

I voted "slightly" because in this particular situation I'd probably appreciate a subtle amount of re-touching.

On the other hand, I'm wondering if everyone at the party knew they were being photographed, and knew that the photos were going to be posted on a Photobucket site that everyone at the party would be able to access? Because I loathe most photos of myself, and if it were me, I'd want the opportunity to opt out of that kind of photo album. Even my daughters know better than to post a photo of me on Facebook that I haven't pre-approved. Perhaps instead of worrying about the re-touching, you should make sure you have permission from everyone before you post images in the album.

 

[Autumnovember]

No, and if I was that kid's mom I would be upset too. Women are judged and scrutinized on their appearance to an unnecessary degree and we should be reinforcing the opinion that no one should feel the need to change how they look to satisfy other people, because it isn't anyone else's business.

I think it is horrible to suggest that a child's appearance needs to be photoshopped or 'corrected.' People should be valued for who they are and not what they look like.

Age related spots shouldn't be considered 'unfortunate' - they are a natural thing that every single person on the planet will experience.

Obviously they shouldn't be considered "unfortunate" but tell that to the millions of people who do whatever they can to prevent, prevent, prevent.

I thought Kenny's use of the word unfortunate was very telling, and I think that it is a very unhealthy attitude. The growth of cases of fatal anorexia since the frequency of photoshop in advertising, the massive sales of anti-aging products and increase in cosmetic procedures...just because people want it doesn't mean it's a good thing. I'm not in support of taking away people's choices, I'm in support of not assuming that other people's appearances are something "to be fixed" because that's not our place to say, and if someone decided my face needed fixing, it would feel pretty hurtful to me, and I don't think that's okay.

You're really finding anything to pick at, huh? Kenny's use of the word "unfortunate" resonates with how a lot of people UNFORTUNATELY feel about age spots and NOT just because of media and advertising. You're taking the photoshopping to an extreme here. Nobody said Kenny was going to change peoples weights with his editing. In terms of cosmetic procedures, you said just because people want it doesn't mean its a good thing....so does it mean its a bad thing? If someone chooses to have a procedure done its not really my business and I'm not going to sit here and say that its neither bad or good. So, you're against editing of wedding pictures too then, I assume?

Of course I'm not against editing of wedding photos. I'm not against editing, period.
I'm against editing without consent when there is no reasonable expectation of such a thing. Imagine someone randomly walked by and snapped a photo of you, and then was like "here, took a photo of you...but by the way, I fixed your nose, cause it looks funny."
That's a pretty unwarranted and needless criticism.
I'm against needless criticism. Why can't people just generally be who they are and make their own personal decisions without having someone else try to make them for them?
Obviously when you pay someone to take your wedding photos, you're consenting to that. The photographer should have the discussion with you about your expectation.
I don't think there is a reasonable expectation about an amateur person just casually taking photos changing your appearance.

Just being people consent to cosmetic procedures doesn't mean they aren't feeling unnecessary pressure to do so.

Again, someone coming up to you and saying they fixed your nose compared to fixing some blemishes is quite different, ieatbugs. So now instead of comparing an extreme like weight in photo editing, you're using fixing a nose. That's STILL a lot more extreme than fixing up blemishes. How did you decide that Kenny is an amateur?

There ARE people out there who do choose to have procedures done based on their own decisions and without any outside pressure.....

 

[CJ2008]

I voted "slightly" because in this particular situation I'd probably appreciate a subtle amount of re-touching.

On the other hand, I'm wondering if everyone at the party knew they were being photographed, and knew that the photos were going to be posted on a Photobucket site that everyone at the party would be able to access? Because I loathe most photos of myself, and if it were me, I'd want the opportunity to opt out of that kind of photo album. Even my daughters know better than to post a photo of me on Facebook that I haven't pre-approved. Perhaps instead of worrying about the re-touching, you should make sure you have permission from everyone before you post images in the album.

Yes, actually, excellent post.

I am a very private person and would *not* want someone posting pictures of me anywhere without asking me if it is OK first.

 

[kenny]

I love the meaning behind this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

I think it is disgusting how the media makes us all feel bad about our natural appearance so they can sell us the solution to a problem they invented and constantly remind us of, or make youngsters turn to bulimia or anorexia to meet some unrealistic goal.

Still, I'm in my 50s and personally would prefer to look how I looked years ago, and I know I'm not alone.
Personally I go natural, no dying, no make up, no lipo, no platic surgery, no botox, but I totally respect those who choose those things for themselves.

Altering our natural appearance is commonplace in our culture.
Some women and men use make up and dye their hair.
In fact, we had a poll here and 72% of 96 voters said they'd dye their gray hair away.



[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/do-you-or-will-you-dye-your-gray-hair.173753/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/do-you-or-will-you-dye-your-gray-hair.173753/[/URL]

I am NOT using Photoshop to change people's weight, or remove double chins ,or wrinkles though if I have 5 pics of a person and one happens to make their double chin REALLY pronounced that will probably qualify it to become one of the many pics I throw away.
I took around 200 pics and throw away the vast majority for many reasons.
One discarded pic may be a side view of a person in which their gut sticks out under the bottom of his shirt, or I may crop that pic above the chest if the face is a good shot.
Yes, I'd either retouch the spinach off the tooth or not post that pic.

IMHO posting that pic with a person's gut sticking out of their shirt would be inconsiderate.
If that makes me some evil, bigoted monster, so be it.

I'm trying to use my tools to make people look good (YES, I confess MY interpretation of good.)

 

[Haven]

I voted "slightly" because in this particular situation I'd probably appreciate a subtle amount of re-touching.

On the other hand, I'm wondering if everyone at the party knew they were being photographed, and knew that the photos were going to be posted on a Photobucket site that everyone at the party would be able to access? Because I loathe most photos of myself, and if it were me, I'd want the opportunity to opt out of that kind of photo album. Even my daughters know better than to post a photo of me on Facebook that I haven't pre-approved. Perhaps instead of worrying about the re-touching, you should make sure you have permission from everyone before you post images in the album.

This is a really good point. I hate it when people share photos of me without my permission, especially if I didn't know they were taking the photos in the first place. (This seems to happen a lot with those "random" shots people like to take at functions.)

One thing I've learned is that everyone has very different ideas of what a good photograph is of a person. I've had people say, "I got the best picture of you!" and then when I see it, I think it's hideous. I have a photo of my husband that just makes me swoon, and he thinks he looks terrible in it.

 

[Karl_K]

Hey Kenny you should edit em like this pic of me!

 

[kenny]

I think the key is subtle.

I wouldn't be offended if you made me look a little better, almost where I would have to wonder whether it was retouched.

Exactly!
I suspect most will not even notice my retouching since it is very subtle.
Besides, it will be just perhaps only 5% of the reason they will like the pic of themselves.

I have noticed many people do not like pics of themselves, and it is a joy to hear I took a pic of them that they love.
70% of what makes a good candid portrait is the a natural and flattering facial expression, the emotion in the eyes of two people looking at each other, a fleeting beautiful moment captured forever.
Perhaps 25% is technical stuff like good gear, selective focus, resolution, lighting, cropping, composition etc.

 

[Autumnovember]

I think the key is subtle.

I wouldn't be offended if you made me look a little better, almost where I would have to wonder whether it was retouched.

Exactly!
I suspect most will not even notice my retouching since it is very subtle.
Besides, it will be just perhaps only 5% of the reason they will like the pic of themselves.

I have noticed many people do not like pics of themselves, and it is a joy to hear I took a pic of them that they love.
70% of what makes a good candid portrait is the a natural and flattering facial expression, the emotion in the eyes of two people looking at each other, a fleeting beautiful moment captured forever.
Perhaps 25% is technical stuff like selective focus, resolution, lighting, cropping, composition etc.

I have always wished that in my group of friends there would be at least one person who loves to take candid pictures. We've had so many perfect moments for amazing shots but nobody around to take any photos!

 

[iheartscience]

I think the key is subtle.

I wouldn't be offended if you made me look a little better, almost where I would have to wonder whether it was retouched.

Exactly!
I suspect most will not even notice my retouching since it is very subtle.
Besides, it will be just perhaps only 5% of the reason they will like the pic of themselves.

I have noticed many people do not like pics of themselves, and it is a joy to hear I took a pic of them that they love.
70% of what makes a good candid portrait is the a natural and flattering facial expression, the emotion in the eyes of two people looking at each other, a fleeting beautiful moment captured forever.
Perhaps 25% is technical stuff like selective focus, resolution, lighting, cropping, composition etc.

I'd be totally down with a smidge of retouching and I'm not even in the listed age range!

 

[packrat]

I rarely have pictures taken of me-usually it's JD running the camera so either my hand is in front of my face or I'm giving the camera the "look", which he tries to get one of those every year at Christmas/birthdays. I consented to pics at my brother's wedding since you know..I was *in* it and all. I loved the camera until I got had my kids and gained weight. However, I've seen tons of Kenny's pics on here and I gotta say, if I were going to have anyone take pics, random shots etc, that I would be in, it's Kenny. And I'd have no problems w/someone taking pics of me and editing them and posting them for the rest of the group to see. I would assume at the work function people saw him w/the camera, so the general assumption would then be that there could be pics w/you in it, and if you didn't want to be in any you would say something, and if you were in them and didn't want anyone else to see them, you'd say something. If it were that important, I think a person would, right? I've seen a few times where I've been tagged in pics on FB and I think oh please please please let it be a good one so I don't have to ask them to take it down. And if there's a shadow that makes me look haggard or I'm all shiney or blotchy, good lord fix that crap please!

 

[kenny]

I voted "slightly" because in this particular situation I'd probably appreciate a subtle amount of re-touching.

On the other hand, I'm wondering if everyone at the party knew they were being photographed, and knew that the photos were going to be posted on a Photobucket site that everyone at the party would be able to access? Because I loathe most photos of myself, and if it were me, I'd want the opportunity to opt out of that kind of photo album. Even my daughters know better than to post a photo of me on Facebook that I haven't pre-approved. Perhaps instead of worrying about the re-touching, you should make sure you have permission from everyone before you post images in the album.

Yes I did tap my glass and make a polite announcement to the effect of ...
If anyone does not want their pic taken let me know.
If there are no objections I plan to edit these and put them on a new photobucket account where you will all be emailed link and a password and nobody else will ever see them.
If there is a pic you want taken down email me.
If you want a hi-res copy, email me.

Everyone was thrilled and I got no annoyed vibes from anyone.
This is not just work related, it is also a tightly knit group of long time friends whom are all self-employed - hard to describe.

Also, I can tell when a person shies away from the camera.
I immediately respect that and leave them alone.

 

[ieatbugs]

No, and if I was that kid's mom I would be upset too. Women are judged and scrutinized on their appearance to an unnecessary degree and we should be reinforcing the opinion that no one should feel the need to change how they look to satisfy other people, because it isn't anyone else's business.

I think it is horrible to suggest that a child's appearance needs to be photoshopped or 'corrected.' People should be valued for who they are and not what they look like.

Age related spots shouldn't be considered 'unfortunate' - they are a natural thing that every single person on the planet will experience.

Obviously they shouldn't be considered "unfortunate" but tell that to the millions of people who do whatever they can to prevent, prevent, prevent.

I thought Kenny's use of the word unfortunate was very telling, and I think that it is a very unhealthy attitude. The growth of cases of fatal anorexia since the frequency of photoshop in advertising, the massive sales of anti-aging products and increase in cosmetic procedures...just because people want it doesn't mean it's a good thing. I'm not in support of taking away people's choices, I'm in support of not assuming that other people's appearances are something "to be fixed" because that's not our place to say, and if someone decided my face needed fixing, it would feel pretty hurtful to me, and I don't think that's okay.

You're really finding anything to pick at, huh? Kenny's use of the word "unfortunate" resonates with how a lot of people UNFORTUNATELY feel about age spots and NOT just because of media and advertising. You're taking the photoshopping to an extreme here. Nobody said Kenny was going to change peoples weights with his editing. In terms of cosmetic procedures, you said just because people want it doesn't mean its a good thing....so does it mean its a bad thing? If someone chooses to have a procedure done its not really my business and I'm not going to sit here and say that its neither bad or good. So, you're against editing of wedding pictures too then, I assume?

Of course I'm not against editing of wedding photos. I'm not against editing, period.
I'm against editing without consent when there is no reasonable expectation of such a thing. Imagine someone randomly walked by and snapped a photo of you, and then was like "here, took a photo of you...but by the way, I fixed your nose, cause it looks funny."
That's a pretty unwarranted and needless criticism.
I'm against needless criticism. Why can't people just generally be who they are and make their own personal decisions without having someone else try to make them for them?
Obviously when you pay someone to take your wedding photos, you're consenting to that. The photographer should have the discussion with you about your expectation.
I don't think there is a reasonable expectation about an amateur person just casually taking photos changing your appearance.

Just being people consent to cosmetic procedures doesn't mean they aren't feeling unnecessary pressure to do so.

Again, someone coming up to you and saying they fixed your nose compared to fixing some blemishes is quite different, ieatbugs. So now instead of comparing an extreme like weight in photo editing, you're using fixing a nose. That's STILL a lot more extreme than fixing up blemishes. How did you decide that Kenny is an amateur?

There ARE people out there who do choose to have procedures done based on their own decisions and without any outside pressure.....

I used amateur because he said he wasn't being paid so it was not a 'professional' gig.

I know that there are people who choose to have procedures done based on their own decisions, but considering how much plastic surgery has increased since the advent of photoshop goes to suggest there that's quite a few who also do so because of the pressure.

My point is, why can't how people look in real life be good enough? I think the message that we AREN'T good enough looking is something we are bombarded with from a million directions. I wouldn't want to engage in any behavior that adds to that. To me, an unsolicited picture taker who chooses to remove my blemishes or whatever - could be considered that.

 

[ieatbugs]

I am NOT using Photoshop to change people's weight, or remove double chins ,or wrinkles though if I have 5 pics of a person and one happens to make their double chin REALLY pronounced that will probably qualify it to become one of the many pics I throw away.
I took around 200 pics and throw away the vast majority for many reasons.
One discarded pic may be a side view of a person in which their gut sticks out under the bottom of his shirt, or I may crop that pic above the chest if the face is a good shot.
Yes, I'd either retouch the spinach off the tooth or not post that pic.

IMHO posting that pic with a person's gut sticking out of their shirt would be inconsiderate.
If that makes me some evil, bigoted monster, so be it.

I'm trying to use my tools to make people look good (YES, I confess MY interpretation of good.)

Well now I'm confused because your original post said that you WERE editing to remove "unfortunate signs of age" which to me would be pretty obviously referring to wrinkles.

To me it seems like this topic was orchestrated to stir the pot. How can you be so for women's 'natural beauty' but then confess the need to make people look good according to your standards when they never asked to have their picture taken in the first place?

This whole situation seems a bizarre attempt at internet drama.

 

[yssie]

I only see one poster trying to create drama here - and it's not Kenny.

Kenny, it's apparently Out To Get You week
But just FRT, if you happen to take any pics of me by all means make me look like a doll

 

[kenny]

Karl, that's what I look like before retouching.

 

[yssie]

ETA No retouching the bling though!!

 

[Mayk]

I'm no expert and every picture I take and load on my apple.. I touch up. I hide a blemish or adjust the color a little and fill in a spot where hair is has a gap.. I think it's great to do that.. no one wants a picture of themselves floating around with a giant zit on their chin or nose...

The photographer at my wedding told me she had a software program that softened features (it used some sort of modeling)... and she found on "prettier people" she could use it to soften lines and on less attractive people it almost changed faces too much and she didn't like to use it.. so if someone had a more prominant nose the software "overdid" the softening to a new nose job or over corrected a double chin... Now I'm not a photographer, as we all know seeing my pictures... so not sure how or if that software works. The wording on this sounds dreadful .. so I apologize but it is how it was explained to me...

 

[Missy]

I voted "slightly" because in this particular situation I'd probably appreciate a subtle amount of re-touching.

On the other hand, I'm wondering if everyone at the party knew they were being photographed, and knew that the photos were going to be posted on a Photobucket site that everyone at the party would be able to access? Because I loathe most photos of myself, and if it were me, I'd want the opportunity to opt out of that kind of photo album. Even my daughters know better than to post a photo of me on Facebook that I haven't pre-approved. Perhaps instead of worrying about the re-touching, you should make sure you have permission from everyone before you post images in the album.

Yes, actually, excellent post.

I am a very private person and would *not* want someone posting pictures of me anywhere without asking me if it is OK first.

Yes, this is how I feel. I hate seeing pics of myself and I would be uncomfortable if someone posted them on facebook for others to see without my permission.

ETA: I have rosacea and if I am flushing and my face and/or nose is red I would be OK with you subtly retouching my photo for sure because that is embarrassing for me.

 

[packrat]

Hmmm..how good's the program you have? Can you retouch me into..say..Athenaworth? cuz I'd be down w/that.."Missi is that you?" "Pffft, of *course* it's me!"