Thread: Pro photos and airbrushing

What do you all think of airbrushing/photoshopping in your promo photos? I had some done a little while ago. I am really really happy with the photos themselves - they are beautiful. The photographer asked me to choose my favourites and he would edit them. I figured he was going to clean up the background, maybe wipe out a zit if there was one showing... but he was kinda overzealous with the photoshop airbrush tool. He eliminated all my facial lines, body folds, moles etc... so I look plasticky... also added some lighting effects that I don't care for.

I'm not sure what to say to him. I know he's proud of his photoshop skills so I don't want to insult him, but I like the photos more in their "unfinished" state. Maybe just "I really love the photos but for business use, I prefer them with minimal editing"? Ack.

Or am I being too picky? Is there not that much difference? Or does the airbrushed one actually look better? Halp!

Unedited:



Edited:

I like them both. I don't think there is anything wrong with using the edited one.

I lightly edit the photos for my dance company. I probably would have softened, but not totally erased, the skin fold on your back. On the other hand, I probably would have completely gotten rid of the stray hairs caught under your bra strap, and he did not.

I think I like the lighting better in the unedited one though.

I've had this same problem. I like some airbrushing, but not much. Smooth the skin and take out the zits and undereye bags. However, I have had one photographer that did way too much and she wouldn't give me the unedited versions. I felt like I looked like a doll and not a person. You could try asking the photographer to tone down the editing. If he says no, then you'll have to find another tog. ;(

You look beautiful, by the way.

We had a photo shoot recently in which none of had enough makeup on for the lighting. So on that one, I extensively edited the photos to give us eye liner, eyelashes, eyebrows because they just got washed out.

Makeup, stuffing bra cups, false eye lashes, wigs, extensions, photoshop, what is the difference? It is all artificial beauty enhancement.

Hmmm... I like the brightness of the veil but I don't think the major softening of you face was needed. I, too, would have gotten rid of the stray hair. I would ask for a copy of the unedited version as well. It's tough because he obviously put time into what he did and is happy with it. They are both lovely and you look stunning in both.

These are lovely - and I have the same stigma.

Your second one is light airbrushing. Trust me I've seen more. It was done to one of mine and I hated it. You know that negative comment "WOW you look absolutely NOTHING like your pictures!" Well, I sure don't want to have that said to me. I want to be a human representation of me, imperfections and all - but I want a picture that looks nice too.

I don't mind airbrushing the dark circles or pimples or adding some light to make it more flattering - you know - the temporary stuff. But one photographer made me almost look like a cartoon, he even shrank my belly! Gah!

The most recent photographer I have been working with is a gem, and the first time she sent me an edit - it was amazing! Then I saw the raw photo, and honestly, it had so much work done to it, it wasn't even me anymore. I told her gently; "that is really beautiful work and you did a great job - but for my use I just want the lightest touch possible." It was not an issue, and actually - she said most people WANT the heavy airbrushing and that is why she does it!

Since then, she has done light touches when needed. I like both of yours. Your photog was simply putting a nice extra 'glow' on you. Just tell him/her for the next edit and see what he/she comes up with. :)

I think the second photo does look more finished and therefore more suitable for promotional purposes, although not all the editing is to my taste, either. If the photographer's willing to give you the unedited version, it would benefit from some retouching, though perhaps not as much as was done on the second.

My biggest complaint about the second photo is that its focal point, as a result of the brightness adjustments, is your upper arm/back. I wish your face were a little brighter to draw the eye there.

Ultimately, photos are a reflection on the photographer, and photographers have a right to control their own work for the sake of preserving their reputation and artistic integrity. Hopefully the photographer will be willing to work with you to get results you're both happy with!

I honestly think the second one does look plastic. I prefer the first. I'm not morally against a little editing, I do it all the time, but I don't like it when it begins to look barbie doll instead of human and for me that second photo is entering the realm of too artificial.

I agree with Shems, I prefer the first. It would look especially great with just the hair under the bra strap removed!

Gaahhhrhrh why do some photographers insist on erasing lines on the sides of our torso?
When we bend or twist our bodies, we get lines! Even the thinnest of us do. What's wrong with that? They're not unflattering, and they are part of the motion.
Aside from that, I didn't think the editing was too excessive. I've seen worse. But I'd also rather be made to look more human.

I prefer the first one. In the second, I can tell that your face has been retouched and I'm far from an expert.

Thanks for your responses guys! Yeah, I certainly don't mind a little editing... I just felt like I looked too doll-like. And yeah, I was confused as to why he didn't edit out the hair under the bra strap. Oh well.

Ainsley, you hit one of the reasons I didn't like the second one but wasn't able to articulate - the focus is indeed on my upper arm and back. Maybe if I ask him to go lighter on the airbrushing and move the focus to my face, I'll like the results better. (and I want my cheek mole back! I love it!) I'm not sure how nitpicky I should be getting, but I'll do a little emailing with him and see how it goes.

I like the unedited one better too. The second one looks like plastic. You could always tell your photographer that for your business, you need to have realistic looking photos so your clients won’t be confused.

I like the first one, because in the second one he took away your "smile lines."

I haven't looked at the other comments so sorry if it's a repeat. I LOVE your first photo and the only thing I would photoshop would be the hair stuck to your bra strap. The second one looks odd to me and not as "human". You are beautiful in both though and obviously photogenic : )

That air brushing is very tasteful. I've seen some shockers where it looks totally artificial and where the dancers actually preferred the unedited version.

for the most part i like them both, i do like the glow of your skin the second one and the contrast from the darker background, but your face does looks fake without the smile lines, and something about the way the shadow changed during the editing makes you shoulder look a bit dislocated in the edited pic. i also like that your face is not in shadow in the first one as well and would ask for a lighter touch. like Sahira Badr said it might just be a misunderstanding /wrong assumption about what you want.

I prefer the first one mostly because it looks more real- AND there is more light on your beautiful face!
A promotional photo should look like you- currently and realistically. While they didn't take it as far as some I've seen, and it does look like you- you're gorgeous! WHY all the "fixing"? Human beings don't have plastic skin!
My personal feeling is that I want a client to be pleased when they see me in person. Using photoshop to erase 10 pounds or 10 years (or more) is counterproductive to a happy client feeling at first meeting.
Little light changes, fixing blemishes, fixing background, tiny smoothing, wayward hair under bra strap- that's all good. Slight enhancements.
BUT- they're getting a real human being, so I don't want to look plastic or misrepresent myself; I don't want them to feel duped.

Originally Posted by AnjaDance

I want my cheek mole back! I love it!

If it's a personal trademark, you may actually want to highlight it with makeup when doing photoshoots. It's not very visible in the original shot, perhaps due to the brightness of the studio lighting. I always darken my eyebrows for shoots because otherwise they practically disappear!

I like the first photo far more. The lighting is better and it looks real. The edited one is so dark, with the light hitting your torso rather than your face, drawing the eye away.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

I prefer the first one mostly because it looks more real- AND there is more light on your beautiful face!
A promotional photo should look like you- currently and realistically. While they didn't take it as far as some I've seen, and it does look like you- you're gorgeous! WHY all the "fixing"? Human beings don't have plastic skin!
My personal feeling is that I want a client to be pleased when they see me in person. Using photoshop to erase 10 pounds or 10 years (or more) is counterproductive to a happy client feeling at first meeting.
Little light changes, fixing blemishes, fixing background, tiny smoothing, wayward hair under bra strap- that's all good. Slight enhancements.
BUT- they're getting a real human being, so I don't want to look plastic or misrepresent myself; I don't want them to feel duped.

I completely agree - you look absolutely lovely in the first photo and I see very little need for editing (except maybe the stray hair!).

The first one is definitely better.

I'm afraid the photographer went overboard with the airbrushing - it looks very heavy-handed, almost to the point of amateurish.

I like the first one better personally, In the future i would make your photoshop desire levels clear pre shoot. as a photograph i personally try to keep my body touching up to a min unless asked otherwise.

Ppl r beautiful the way they are :)

i hope you won't consider going back to the same photographer.he cannot take a photo and he can't even make it up with good photoshopping.

if he has been clever with the lighting, your face could have looked flawless (of course you will have your smile lines) and without the lines under your eyes.

if he doesn't take away the smile lines it would be better. it is the major give away that it has been changed. the problem is not that you look different, but that when people guessed that the photo has been airbrushed, they might think there were a lot more alterations than there actually were.

find a photographer who's able to shoot a great photo and who can make minimum touch up to make it perfect.

They're both nice, but I really like the warm lighting effect in the second one - but he did make you look about 12!

Originally Posted by AnjaDance

Thanks for your responses guys! Yeah, I certainly don't mind a little editing... I just felt like I looked too doll-like. And yeah, I was confused as to why he didn't edit out the hair under the bra strap. Oh well.

Ainsley, you hit one of the reasons I didn't like the second one but wasn't able to articulate - the focus is indeed on my upper arm and back. Maybe if I ask him to go lighter on the airbrushing and move the focus to my face, I'll like the results better. (and I want my cheek mole back! I love it!) I'm not sure how nitpicky I should be getting, but I'll do a little emailing with him and see how it goes.

personally, i only use live action shots and never re touch anything.the last thing i want is to show up at a gig and they say i am not the dancer they saw in a picture. btw, i HATE old pic's used for years too.....

Originally Posted by wingaki

... if he has been clever with the lighting, your face could have looked flawless (of course you will have your smile lines) and without the lines under your eyes....find a photographer who's able to shoot a great photo and who can make minimum touch up to make it perfect.

Good point. For some- photo shop is taking the place of actual good lighting, good photography and good make up.

Originally Posted by zamora

personally, i only use live action shots and never re touch anything.the last thing i want is to show up at a gig and they say i am not the dancer they saw in a picture. btw, i HATE old pic's used for years too.....

..g.: I use both live and studio shots and update frequently... but agreed! I want them to know me when I show up. I can't do photo shop anyway. lol. So my technical inabilities work FOR me in this aspect.
One of my favorite compliments was when I showed up to a meeting and the guy (from Los Angeles) said "you look just like your photos!".
"Thanks! Aren't I supposed to?"
"You'd be surprised how many people don't"

Yikes. The photog. went waaaaaaaaaay overboard on the 'shopping - I agree with you!

There's one dancer in particular who seems to have taken her photoshopping to a level where her pictures are starting to have the "uncanny valley" effect, and it's spooky. Less 'shopping is better, IMO.

I actually like the colors more in the second photo. I think it looks more professional to me. just my opinion. Being a professional photographer I tend to boost the contrast, ect to add more artistic effects to my photos. I tend to brighten the eyes, and soften the skin on the face mostly. I dont always remove all the moles, ect, b/c frankly, it is too much work.

I didn't read everyone's response so don't know if this was brought up. Before deciding, you should ask yourself who you're marketing to with this photo?

- Are you using this for performance gigs?
- Are you looking for teaching gigs?

There's a whole bunch of other questions you could go after (Americans, ME, men, women, age, income, etc.).

If you're looking to use this to market to 35+ women who want lessons, go with the first (but remove that strand of hair) because it sells reality (and shows reality is beautiful). If you want to book gigs (especially private events), the second sells an ideal/fantasy image and idea (which people want for their parties).

As for insulting your photographer, if you paid for the photo, don't feel bad about asking for what you want. This is YOUR business that it will affect.