Photoshop vs Original

Jan 29, 2013

Denise H.

How do you feel about pictures that are Photoshop versus the originals? Do you tend to think that you can see the artists true creativity when a photo has not been doctored?
Addendum : The question is based on your personal decisions as a MUA. 

Jan 29, 2013

Stephanie D.

This whole conversation has zero regard for the work of photographers. Sorry, but when you have an editorial photo, there are a LOT of people behind it, not just the MUA.

It's a form of art, and art rarely completely true to life. When you want to showcase a photo or a brand, you don't want there to be distractions from it like a weird shadow, an odd looking bump or an off texture. You're not selling a model, you're selling an idea.

And, on top of that, photographers do have some professional pride. They deepen shadows, exaggerate highlights, add contrast and saturation, adjust the overall tonal value of the photo all according to their own style and what they were asked to do. Even family photographers edit photos like that.

Jan 29, 2013

Marissa E.

It depends on the person/photographer. Some people think that if your good enough you don't need to edit photos. Others think that editing is a very important skill and can really make a photo. I personally think editing can really make a picture when it comes to making people prettier or removing distractions from an otherwise perfect photo to make your idea stand out. However, sometimes little to no editing can really make a statement too. For instance of poor children in a different country you might want that raw look to prove how sad or horrible it is. Just my personal thoughts. 

Jan 29, 2013

Tilly M.

In an editorial, definitely photoshop, i know everybody says 'we want to see real women' im sorry but no, if MAC were doing a new advertising campaign for a new foundation, and the model had a spot on her cheek that they didnt edit out post shoot, all the customers would go 'but look at her skin, shes spotty, this foundation cant be that good'. When your selling something you have to sell the ideal. You cant sell stomach suck in knickers with a photo of a fat womans fat thighs poking out of the bottom can you. 

Jan 29, 2013

Emily W.

I agree with all the statements so far, just want to add that there is a fine line between enhancing an image and creating digital art that shouldn't be used to represent reality. We've all seen it with actresses being airbrushed to death on magazine covers, etc. I believe Dove put out an interesting short film showing the process of editing a photo for an advertisement. And it isn't just women, some of the stuff done to men's images are outright ridiculous.

Also "stomach suck in knickers" made me laugh out loud. Thanks for that. ;)

Jan 29, 2013

Rikki P.

While I don't CARE for it, I can see why it gets photoshopped to hell on advertisements. Of course, I don't approve of lashes being photoshopped at all I'M LOOKING AT ALL YOU BRANDS WITH YOUR MASCARAS LOOKING LIKE 10 SUGARPILL LASHES ON TOP OF EACH OTHER, GET OUTTA HERE.

Now if you're a seventeen-year-old photoshopping your FOTD to hell for your instagram and YouTube, you need to go sit down and uninstall that, hahahah.

Overall, I like original photos the most, but you gotta do what you gotta do

Jan 29, 2013

Tilly M.

Haha ho problem emily ;) and i agree with rikki too, i cant stand a mascara advert that says 'modeled with lash inserts for an even lash line' i cant see what the mascara is doing! And with girls that photo shop their fb photos haha, i dont have time for that! My friends know what i look like! I once saw an article about how H&M took one photo of a womans body, and used that same picture for all of the clothes on the website, but what they did was alter the colour of the skin for every picture, and photoshop in a new head, so it was literally an identical body, they said it was because they were trying to advertise the clothes, not the woman in the clothes, which is a nice idea, but it didnt work. It gave it a really creepy effect, in that particular case, I really do want a real woman. 

Jan 29, 2013

Raisa J.

I like the happy medium. Of course when an actress is on a cover of a mag I am sure SHE wants her zit photoshopped out. I understand that all Makeup Brands have an image of perfection they are trying to sell us! and hey I buy it, whatever. BUT excessive photoshop isn't selling you anything it is downright misleading you. Again I am talking about CONSUMERIST material, like Magazines, makeup brands etc... the only time excessive photoshop should be used is if you are creating a piece of art, that isn't trying to sell me something. We have all seen and cringed at Photoshop Gone Wrong. Almost every mag is guilty of it. I think that as long as the person still looks like themselves at the end result then fine go on and photoshop. But if you are making an already skinny person look skinner, or distorting their natural features... that is wrong and the end result is always ugly. 

Jan 29, 2013

Alisa D.

It depends on the venue and idea. Obviously some big company selling something is gonna use every advantage and. photographer selling their artistic ability is fine. But, in this venue (BL) if someone is posting pics of their makeup in a "hey! look how awesome I am!" I want to see their actual work. I think minimal light changes or removal of shadows in your portfolio (professionally edited, not enhanced!) photos are cool, but deepening shades or altering them all together make me think the makeup must not have been that great or what shade of green did they actually use? I just find it a bummer because I don't know if its real or not.

Jan 29, 2013

Rikki P.

A+ to Tilly. How the heck is anyone supposed to see how mascara works if it's covered up in three pairs of lashes?! Psh.

Jan 29, 2013

Amy E.

As someone with photoshop skills I don't mind when it's used well. And I agree about the mascara adverts. It's so damn annoying.

Jan 29, 2013

William M.

i think the original is best but u can use photo shop if u playing with the back ground or something just not my work

Jan 30, 2013

Rebecca S.

Anyone ever seen the website photoshop disasters. It's very funny when heavy retouching goes wrong. Photographers pretty much use photoshop the same way that they use or used darkrooms (to adjust contrast, color, etc. to make good prints) and for the heavy retouching that used to be done by airbrushing, and to stitch together a bunch of images. My taste goes to simple edits for good prints and less unrealistic retouching.