Comments on: Retouching As An Act Of Kindness

By: Writing Web Copy That Works | Social Media Marketing

Writing Web Copy That Works | Social Media Marketing — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:46:56 +0000

[...] became apparent when I read the comments to my article on retouching, posted to my personal blog a few weeks [...]

By: JMom

JMom — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:27:47 +0000

I am totally impressed with your retouching skills! It took me a few minutes going back and forth between pictures to see the changes.

In this case, I think that retouching the photos is ok because it’s for family. You weren’t trying to sell them as senior models or something like that.

By: MomGrind

MomGrind — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:41:21 +0000

@ The Stiletto Mom: I totally agree. I thought it was sweet, and I think what your friend did was incredibly sweet too. I was a little surprised at first to read comments by people who thought what she did was wrong, although I have come to respect their views after giving it some thought. But I still think what Jan did was amazing.

By: The Stiletto Mom

The Stiletto Mom — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:25:36 +0000

That makes me want to cry it’s so sweet…both the fact that she wanted to “fix up” her mother and the fact it was the last picture of the two of them. Honestly, if it’s not a massive overhaul that totally changes the person, I don’t see anything wrong with it. The last time I had my picture taken by a photographer, who is also a mom and a friend, I was standing up with my kids. Got the proofs back and I looked five pounds lighter because she had shaved the baggy parts of the sweater I was wearing off…now thats a good friend!

By: MomGrind

MomGrind — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:32:33 +0000

@ Arswino: I’m sure most people are not into retouching at all.

@ Kikolani: I agree with you about the distinction, although several commenters here seem to disagree.

@ Tara: Funny as always.

@ Rowe: “I immediately destroy any photos I see of myself that are not flattering” I do the same. It’s quite shallow of us, isn’t it?

@ Diana: I can’t argue with you about the media’s negative influence. 50% of my posts say basically the same. However, don’t you think people always wanted to airbrush reality? I believe most portraits that were painted hundreds of years ago presented the subject in a flattering light. It seems to me that wanting to present things as “pretty” is very human and not at all a modern invention.

@ Writer Dad: my first reaction to what Jan did was “wow, what a noble thing to do.”

By: Writer Dad

Writer Dad — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:52:30 +0000

You make an excellent case. I generally don’t believe in distorted reality without a tub of popcorn, but doing it so that others feel better about themselves (rather than worse like 99% of cases) is noble indeed.

By: Diana

Diana — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:24:35 +0000

Almost everyone here seems to be missing the point. We have been programmed to fix reality, sweeten it, to where it becomes artificial. This was the message we’ve been fed by ads since the 50s… the perfect family with the perfect car, the perfect dog in the perfect station wagon and no fast food wrappers anywhere. Little Bonnie’s hair was mussed, oh no! Come on people, we do not all need to become little celebrities. Ask yourself, how many MEN would airbrush out imperfections out of photos (or have it even occur to them?) And then ask yourself are you doing this because women have been programmed to please?????

Even removing the candy wrapper from a candid photo expresses out new ned for perfection, or the appearance of it. If you airbrush out the truth, what do you have a photo of? I say you no longer have captured that moment in time but rather, created your own advertisement of how you wish things had been. Like history books. Just leave out what you don’t want to see or hear? Reality? Why is reality disgusting? I’m shocked at how the generations have changed due to media’s influence over the years (I am 56).

By: Rowe

Rowe — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:32:49 +0000

Vered, this made me smile. I think it is nice you wanted to enhance your mother and father in-laws appearances for a photographic memory. Not that I think they looked that bad in the original shot, but gee, if you have the technology available, then why not, have some fun, enhance away. As for photos of myself, I immediately destroy any photos I see of myself that are not flattering and I do the same with photos I have taken of other people that are not flattering.

By: Tara@Sticky Fingers

Tara@Sticky Fingers — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:13:04 +0000

wow Vered, you are good!
I retouch my photos all the time. To take a stray sweet wrapper off the floor from of picture of my daughter looking cute as a button, or the worm she’s just discarded and left looking all limp and dead in the foreground or even the black marker pen she took to her brother’s favourite coat. Sure the thing was ruined but at least it looked good in it’s final photograph!

By: Kikolani

Kikolani — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:11:31 +0000

I don’t think the retouching that you did took away from what they really look like. Flattering retouching is one thing, but the retouching that they do to celebrities in fashion magazines and tabloids turn them into totally different looking people. Most people don’t have clear complexions and 0% body fat. My thought is that if you can recognize the real person from their photograph, no harm done. If it is retouched to the point that taking off makeup will make them look like a different person, then it has gone too far.

~ Kristi