I'm talking about the technical merits of the image itself more so than the contents of that same image.
Candids are almost always Selfies with an iPhone or other camera phone - ok for a quick snapshot but generally not as good as most Point & Shoots, much less a true camera. Cameraphones with their small optics have a bit more inherent graininess from low resolution or low lighting, plus blur from movement (and other artifacts inherent to digital photography). Add to this that many selfies are done in a bathroom with harsh yellow vanity lights. Also, there are rules to good photo composition that are generally not followed when making a selfie.
Pro doesn't necessarily mean that you have to have Antonio Whatshisface watermarks on them either. A good friend/client with a decent eye, a steady hand, who uses yours (or his) decent P&S/hybrid DSLR (or better) can take excellent photos near a window, outdoors or other natural light source - even with just the Green Camera setting and following the rules of composition and a little knowledge of editing software. That's right, Some of us on the Board have had photography classes and understand aperture, shutter speed and such.
If you can afford/have access to a true professional photographer, even better because of the numerous reasons pros better amatuers - better training, better equipment, a true understanding of composition, etc.
Also remember that Pro or good Amateur, having someone else taking your pic doesn't mean you can't express yourself. As with anything else, when you find someone who makes your laugh and makes you comfortable, you will be your truer self. Then you can have a helluva lot more fun getting pics made in various states of dress/undress.
So make a catalog of Thongs, Wet and Wild, Hump Days and whatever else comes to mind. Don't be afraid to update your pics every so often or even using different photo editing tools on the same pic for different effects, either by yourself, your friend, or your pro.
I always say Have fun and Play safe, but Be creative too.
my 2 cents, ga_kosh
There are folks on this board who swear he takes weight off. Well, at the request of the provider he will. He's just doing what his clients are requesting. I didn't lose one single pound in his editing of my photos. Also, I was given all the shots from my shoot without HIS moniker on it. I allowed him to put that on the ones he color corrected/touched AND I could edit out that signature very easily using Picmonkey.com if I needed too. It would take less than 3 minutes. To say ALL his pics are over corrected or to assume his pics don't accurately represent the actual person just isn't true.
Now, while Aldo doesn't work this way, there are photogs that won't allow any pics released that haven't been edited. They put the proofs in a read only file and let the client (provider) select from those shots. Then the photog edits them before releasing them to the client (provider). That's how they choose to run their business. Still, provider's should be the ones held accountable for the pics they post and how accurate they represent them - not the photog.
-- Modified on 12/2/2013 7:39:15 PM
I never intended to say nor imply anything derogatory about him. Lots of pros and websites use watermarks on pics. I was trying not to single him out one way or the other by using his full name, hence Whatshisface.
The posts I've read seem very positive about him. To me His pics demonstrate a good eye, great composition, and the body postures look very relaxed... which was what I was trying to convey as a plus to using a pro photographer. But just having his name on the pic doesn't make it automatically better to me.
and Photoshop makes any photog an artist. Seriously, who hasn't used RedEye correction? I have nothing against using editing software. Ilona has this great B&W pic with ruby red lips that are just stunning. Accurate? no and yes. She's not an albino, nor a vampyr, but that pic does show she's a good looking Transylvanian 
I know a lot of folks who touch up their candid shots - just because they were taken on the fly or with a phone doesn't mean they aren't being touched up. Several of the shots we see in the daily photo threads ARE edited. That software can be used by anyone and doesn't require a professional shot to start with.
As far as the professionals OVER-editing. They do what the provider wants or the provider wouldn't post them. Pictures almost always have to be edited for color and minor issues - it doesn't mean a girl necessarily "lost weight in editing" but they certainly can.
-- Modified on 12/2/2013 6:42:45 PM
