Has this issue been discussed yet?  A lot client choices are made on appearance... And the appearance has a lot to do with the photos..  Are providers airbrushing/photoshopping their website pictures to look better?  In a message a couple down from this one..there was a provider link that had some obvious signs of airbrushing...    Is this practice deceptive, or a legitimate way to get new/more clients?

Please say whether you airbrush or not... and discuss

My website is a form of marketing and artistic media.  My presentation is my first impression, so I want to look my best in this competitive business.  This does not mean in any way that I am less attractive in person.  In fact, I am told I am more natural and attractive in person than my website photos anyway.  Yet, I feel better if a blemish or imperfection is smudged out or a little rose added to my cheeks through photoshop.  I take professional photos, and I selected my photographer based on her ability to bring out the beauty in her subjects.

My advice would be to take it for what it is--if the photo looks like it could be in a magazine, then chances are retouches have been done. I don't think retouches are deceptive as long as the subject still looks the same in person.  Deception is when someone is 45, airbrushes 20 years off their photos and then say they are 25.

Airbrushed and proud (and still cute!),

Tamyra aka Tammie

-- Modified on 4/11/2004 5:32:35 PM

and except for photojournalism, touchup is quite commonplace.

The originals looked like bad amateur shots. The pics had a yellow tone that was horrible! But the poses were good, so I corrected the color. Bad light and color are the reasons I  edit photos. I never destroy the actual integrity of the photo.

Changing color and improving light and contrast is fine. Photoshopping out scars, cellulite and wrinkles, now that's deceptive. I work in the print field and yes, there is a lot of retouching in ads. But, you're buying clothes, cars, beer, not time with the beer model.  Do you think a print photographer is going to hire a model with tons of flaws that have to be retouched out? NO. And if he did, he would call the agency and never hire the model or use that agency again. So, my word of advice: workout, eat right and hire a good photographer that can shoot you in your most flattering poses. Good luck.

You retouch your pictures because you "want to look (your) best" yet that you say that "This does not mean in any way that I am less attractive in person."  If you're better looking in person, why change how you look in your pictures?  Don't you want a fair visual representation?  For the record, I've never seen you in person so I can't say how accurate your pictures are.

Just being sarcastic with my topic listing... airbrushing, special lighting, exaggerating on measurements, weight, and age have become so commonplace that many clients don't hold any credibility to a provider's self acclaimed "physical resume".

As far as airbrushing goes, it can be a very big deal to the client.  I understand you want to look your best, but some providers tend to add what's not really there while others try to hide what really is.

I'm gonna cite an example and will probably get flamed for this, but here goes... Anal Ashley.

She airbrushed a number of her photos, not all mind you but one in particular. Her famous topless photo with her hands held behind her head brushing through her hair.  As you recall it was black and white except for her green eyes.  The photo effect was cool, however, in that photo much her midsection was airbrushed away.  What's the big deal?  It made her look much skinnier than she really was. For the client looking for a skinny girl with huge boobs... she was not it... but she used the photo to pass herself off as one.  This I do not think is right.  Many of her reviews stated she was much "heavier" in person.  

Another example is Lori of Houston who is visiting Chicago soon.  Many of Lori's photos that have appeared over the past couple of years depict a beautiful, light complected African American woman.  I have seen Lori and while I think she is beautiful... she is not light complected at all... she's very dark complected.  What's the big deal?  For some it may not be, but for someone not attracted to very dark skin, they may have felt duped. DISCLAIMER: while I was not turned on by Lori's complection... her body and service made me quite happy (you can see my review for further).

In general, maybe most don't care about airbrushing, but when the going rates are charged at $$$ and higher... I think more clients are more concerned than providers realize.  For me, surprises aren't a good thing.

Just my opinion

-- Modified on 4/12/2004 4:32:20 PM

And while I have been told I am more attractive in person, it is apparent that you nor Thomas read my post completely or misunderstood it for what it is.  

I can take a picture any time of the week, but if a pimple shows up or the picture looks a little blah, then there is NOTHING wrong with retouching it.  If you actually read my post, then you would have seen me say that I retouch blemishes and add color where needed.  This does not mean I remove 20 pounds, nor change my skin color to lighter or darker shades.  Nor do I say I am 18 years old and reflect that with a skinny perky-boobed picture.    

Now, anyone who has a problem with my slightly retouched photos...simply don't see me if in doubt.  But if you do decide to see me based on my photos, I highly doubt your expectations will be not be met.  

If you can make paper look like a dollar bill, then its fine with me...but the Secret Service might not like it (wink).

Retouching a PIMPLE or adding color to make a blah picture look better is NOT deception.  Changing your weight or age using retouching can be deceptive.  I have done neither.  As you can see from my photos, I am short, and I have lots of curves.  I don't have to lie about that.  

If the lighting or color tone of my photos are blah, or there is a pimple on my chin, or circles show up under my eyes, then that doesn't mean those same blemishes or blah-ness will be there when you meet me.  So, I erase them or have them erased.  If there is harm in that, then see someone else.  I'm perfectly fine with that.  Variety makes the world go 'round.  

ps.  I've seen Lori's photos on Eros, and it's quite easy to tell she is not light-skinned. Link is attached below


-- Modified on 4/12/2004 6:14:09 PM

People see what they want to.

I read your post completely and understand it fully. However, you must have misread something in mine.  I never cited you as an example of someone deceiving clients with airbrushing, nor did I even infer it.

If you want to hide a zit, red eyes, bad lighting etc. etc. I see no problem with that.  I stated that "some" providers go beyond innocent touch-ups by masking weight, tattoos, scars, changing their eye color, the shape of their bodies etc. etc.  There is a big difference there.  I cited Anal Ashley as an example... not you.

With regards to Lori of Houston... there wasn't any airbrushing of her photos, but the lighting used in some of them make her appear light complected.  I have included a photo she used two years ago as an example (I blocked the face for her privacy).  Maybe to you the picture shows a dark skinned woman, the clients who have seen her in person can attest her real complection is at least 10 times darker.  Not that there is anything wrong with that, I'm just showing how simple lighting affects can change appearance.