"Are you saying I'm fat?"

[boxofrocks]

Had a request to start a new thread about this topic.

Originally Posted by Angelo

Tom, in most cases you would be their hero by making them look good.
If they ask, my response would be "my job is to make you look good", with a smile on my face.
And by the way, you did a great job in making her look good. I'd like to discuss how you performed that miracle. Would you start another thread. Call it "Are you saying I'm Fat?"
and share with us?

Before shoots, I like to try to get a feel from the subjects on how much retouching they want me to do. For example, my Finnish bride wanted me to make her look "thin" (not uncommon, I would imagine). You can see where I tried to make a subtle before and after below (please ignore the color shift). Is that enough? Too much?

I worry, though, that some might be offended if I did that without being asked. I suspect it would only be a small percentage, but that percentage could get really upset about it ("are you saying I'm fat!?!?")

I guess the same holds true for any type of retouching (facial blemishes, scars, etc.) Some may see their imperfections as part of their personality. I've yet to come across someone who objects, but you never know. Like the Hippocratic oath states, my first rule of thumb is "do no harm", in this case, to your client relationship.

During a recent family portrait session, the mom asked me to make her look younger. She was a very pretty lady, but had the usual aging. Her daughter teared up when she saw the results (in a good way), and from the mom's reaction, I think she got on the phone with the plastic surgeon as soon as I left . (I think it would be improper to post those examples, I'm not to worried about the bride below--she's on her way back to Finland, and a little far to cause problems.)

Since I was asked, the shot below was mostly edited using the liquefy tool. I'm no PS guru, so if I can do it, anyone can. As I mentioned, I tried to be subtle.

What do you guys think about this topic? How do you address it?

Looking forward to replies, critiques, and your examples and client stories.

Thanks!

PS--after thinking about it--this may belong in the retouching forum. Mods feel free to move it.

[Angelo]

So look for "Liquify" in PS? Let me see how I can make it work.
I get asked to make them beautiful and less heavy.
"Of course, that's my job" is what I answer.
It's fun making people look good, especially when they appreciate it.

I attended the Hanson Fong seminar last Friday and he's a hoot!
"His motto is always make the bride and bride's mother look good.

[HotHolly]

I think this is part of the reason why someone would come to you, rather than Sears. I think you can play tricks with lights and place shadows in certain spots to make them look thinner. A lot is in the posing.

I'm not a fan of the liquefy tool for this type of thing. There are a lot of things you can do before it gets to that point.

We had one bride that had a large greenish-blue birthmark on the side of her face. She only touched it over slightly with make up and said "its part of who I am." Then she asked us to remove it from all the images TOTALLY in the images she ordered. So, she changed her mind. We usually make them look their best and if they want to make alterations that are that major, they need to talk about it. We dont assume anything.

We also had a baby with a birthmark on her upper lip. The mom pointed out ahead of time that it isnt dirt. Apparently another photog removed it from all her images. The Mom thought it made her look beautiful. The other photog lost face b/c of that assumption.

Delicacy is important. :o)

[brad]

Good points, Holly... shooting actor headshots, I've trained myself to take a moment and study the actor's face so that later in PS, I can know what is a temporary blemish and what is a birthmark/mole/scar more accurately... if I'm not sure, I will ask at the time of the session. Its important that you don't retouch an acting headshot any more than could be covered up by makeup or a good skin cleansing.

I hate the liquefy tool myself.. 90% of the time it makes it LOOK photoshopped to me.

[CobyPhoto]

Ditto Holly & Brad. I always approach this issue after the proofs are ready and I ask "how much retouching" do you want me to do? You get people that want to have "Digital Cosmetic Surgery" and those that want anything but a little softening of certain things.

Pays to ask ahead of time thou. Never assume that someone wants something removed.

CJ

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by brad

I hate the liquefy tool myself.. 90% of the time it makes it LOOK photoshopped to me.

It certainly can if one isn't careful. It takes subtleness to keep things from looking "shopped". Sometimes, no amount of posing is going to eliminate that double chin or those love handles, though.

[Angelo]

This thread has been very insightful. We must always respect the desires of the customer.
There are ways of asking without being intrusive, so always ask and allow the customer to tell you what they want done.

[Angelo]

Originally Posted by boxofrocks

Since I was asked, the shot below was mostly edited using the liquefy tool. I'm no PS guru, so if I can do it, anyone can. As I mentioned, I tried to be subtle.

There's a plug-in in Photoshop CS2 called "Liquify". Is this the one you are referring to?
Or are you referring to another plug-in that does not come bundled with PSCS2?

Thanks,
Angelo