Photoshopped and air-brushed pics: how much is too much?

Is the left pic after and the right pic before? Originally Posted by Redwolf

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lol
On my screen, one is on top of the other.

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lol
On my screen, one is on top of the other. Originally Posted by topnotchmassage

Same here, though I am assuming the bottom one is the color-adjusted one?

To all concerned.....

A male member asked for examples of lady's "before and after" pictures. In reference to Top's pictures, she doesn't say a word about coming to see her, rates, etc. Her post is simply a reply to a member's request. Top's pictures are fine!!

Ladies.....this is a case where any of you are welcome to do exactly what Top has done.....as long as follow her lead and don't put anything in the post about coming to see you in person, rates, etc.

This is for scientific purposes only.

Same here, though I am assuming the bottom one is the color-adjusted one? Originally Posted by Kaboom

lol Correct

Topnotch, It is evident that the photo was manipulated using either the "curves" or "levels" adjustments in photoshop. There does not appear to be any color adjustments made, just the effect of manipulating the luminance "brightness range". Either way it is basically estabilishing the range of luminance represented in the photo. A simple way to put it is it's like adjusting the brightness and contrast range on a television. You set a point for the darkest and then a point for the brightest information in the photo. In this particular case the range has been shifted beyond the brightest information in the photo, thus the dark information is lost and highlights go beyond viewable giving it a softer more heavenly look.

too much plastic and changing the skin tone, color, etc....gives the -ve impact (for me), even though their service is gr8. Tattoos..doesn't matter for me.

I actually prefer the top pic (the pics were side-by-side using a different browser) to the bottom one. It looks more filled with life and has a better contrast in the colors. I like that.

It is good to have you, Pretty Shooter, add something. I would love to hear more from you on this topic, although I understand if you have to be careful. I would imagine that you provide for your subjects what they want most, advising them as you go.

If you can share any generalities or observations about what is frequently done or not done in photoshopping, it would be appreciated. I am not asking you to comment upon any of your work particularly. I would guess that to do so would be out of line.

Redwolf, The client is always right lol. I advise clients what I would feel is accepatable if I were a hobbiest, and then do what they want. There is a lot of confusion about editing and retouching which really are different animals. Editing is generally basic adjustments like the curves, level adjustments, maybe a bit of color correction, and cropping. Retouching on the other hand is more involved and can utilize all the tools available in photoshop. Earlier in the post Molly's pics were brought up and the last two of her pics were retouched heavily using a skin smoothing technique that gives a smooth plastic feel to the skin, not very natural but hey the Budweiser girls all look that way. Also I suspect that to acheive balanced exposure through out the image there was some dodging and burning done. Photoshop or similiar programs are extremely powerful and really it depends on the operators skill level set in using the tools available as to what is done. Give a guy a chainsaw and most all can cut a tree down, but some can carve statues. I know that I have spent about eight years with photoshop and there is always something new to learn.

Uh, I'd like to order four 8x12's of each.

COG - inches or feet?

PGS - It would be interesting to see an example of you taking the original photo (if you can get a sufficiently high-resolution version from Topnotch) and making two versions (1) some reasonable changes and (2) magazine-perfect changes.

Not that her photos need any changes.

COG - inches or feet?

PGS - It would be interesting to see an example of you taking the original photo (if you can get a sufficiently high-resolution version from Topnotch) and making two versions (1) some reasonable changes and (2) magazine-perfect changes.

Not that her photos need any changes. Originally Posted by BiggestBest

Thanks, BB...and if PGS would like, I can send him a PM with the image at it's original size and res. Just let me know

As I mentioned, I don't tend to do much editing to my pics...I more often choose the pics I post based on which I find most naturally flattering.
One of the photographers who hired me as a 'model' did this, though...
I can't say for sure, what he did besides change the color...I have found that adjusting the color of pics often helps to even the skin tone, and such.
Here is a before and after, as requested. Bubba, please remove if you consider this 'self-promoting'. Originally Posted by topnotchmassage

What the photographer did was adjust the white balance, shift the exposure to the right, tweeked the contrast/curves and maybe even the saturation a tad. It takes a little bit to duplicate the first time around, but after you've done it a few times... its quite easy to replicate.

I don't believe any deceptive editing techniques were done to the image such as skin smoothing or "air brushing" as most laypersons call it. The overall effect of the editing process seen here has a way of minimizing shadows on the face and body which can, in turn, have a smiliar effect.

Ah... didn't see PGS had already responded to that line of thought on post processing of images. I agree with the majority of what he's said here. As a photographer I do pretty much the same, tell my clients what is appropriate and acceptable... and show examples of that. And then they tell me what they would like me to do with thier images. My most basic of post processing is simply to create a clean image and the most requested editing feature is to remove small spots of acne or facial blemishes which would be a distraction.

I do 98% of my work in Lightroom which makes delivery of images a lot faster for me and keeps the images as honest as possible. If I have to open up Photoshop CS5 in order to "tweek" someone's image... I'll do it, but it is only when a client pays for it.

From a hobbiest point of view... I don't mind light adjustments to what a person looks like. If on the day she was taking her pics she had a pimple growing out of her eyebrow and wants it taken out... that's cool with me. But, if her tummy looks like a roadmap of italy IRL and she removes every line and stretchmark or plumps up her butt, slims down her waist and gives herself an extra cup size... those are on my no fly list. When I'm shopping around for a fantasy, I go for what is believable as well as the erotic.

The photog perspective in me is a pretty harsh critic when it comes to a lady's pic online... I instantly know if she's favoring certain poses because she's hiding body areas she's not proud of or do not photograph as well (rockin' the beer gut, scary toes, "this is my good side","I forgot to do my nails today", pushin' the twins together because they're longer than they are perky, etc.)... so those things usually don't phase me when I see someone online... I usually disect what they may be hiding and make my decision on if I want to meet them based on the new image created in my head.

I've seen PGS' pics on different ladies' profiles and ads and I like how he does what he does. You can tell right away if someone is the real deal and although posed flatteringly, you still see enough to know, "this is a pretty girl and she's not hiding a lot about herself." Which, is refreshing to find (insert kudos).

My own typical brand of editing is either to make something look cleaner and better... or to make it more artistic. Both can be done without taking away from the true appearance of the subject.

Cleaned Up Example
Before:


After:



Artistic Example
Before:


After: