Sometimes editing out one thing can totally change the photo for the better. Taking it from good to, well, better! HA!
BEFORE:
AFTER:
What do you think?
Is taking out the wire making the photo less authentic? Is taking it out letting the focus be on the family so you’re not distracted by the wire, making eliminating it a good thing? This can lead into discussions about taking out acne on a senior or dried skin on a newborn. Minimizing wrinkles a bit or helping out a double chin. Taking one leaf out of a perfect yard or filling grass into dead spots in a lawn. This could also lead into talks of making a blue sky bluer, eyes crisper and skin smoother.
We consider ourselves life-style photographers for the most part I think, but we do edit photos.
Thoughts?
This could be a fun discussion…
wait! you can take out double chins? that is so awesome. no wonder i always love how i look in your pics, you make me skinnier!
Could you also place us in outer space? I mean, if we’re going to edit…let’s really edit!
I just found your blog and wow-it’s awesome. I love your work and thanks for sharing all the other links, posts. I love learning more about photography!
after my 2nd child we had newborn/family photos taken. when in the studio looking at our photos i noticed that my leg looked really thin in the photo (still in the maternity jeans – no less). so i commented to the photographer “wow, those jeans made my leg look really thin!” Her reply: “OH HONEY, I DID THAT FOR YOU!” Now, I could have been offended that she felt the need to make my thigh appear thinner…but HECK NO!! I was grateful! I wanted everyone to see those photos! Ordered a HUGE print of it!
I say remove the wire. Take out some acne. Thin the thigh! I am not saying make it obvious or overdone. But subtle changes and smoothing out of the complexion makes the photo more appealing to all. I read once where you should only remove the temporary. So scars would stay, etc. I can handle that line of though too. (my fat thigh was temporary! ) 🙂
You do amazing work! If you don’t mind me asking….what program do you edit photo’s in. I’m looking to purchase something and am trying to get opinions!
I always edit distractions–I just don’t tell my clients! They think it’s magic that they look that good! Photographer=Magician=Cosmetic Surgeon–I wear many hats…
i’m with amber, i only remove the temporary. things like scars and freckles are how these people will always look in person, and it just isn’t natural and it isn’t part of “them” to take that stuff out.
as for distractions, i definitely would take out things like the wire, or a few leaves.
when i had horrible skin in high school and college i hated taking pictures! that is… until i learned photoshop at the end of my freshman year and i’ve never looked back! knowing that i can remove the skin problems later, made me smile bigger. all of the sudden, pictures we worth taking again because later i could edit them to take away the parts i hated and leave the parts i loved (me with my friends or family)!
and as far as that wire goes – it’s very distracting. i would remove that without blinking an eye. 🙂