This has been photoshopped...

Wait, wait. That's the original. This, this is the photoshopped version:

Recently I got into trying to figure out just how much photos I see have been photoshopped. I was inspired by a UK newspaper article (don't think I'm actually in tune with world news, someone forwarded it to me here is the article). It talks about the United Kingdom's "Self Esteem Act" that makes advertisements label when they've photoshopped images. I did this partly so I could learn about photoshopping and mainly because I wanted to know how much of what I see is real. In doing so I came across a few photos that genuinely shocked me.

Clearly they've changer her skin's natural texture, removed signs of aging, and brightened her eyes to say the least.

Here's another example:

And another:

The point is, why can't Jessica Alba have hips? And why can't Kim Kardashian have a real woman's skin tone on her thighs and normal sized thighs for that matter? She's a real person, no?

I'm showing you these images in the hopes that you and I will be better able to recognize what is real and what has been altered. When I get behind the wheel of photoshop I admit I use things like skin smoothing and brightening eyes and such. But what makes my approach different than these advertisements is the recipient. I know that these photos are going to a woman who wants to feel good in her own skin (and who is already gorgeous), so why would I alter it to make her see something different than she sees every day in her own mirror? What does that tell her? What does that tell you? It says "you're not good enough", "you need to be perfect to be admired" "this is what 'normal' should look like." And men are no exception:

Poor Justin, his package didn't deliver apparently.

I use photoshop to make you look like you would on your best day. That means no acne, great lighting, no random hairs in your face, etc. so that when you look at them you'll feel good about yourself--not worse.

Anyway, I know this was a bit long but in writing this I'm reinforcing my own ideas in my own brain that what you see isn't always what you started with. It makes me a little less hard on myself.

Have you seen any photos online or in a magazine that you could swear have been photoshopped? Link them in the comments section, let's compare notes. :)

Live, love, and take pictures!

Kirsten