I have a complaint...

[Gina9942]

So recently a photographer came to my daughter's day care to take pics. She took the pics, I anxiously awaited the results, I got them back.... they were terrible!! Let me rephrase that, had she just left them alone and not did any pp work, they would've been great, she skin smoothed my baby's face so much it was basically, her eyes, a mouth, with half of her lips smoothed, and a little of her nose. I called her and I asked if I can have proofs of the pictures straight out of camera since I am very anti skin smoothing, especially on babies. I don't think babies need that.

She also told one mother that she would take the childs birthmark off of his face....I was speechless. I feel that birthmarks are part of the child, just like his hair-color, eye color. It should not be changed. I was so annoyed and the prices that she charges do not go with the services she provides. I am so frustrated because the pics are cute of my daughter. I am still waiting for the new proofs, so annoying!!

Lol sorry about that rant, just had to get it out there.

Is anyone else against skin smoothing on babies? Taking out birthmarks and scars? What are your thoughts on these things?

[lputman]

I don't like skin smoothing on children. Removal of birthmarks and scars should be verified before removing them.

[candidrachel]

I so feel your pain! Why pay someone else to take pics of your baby when you can do a better job yourself. I'm hightly critical of the school photos we get. One mother wanted to have a really gappy toothless grin of her child for a comprehensive record and the photographer told this child to keep her mouth closed so needless to say she looked gormless.

Anyway, back to your situation. Could you ask for a reshoot because obviously your not happy and its going to look bad on that photographer for further referals iykwim.

Skin smoothing looks stupid on babies! BTW there's a good article from Elizabeth Halford about removing birthmarks which is a good read - on the blog.

[Gina9942]

I dont know that we can do a reshoot. In general the pics came out cute, I do like them, but she did so much PP work on them, they barely look real. Her face looks like she did a gaussian blur, masked it and unmasked her eyes and part of her lips, its just not a good thing. I am so anti-skin smoothing on babies, and I told her that. I am hoping she brings me new proofs today, she promised them two days ago...

[Swisstony10]

There's a time and a place for airbrshing/smoothing - and that's when the client asks for it. How dare someone who is providing a service dictate what effects you have applied to your pictures?

I'll do skin-smoothing and general airbrushing, but only ever as much (or as a little) as the client wants, and that goes for any PP effect. Selective colour - we, as photographers, think it's a little tired and cliched in a lot of cases, but if a bride wants a picture of her in monochrome with just the coloured bodice of her dress and the bouquet in colour, and she's paying me, who am I to tell her what's good or bad taste? There are lots of pictures styles, poses, and set-pieces that I'm an anti-fan of, but the customer is always right...

[Gina9942]

I agree, everyone has there things that they like, and had she done a little here and there, just to even things out, who knows if I even would've noticed. I showed some people her pics and they are like, I don't see anything, but its so blatantly obvious to me. Her cheeks are splotchy, and pale, it's so blurry you can barely make out her face lines, it just wasn't a good job. I am not saying she is a bad photographer, she's a school photographer, her pics are okay, I just think she should've sent home the images straight out of camera and maybe a letter with it saying, if you want I will skin smooth, remove blemishes, etc.

[junglebear]

I can see why people might want a bit of smoothing, but removing a birthmark is ridiculous not to mention stupid. I mean, what about when the child and photo are side by side, it'll look so silly!
"So, when did you grow that birthmark?"