Ethics of Retouching

[tsamarin]

Just looking for some input on this question: I'm pretty new to shooting people but I'm enjoying the learning process and like so many others who post here, was asked by a friend to shoot some photos of one of his family members-his teenage daughter.

I jumped at the chance to practice my technique and found out that his daughter is looking for some headshots so as to possibly pursue modeling. All good so far, now my question: Is it ethical for a photographer to retouch headshots?

While I prefer my photos to reflect reality, I don't have a problem accentuating someone's beauty or covering up blemishes, etc. Heck, if they want me to, I'll go right up to the point of embarrassment at being associated with a phony-looking image. But is it legitimate to do that with a model's headshots? After all, someone is considering a business arrangement based on what they see in that headshot. I'd love to get some feedback on this matter, thanks.

[jhuckelberry]

the way I look at it, especially on the model side, is that it is expected to be retouched to get that "perfect" look as much as possible. (not saying plastic, but perfect. whatever the definition of the day happens to be)

[RDKirk]

Just looking for some input on this question: I'm pretty new to shooting people but I'm enjoying the learning process and like so many others who post here, was asked by a friend to shoot some photos of one of his family members-his teenage daughter.

I jumped at the chance to practice my technique and found out that his daughter is looking for some headshots so as to possibly pursue modeling. All good so far, now my question: Is it ethical for a photographer to retouch headshots?

While I prefer my photos to reflect reality, I don't have a problem accentuating someone's beauty or covering up blemishes, etc. Heck, if they want me to, I'll go right up to the point of embarrassment at being associated with a phony-looking image. But is it legitimate to do that with a model's headshots? After all, someone is considering a business arrangement based on what they see in that headshot. I'd love to get some feedback on this matter, thanks.

If a casting director gets surprised when the actor does not look like the headshot (like 10 years younger), she'll simply tell the actor to go away. Headshots must be largely unretouched or they simply don't "work." It's not a big ethical issue about retouching, it's just a matter of delivering the proper product.

[joedlh]

Fashion and glamour photographs are almost universally retouched. If a studio asks for test shots, they may prefer minimal touchups because too much could be construed as false advertisement. On the other hand, in photojournalism, you could get fired for photoshopping an image beyond global features like exposure, sharpness, and contrast. So the answer to your question is: it depends.

When I take shots of people for their own use, they want to appear in many cases to be more beautiful than their natural gifts allow. Nobody likes their own picture because the camera does not always capture them at their best. I bend under that pressure. Keep the customer satisfied and they'll come back for more.

[tsamarin]

If a casting director gets surprised when the actor does not look like the headshot (like 10 years younger), she'll simply tell the actor to go away. Headshots must be largely unretouched or they simply don't "work." It's not a big ethical issue about retouching, it's just a matter of delivering the proper product.

Point taken. Is it the photographer's job to ony provide an accurate representation or does that rest with the person submitting the headshot? Based on this, I would think maybe some skin softening, blemish removal but no fundamental changes to face shape, neck lengthening, etc.

[RDKirk]

Point taken. Is it the photographer's job to ony provide an accurate representation or does that rest with the person submitting the headshot? Based on this, I would think maybe some skin softening, blemish removal but no fundamental changes to face shape, neck lengthening, etc.

The photographer should understand what the requirement is. There are plenty of websites with information on headshots. It varies according to the purpose--headshots for film/television actors have different requirements from headshots for theater (indeed, acting for film/television has different requirements from acting for theater). There is also a slight difference from coast to coast--the east coast tends to be a bit more conservative than the west coast in terms of how much "flair" they want to see in a headshot. That's changing though, and it may already be moot since I last paid close attention to it.

In all cases, though, the photographic technique itself should be understated, the view of the subject should be clear and uncluttered, and the retouching should do nothing more than ordinary street makeup, properly applied, would do. So straighten a lipstick line, perhaps, but don't eliminate a scar or a mole. Light softly so that wrinkles are not emphasized, but don't retouch any out. If she has a temporary zit, remove that--but if she has genuine continuing skin problems that her own makeup doesn't cover, let them stay.

[tsamarin]

Thanks to all for your replies. I appreciate your opinions and your taking the time to help.