Profit Driven Retouching?

One theory about retouching in advertisements is that it's done to create an aspirational concept of beauty that inspires women to buy more products. One may even say these perfectly retouches photos may make them feel bad about their own looks, and to compensate for this feeling they spend money on more and more beauty products. Is it fair that women are comparing themselves to pictures that don't even reflect what a real women looks like? 

Another "Retouched" Ralph Lauren Advertisement

Ironically, this model, Flippa Hamilton, claims to have been fired by Ralph Lauren for being overweight.  Critics of this doctored photo have pointed out that Flippa's head is nearly as large as her waist.

 Click here to read more about the Ralph Lauren controversy.

Beautiful Reality

In an article titled "True Thighs" published in More magazine Jamie Lee Curtis posed stripped of any makeup and without any retouching enhancements on the final product.  This is exactly what she wanted people to see.  “There’s a reality to the way I look without my clothes on,” she says. “I don’t have great thighs. I have very big breasts and a soft, fatty little tummy. And I’ve got back fat. People assume that I’m walking around in little spaghetti-strap dresses. It’s insidious — Glam Jamie, the Perfect Jamie, the great figure, blah, blah, blah. And I don’t want the unsuspecting 40-year-old women of the world to think that I’ve got it going on. It’s such a fraud. And I’m the one perpetuating it.”  How much of an inspiration is this to female readers?  What does JLC's message say about female body image and the role media play in creating this?

Ralph Lauren Turns Skinny Model into Grotesquely Skinny Model

    

Ralph Lauren has recently taken a lot of heat for using photoshopped images of models in his advertisements. In this case, he was caught when both of these images were shown on differen parts of his Australian website. This hips and waist on this model have been made significantly smaller. What kind of message does this send to young women?  If a selling point for clothes is that they make you look thin, then is this false advertising?

Time Magazine: Retouching at its Worst

     

O.J. Simpson's mug shot was retouched from its original state to show this suspect as a darker and possibly more guilty looking perpetrator.  Is this okay?  Is this fair?  What might this new photo represent in terms of gender and/or stereotypes?

Photoshop Mistakes

Although most experts check and recheck their work, there are sometimes slip-ups. This is one of the problems with photo retouching. Not only does it portray a unrealistic body image type, it also carries the chance for impoosible body image types. What do these mistakes do to the minds of young women? Can you find what is missing in this picture?

Time Lapse Video of a Photo Retouch

It takes a lot of work to make a photo magazine ready. Check out this time lapse video of a photo retouch. It is almost like watching someone sketch a drawing and requires a lot of effort and skill. Notice how perfect she looks at the very end. A lack of imperfections is a clear sign that an image has been photoshopped.

Before and After

  

Not even a few strands of "wild" hair can hide from the masterful hand (or should i say mouse) of a hollywood retoucher. Here, Penelope Cruz's locks get the good treatment, along with the rest of her body of course.  How many changes can you find?

About Our Main Image

  

   

This is a before and after image done by "master retoucher" Amy Dresser.  The image was created to show off the power of photo retouching (as well as Amy's skills).  Her portfolio includes: Jessica Alba, Gwen Stefani, Rebecca Romijn, Kat Von D, Jenna Jameson, Lil Wayne, Katy Perry, Denise Richards, and Britney Spears.  More of Amy's work can be seen here:

http://www.amydresser.com/beauty.html