Photoshopping 'defects' on children- your thoughts

mikeplow1961

mikeplow1961

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Mike
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I'm a hobbyist photographer who largely through word of mouth has been doing quite a few shoots for people, mainly of their children. This has meant I've gone from shooting kids who I know and whose parents I know or am acquainted with to shooting those of strangers.

Last week I had a mum come for a shoot with her 2 and a half yr old son and 10 week old baby boy. (Nightmare shoot but that's another story.) The baby had a growth or lump above his right eye which was about the area of a small egg and was fairly noticable, no lashes on the eyelid and his eye didn't open as wide as the other eye. On arrival she asked me did I remove things in Photoshop and could I remove the bump and make the eye look normal. I was a bit taken aback and before I replied she told me that the doctors had said it would probably disappear in time and so she wants his photos to look normal. I was a bit lost for a reply and told her I'd see what could be done.

I edited one in Photoshop and sent it to her and she was over the moon with it but it left me feeling a bit uncomfortable to be honest. I'm used to the 'can you take my mole off my chin' requests etc but this was a bit more than that to me.

Am I being overly sensitive? I've edited the set and she's very pleased with them but I'm very interested to heat anyone else's views.
 
strange situation Mike- My response would be if the Customer want then the customer gets ;)

No need to feel anything but professional, if you did as requested, then be happy the customer is happy and wallow in the recommendations that will follow :D


Les :thumbs:
 
You are providing a service for her, according to her requirements - personally I don't see a problem with that anymore than if you were a kitchen fitter making an alteration in a unit to accommodate some piece of equipment (if that makes sense!).
If you were doing the shoot that was meant to represent the child 'as-is' (passport photo is the only thing I can think of) then it would be wrong but I don't see an issue here.
 
Thanks guys, I'm happy that I've done a good job for her and that she's happy with the pics and as you say, she's asked me to do it. I think it just made me think 'Are you not happy with him the way he is? a bit but you are right that it's my task to try and give her images she is happy with.

After all, I've not had any moral thoughts when women have asked for a bit of Liquid boobs out/tummy in afterwards.
Cheers guys, I'm feeling more morally ambivalent now :-)
 
It would make me feel awkward I have to agree.

The customer is always right though!
 
I'd do as the parents asked, if I could
What did you do in PS? Liquify, transform, mask a copy of the good eye?
Can we see before / after shots and a bit of insight how you fixed it?
Cheers
No problem if not, just curious
 
gramps said:
You are providing a service for her, according to her requirements - personally I don't see a problem with that anymore than if you were a kitchen fitter making an alteration in a unit to accommodate some piece of equipment (if that makes sense!).
If you were doing the shoot that was meant to represent the child 'as-is' (passport photo is the only thing I can think of) then it would be wrong but I don't see an issue here.
Click to expand...

:plusone:

I would have also sent her one as shot with no alterations so the baby could see how he really looked at that age (if he's interested) later in his life.
 
I think if you'd have just taken it upon yourself to edit out his "flaws" then that would be a problem. But if the mother asked you to do it then it is her that has the questionable morals, not you ;)

My 3rd child had very thin blonde hair and a very noticeable strawberry nevous birthmark on her head. I wouldn't dream of editing it out of any of her baby photos, its part of her and i love her just the way she is. But i guess other people feel differently.
 
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