Photoshop and Young Women's self image | Yorktown Senior Portrait Photographer

I'll start this off by saying, I'm not bashing Target. I love Target. Target loves me. Or they should, my debit card and Target's card machine have a very close relationship.  Like family.  Even after the security debacle and having to change my card info :( This post is less about Target itself, but about the role mainstream media plays in the self-image of young girls and Women. 

This is an image of a serious photoshop fail on the part of one of Target's employees. They got a little overzealous with trying to create the "thigh gap" on a teen model in one of their bikinis.   Pretty sure no woman is born this way.  Actually, it looks really painful.

below is a link to the article:

http://www.examiner.com/article/target-photoshop-target-s-wonky-photoshop-fail-carves-out-a-model-s-behind?cid=rss

I believe photographing women, especially young women, is such a delicate business. I don't believe in making women look like some crazy ideal of what the mainstream media says is beauty. Making girls feel inadequate because they can't get that perfect "thigh gap" or waif like limbs is insanity. Those things are unattainable unless you were born that way. It's not REAL. I like to photograph them how they are, highlight their best features, show them how beautiful they ARE. Not how they "should be". 
Proper posing, can't stress that enough. Posing makes a huge difference and any photographer who is paying attention should adjust their client to a more flattering position if something is off. Sometimes thats more difficult, and isn't always easy or possible. We adjust and honestly, we toss the ones that are unflattering. You don't pay us to give you a gross photo of yourself. Trust me to know what looks good.  Know that if its not a good photo, you won't ever have to look at it. :) .  And please know, I LOVE photoshop. Photoshop is my Jam. For real. For some things.  Part of my editing process includes removal of blemishes and minor skin smoothing. Those are temporary things that are a part of life but aren't who we are. I don't edit out freckles or scars (scars only if specifically asked, like a new scar or something) because that's who you are. I generally DON'T Make people skinnier, make thighs smaller or waists tinier.... Love who you are and celebrate it. Admire it.  

And girls... No matter what you are critical about now, 15 years down the road, guaranteed you'll look back at the photographs of you now and be amazed at how awesome you look. I've uttered the words "UGH! I wish I still looked like that". And back then? I didn't think so highly of my teenage self.  I wish I had.