Why are filters and face and body editing bad for us?

June 26, 2021 Sian Tyrrell

The ‘high-end’ look is characterised by skin that is not only blemish free but also has a well defined pore texture that’s totally even across all areas of the face with a totally uniform colour as well. Originally the antidote to the ‘plastic skin’ that was the norm in in 2000s and supposed to be more realistic and natural, this way of editing images is now so normalised that it has itself become a whole new (problematic) beauty standard.

You see this is the problem - high end retouching, along with face and body filters and some use of photo editing tools such as Photoshop promote ONE standard of beauty. They warp and change appearances to conform to that standard, they send a message that this is what we should look like and they make it super easy to change your photographs to conform. I’m not going to get into the fraught question of where that beauty standard comes from and why it has been created as there are some great writers talking about this who I will link to at the end of the piece - the issue is that we do not, and we should not, all look the same! Call me a rebel but I hate the idea that images and tools like these are being used to make us conform, to tell us how we should be, to erase our uniqueness.

How can we feel good walking around in our daily lives if the ‘best’ version of ourselves is only attainable using photo editing?

As a photographer, I see my job as not just helping people to look good but also to feel good. I simply cannot square, editing someone to look very different, to helping them feel good. How can we feel good walking around in our daily lives if the ‘best’ version of us is only attainable by using photo editing? So here’s where the real damage comes in - the pressure to conform to this beauty standard is pushing people towards permanently changing their appearance to look more like their ‘edited-selves’. While I will fight to the death for anyone’s right to change how they look if they choose to do so, this doesn’t feel like a freely made choice - it feels like an addiction or a coercion - it feels like the beauty standard driving their behaviour and a huge industry benefiting from the insecurities that it itself is driving in people.

Let me me clear, I edit my photos and I use Photoshop. I will remove spots, sort out wardrobe malfunctions, help a tired woman look a bit less tired and tidy those fly away hairs. I will help all my clients to look their best - THEIR best. I will not make them look like someone else - to do so may help me sell more images but I refuse to be part of the long term damage this sort of thing causes. My job is to lift people up and make a difference in their lives for the better and I do not believe that manipulating their appearance is consistent with that.

My job is to lift people up and make a difference in their lives for the better

I do get asked to modify images, I can almost see this coming when the model or client walks in and they look nothing like any of their photos on Instagram. I always take time to explain that I don’t do this, and that I will ensure they look amazing without it - but even so I occasionally see those images posted online and they have clearly been through an app - it doesn’t make me cross, just a little sad for the person and for the fact they feel that they cannot post a picture without editing it.

I really hope that if you’re hiring me you’re ready to explore your true beauty. That you’re excited to see yourself as those who love you see you - unique, exciting and authentic and that by doing so you will be able to love yourself just a little bit more.

Photos are of professional models Brogan Alexandra and Jeni-Lee Harris who were kind enough to come and play with me on the streets of Kent