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Question: Pro Photographers, I need your help!.!.!.ethics question!?
Seriously, what do you do when taking studio shots or on location shots (family groups, individual) and an individual has an imperfection!? Do you remove it or leave it alone!? For example:
A child's injured (brown) front tooth darker than the other!. Do you whiten/lighten almost equally to match the other or leave as is!?
Numerous dark moles on an adult (groom)!? Remove most, a few or leave them as is!?
Extremely large nose!? Reduce in size or leave as is!?

These are questions I've not found answered anywhere!. I enhance to improve the overall look of the image!. Someone told me if it was them or their child they would take it personally if improvement were made!.

Where do you draw the line!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
With the tooth or moles I would ask if they wanted a retouch OR just bring the contrast of them down a bit!. With the nose, I would reduce it just a bit without saying anything!. If it is just enough, they will not know why they love that picture so much, just that they do!.

Been there, done that!Www@QuestionHome@Com

No, you do not retouch someones imperfections, with the exception, as stated above, of some temporary imperfections!. Clients may find this insulting and you would be sending the message that these people are unacceptable just the way they are!.

Yes, if directed by the client before or are after the shoot, but not because it was you that prompted the question!. I know that as a photographer, you would love to make your images as good as you imagine them in your mind, however you must resist this temptation,because the images you produce otherwise may not be what the client had in their mind!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I would just casually mention to your clients that you you do wonders in enhancing photos and ask if there is anything they would like to be touched up!? also, you should show them some before/after images of some of your work!. Get some friends to let you shoot them and ENHANCE them!. (i!.e!. whiten their teeth, remove moles or blemishes, etc!.)

If they decline I would leave things the way they are!. If you change it on your own it could definitely be offensive!!!!!!!!Www@QuestionHome@Com

I tend to draw the line with temporary imperfections - acne breakouts, strands of hair out of place, etc!. Sometimes will do a scar, especially if it is something I should have worked around "in camera"!. I don't take braces out unless requested, and that could be a lot of work!.




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NO "corrections" should be made unless directed by the client or they are discussed before the shoot and are included in the contract!.

This means that there are "lines" established before you start shooting!.

You never know when people will reject your assumptions!. Best to have it all discussed before the shoot!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

the nose i'd leave alone!. the rest i'd fix some, the clients usually expect some flatteryWww@QuestionHome@Com