“A girl should be two things:
who and what she wants”
~ Coco Chanel
Have you ever seen an over filtered image and thought “that looks NOTHING like her?” I mean I really hate the ones that take away the “flaws” on my 2 year olds face. I mean, seriously? She’s two. The filter doesn’t know it, but I do! For the love!
I hate that. I mean, I really do hate that. My girls are growing up in a filtered society, and so are you my dear.
Now here’s the rub, as much as I hate that over filtered look, I can’t fully embrace the new trend with natural beauty because as much as I believe we are all natural beauties, I also LOVE makeup. Like I love it. I love the art of it, honestly. I mean, I subscribe to only a handful of youtube channels and you betta believe that Jaclyn Hill is at the top of my subscription and watch list, just sayin. And further, I dig those vintage film looking photos. And, I confess: I really truly and honestly prefer to get rid of my blemish before I print a photo for my wall. #realtalk
So, how do I negotiate my true belief that natural beauty is to be admired and celebrated, whilst also loving makeup and getting glam now and then? This is my struggle. In a world of filters, how much is too much and at what point can we say that something is over makeuped, over-filtered or over photoshopped? Answer: when it no longer looks like you.
I would never do this work if the side effect of the experience were anything less than confidence building, reminding young women of their incredible beauty and value as they are. If the outcome of a shoot doesn’t look like my client I would have failed. To me, a heightened version of my client is perfectly acceptable! Let’s look our best for the shoot, Lord knows you only do something like this once in your life (right now) unless you become like a real estate agent, or supermodel. Girl, you’re pretty much guaranteed to never have a professional photography experience like this ever again until your wedding (and then you have to share the spotlight with your partner! Boo, ok, well, maybe yay!).
BUT, what I’m getting at is this: If you want to celebrate your natural beauty, that is awesome, let’s do that! Minimal makeup that looks natural? Simple editing that feels real? YES! And, if you want to feel glam and fabulous and made up, let’s do that! I promise those magazine girls have nothing on you! However, I hope we can all agree that photos that “don’t even look like her” are not awesome.
So friends, please keep your photoshop expectations in perspective. I won’t produce images that don’t look like you, it would be really devastating to me. Instead, let’s celebrate you in your shoot. Let’s pose you in the most flattering ways and draw out your most beautiful characteristics! Let’s make art, featuring you, that actually looks like you! THAT is the most beautiful piece of art I can make.
Jess