We recently came across the article discussing how an all girls’ high school recently went too far in retouching their high school photos. 

http://hellogiggles.com/not-ok-high-school-students-yearbook-photos-photoshopped-make-faces-appear-thinner

Here are my two cents on the topic:

We typically remove anything that is temporary to enhance our senior high school photos. By temporary I mean, blemishes, tonal issues or discoloration from acne, scratches, texture issues (small bumps from acne or rashes, etc), etc. These are all things that most likely will not be there in the long run, in a month, or a year and you probably don't want a permanent memory about it. Especially because your senior year can be very stressful, which might cause these kind of TEMPORARY skin issues. That being said, there are times my senior will ask me to remove a mole, a scar, a tattoo, a stork bite etc., but that is THEIR CHOICE. I don't automatically do it. If it makes that Senior more comfortable or happy then we can absolutely do it, but it is NEVER assumed. And, there are times that my Seniors will tell me not to remove a scar or something, and again, that is totally up to them!

But, we NEVER change the shape of someone's face. We have spent a lot of time and effort learning how to make EVERYONE look their best utilizing lighting and posing techniques to flatter their natural shape. The image in the article honestly makes me sad to see. They clearly not only morphed her face, but they made her look like someone she is not. She never said she was unhappy with who she is, they assumed because she had a round face that she would prefer to have something else. NOT OK. 

Our goal at my studio is to make our Seniors feel beautiful in their senior pictures, not give them body dysmorphic disorders or make them question if they are pretty. We know these girls are pretty and we want to bring that surface beauty and inner beauty out in each and every one of our Senior girls. 

What do you think?