It Wasn’t the First Time & It Won’t Be the Last

Someone called me a bitch on Facebook the other day lol

I don't think someone has earnestly called me a bitch to my face since like… high school? But truth be told, getting called names like that has never hurt my feelings. I've always loved it because when it happens to me, it's because someone didn't like that I'm a woman with opinions who speaks my mind. 🤷🏼‍♀️

But I'm getting ahead of myself; let me back up and set the scene for you.

I was scrolling on Facebook and came across this reel from a maternity photographer (not local, idk who it was–mystery photographer lol) And this was a video of her editing photos of her clients, expectant mothers, in various classic maternity poses. One hand on top of the belly, one below, that kind of thing. But she wasn't just removing spots and flyaways and smoothing their skin. No, she was fully and completely changing their body shape in Photoshop. I allllllmost kept scrolling with nothing more than an eye roll… but I just couldn't. So I stopped my scroll and left a comment, lol

“This kind of editing is what leads to women hating their real bodies that they see in the mirror every day. 😒”

Because the photo that they're getting isn't what they look like, nor will it ever be what they look like because this photographer has changed their whole body.

Then this woman comments back to me (not the photographer, just someone who wanted to pick a fight) and she asked what the photographer is supposed to do then, take their money and not fulfill their request? So I took the bait and responded, saying that I personally have values that would lead me as a photographer to refuse a request like this because a) it's irresponsible and b) it leads to body dysmorphia.

She tells me that she's not required to like 100% of her body 100% of the time, and asked if I was gonna make a stink about removing acne in Photoshop too, and told me to “stop invalidating women's feelings” 🙄 Lol okay sister. First of all, no one is required to like all of their body all of the time–and no one does. That's not an expectation.

On top of that, editing out temporary blemishes is completely different than changing someone's whole ass bone structure in Photoshop. Be for real.

She doubled down and said that I was, in fact, invalidating women's feelings and said it was grotesque. I responded and said “lmao girl you just wanna argue” To which she replied: "lmao girl you just wanna be a judgmental bitch and pretend it virtuous."

I wish you could hear the way I cackled like the Wicked Witch of the West!

She kept saying things like “let women do what they want”– girlfriend, I support women's rights and wrongs! If you wanna facetune the fuck out of your photos, that's your business. (Granted, I do think it's harmful long term, but no shame/no judgement. Live your life!)

But I am absolutely 100% shaming and judging photographers who offer this kind of editing professionally because it's irresponsible. And that's a hill I'll die on.

I feel very strongly about editing my images with a light hand.

Here’s part of one of my 30+ Google reviews on the topic of my editing style:

“I’ve had 3 different sessions, all have been different but nonetheless all have been great. I realized that you get out of session what you bring, she guides and communicates with you so that you can have the best experience possible but if you are expecting someone to make you look like a person you aren’t with lots of photoshop and faking body types she may not be your girl. She does such a wonderful job capturing your best self at that moment. You can tell she works so hard to give you the best and most comfortable experience possible. She understands that taking boudoir pictures means more than just taking sexy pictures. She empowers people! Book the session, you won’t regret it 10 years from now I promise you!”

It's always been super important to me that when you flip through your photos, you recognize yourself and have more love for what you see in the mirror too.

Click on the button below to read more about my editing process and how I approach processing your photos so that when you get them back, you see yourself.