Question

Let's say you are given the task of retouching a famous model’s photograph. To what extent will you retouch the image? In your opinion, what ethical issues should be the red line when it comes to the retouching of images?

Answer 1

As a retoucher, I believe that my job is to enhance the photograph, not to change the model's appearance entirely. Therefore, I would retouch the image to a moderate extent, removing minor blemishes, smoothing out skin tones, and adjusting the lighting and contrast to improve the overall quality of the photograph.

However, I think that it is important to be aware of the ethical issues surrounding photo retouching. One of the main concerns is that overly retouched images can create unrealistic beauty standards and contribute to negative body image issues, particularly among young people. Therefore, I believe that it is important to avoid retouching images to the point where the model's appearance becomes unattainable or unrealistic.

Another ethical issue is the potential for retouching to perpetuate harmful stereotypes and biases. For example, retouching images to make models appear thinner or lighter-skinned can contribute to harmful beauty standards that exclude people with different body types or skin tones. Therefore, I believe that it is important to be mindful of how retouching can reinforce these biases and to avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

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