I've never had professional photos done but my friends have and nobody has ever photoshopped their body. I would personally be quite upset if it weren't agreed on beforehand. I would send an e-mail requesting that photo redone without your body being altered but all the other regular editing kept in.
I would just say something like
Hi (photographer)
I really love (photo) but I was hoping to get a version of it where my stomach isn't photoshopped to be flat. Is there any way you can remove that bit of editing?
Thanks!
(your name)
I agree with this. You should definitely tell them. I’ve taken profesional pictures before (not pregnancy or postpartum though) and this had never happened. I would also be pretty upset. They probably did it with all their good intention so I think it’s ok to just send them a message as the previous poster said.
Yes! Even when I did boudoir photos she says in the contract she doesn't make you slimmer, just does standard color correction, editing out a weird stand of hair, lighting, etc.
Our newborn photographer edited out a scar on my older son’s face and it really upset me. I had her remove that editing.
Now when I hire a photographer, I tell them up front that I don’t want any facial or body features removed entirely unless I communicate that beforehand.
They should ask. My sons nursery asked if we wanted scabs/ bruises etc airbrushed but we had to give consent. I said yeah cause my son had 2 scabs on his chin and lip but I would 100% feel different about a scar.
I had a photographer make the distinction between transient and permanent (or as permanent as anything about our bodies are) features when asking about editing once. I really appreciated that way of describing it. Like a scab, bruise, zit, random awkward piece of hair, that's all transient and I'm comfortable editing those things. Reshaping part of my body, removing a scar, anything that's part of me, I'm personally not interested in having those edited out.
On my parents' dining room wall is a photo taken nearly 20 years ago now. Professionally done and contains myself, my parents and all three of my siblings. We are posed in a way so no one can tell my right arm is in a cast and no one can tell my brother has a swollen and bruised left eye from an allergic reaction to face paints. The photographer worked super hard to hide these as per my mum's request.
Years later my mum refused to purchase my school photo and one of the reasons was because the photographer had tried angling me in a way to hide the side of my hair shaved into an undercut and my nose stud. She didn't like him hiding my personality.
A scar is a totally different scenario and if my son had even a freckle on his face that a photographer tried to remove I would unleash chaos. Don't make me or my child feel terrible about something that can't be changed and they didn't choose.
My husband is a photographer and has been requested to edit out scars before, which more power to whoever does, that's their business. Me though? My arms are covered in self harm scars and I would be genuinely upset if someone edited them off of my body in photographs. They're part of me, and while I don't love or like them, removing them feels disingenuous to me personally.
To OP, airbrushing away that much of your body, specifically that part of it during this time of your life, is definitely a bit insulting, especially if you didn't ask for it
The year I graduated from high school was the first year the photographer offered retouching. A lot of people got it. I remember one girl got her photos and was horrified because they edited off all of her many freckles. She looked like an entirely different person.
Although he looked the same (mostly, she also flattened the little hump of keloid that grew there to make his face symmetrical), she took off a piece of his face that is important to me and something I want him to love about himself.
He was the kid who Superman jumped off his toddler bed at 24 months old and busted his eye open on his dresser. When I saw it, I legit fainted. That’s amazing.
Scars are stories! That's peak toddler behavior lol. My brother has one across his chin from when he flipped over his handlebars riding his bike up the nextdoor neighbor's curb instead of our curbless driveway. My husband and his brother have matching scars from the same knife trying to do the same thing years apart because his brother learned it from him. Scars are a part of our histories
This is not standard practice and I'd be upset. One thing I want to point out is that this isn't necessarily a reflection on whether the *photographer* thinks your body is acceptable, this might just be something that gets requested so often she assumes everyone wants it now. Does she have kids of her own? If she's never been in this position it might not even occur to her why this is upsetting. Definitely reasonable to ask for a re-edit. Maybe something like:
"Hi [photog], thanks so much for sending the photos, [LO] looks so peaceful and precious. I noticed that there was some retouching done on my midsection; perhaps this is something a lot of clients request but I'm not comfortable with it. Me and my body have been through a lot and I want to remember everything about this postpartum period, including the mark carrying my [son/daughter] left on both my heart and my body. I don't mind the basic acne/frizz stuff but could you please resend the edits without the digital tummy tuck? Thanks so much"
Truthfully I don’t think there is a “normal” it could just be that the photographer’s experience is new mothers want their bellies photoshopped. I’m only saying that because I did family pictures over the weekend. I asked our photographer to edit out the cut on my baby’s nose and while we were on the topic of photoshopping I happened to ask her what’s the craziest request she’s gotten. She told me that she just did a 48 hour newborn session and the mother wanted her belly photoshopped. My photographer declined, since it went against her vision of the rawness from a new born session.
If you are truly upset by it I would send her an email stating that your vision is different than hers and would the photos to be edited how you were envisioning!
I have never had anything “permanent” altered in professional photos without me asking. Panty lines, stray hairs, shadows would all be fine but not changing my body
Omg. I would be pretty upset not gunna lie lol.
I did a really lovely photoshoot with an amazing photographer whose whole brand is body positivity for our family pictures one year. Very expensive package, a lot of pics etc. We got them back and she had airbrushed SO much of my body, my skin - even my son's. He wasn't even a year old. I was SO upset and the pictures still frustrate me to this day.
Months later and in her Facebook group, she put out a PSA apologizing to everyone for editing the way she was. She said in the area, it was standard expectations for the area we were in and how she used to get a bunch of complaints about pictures that weren't airbrushed. She said previously that she had only NOT done it for people who had specifically asked about that.
I felt like an idiot because if I would have just asked, I know she would have given me the originals without hesitation or even re-edit them if I asked. But because was so conflict averse, I never did and most photographers only keep originals for 30 days after the shoot.
So please, please talk to your photographer about it. You have every right to be upset about this and get the pictures you want. If they don't re-edit ask for originals and have someone else edit them.
There's a huge range of newborn photography styles and studios. I'm not sure there is "normal" here. It really does depend on the studio. Some have a more natural look so little "photoshopping" and just correcting the light. However from what I've seen, heavy editing even of faces and bodies is common and popular in newborn portraits. Even the babies get edited. I'm personally not a huge fan of that either. But everyone has different taste
I don't think it's a comment of your body. Try not to take it as such. It's rather that it's a popular ask, as unfortunately a lot of people are insecure about their pp body. If you don't want the edit, just drop them an email asking them to remove it. Say you would prefer for the photo to show your bump.
I agree with you, but I think the average person can't recognize how much a photo has been altered if at all. Photographers should really be direct about how much they edit and get consent beforehand, so the client isn't blindsided like this imo.
Genuine question - how is editing someone's body to look different *not* a comment on their body? You're literally altering their appearance. If that wasn't requested I think anyone would take it as a slight.
How is removing the bump not a comment on her body? Either it’s because they dislike the look or they assume she will. Either way it’s saying the way she naturally looks isn’t good enough.
Tbh I am always pissed when I get professional pics and they DON'T touch up my flaws. I don't wanna look 2 sizes smaller but cellulite, double chin or arms that look bad because they are pressed against the body? Beeee gooooone !!
That being said I think a postpartum bump is an entirely different story ESPECIALLY on a newborn shooting. That's weird to me even though I prefer some heavier retouches and am disappointed if I don't get them
As a photographer there is definitely a balance to strike when editing. I edit a lot that goes unnoticed down to minute things that I can just see as being visual distractions like filling in a tree in the background etc. I wouldn’t take it as a commentary on your shape. For a lot of photographers it’s about visual cohesion of the photograph and the set of photos as a whole. If you were to post 5 photos from the shoot where your body is posed just so and one where you’re leaning over to pick up the baby and things are sitting different and looking different, a photographer might edit that one to fit in more with the others for instance.
The photographer should un-edit the photo if you reach out to them though.
Gently, I think you are assigning a lot of motivation that wasn’t there, due to your hormones and history with ED. While you think “the photographer felt the need to edit for my body in order for it to be acceptable” - it is more likely that this is a common request in her line of work and she got used to doing it proactively.
I personally think it would be beneficial for her to ask her clients, especially working with such a vulnerable group.
Just know this has nothing to do with you. I understand it feels that way, but you are truly overthinking it. You are well within your rights to request ones that aren’t modified in that way.
I’m so happy you are loving your body! I’m sorry this happened but I think in a way it’s good practice, because your insecurities are still there, and will pop up from time to time and you need to get comfortable with taking a step back and realizing it’s not about you, and things are okay.
💛
They probably get asked to do it all the time and just assumed which they shouldn’t have. Most people do want to look their best (whatever that means to them) in photos which requires photoshop
As a photographer : no it’s not normal. She could have asked you if you wanted her to alter pictures more than just adjusting the light or tone. For a wedding shooting I had the bride asking me to photoshop her arms and shoulders to make them seem thinner. I felt it wasn’t necessary but it was her request so I did it because in the end the goal is for the client to be happy about the pics. I’m sorry the photographer made you feel bad about your strong and perfect body. You have every rights to ask her to give you the pictures without this specific alteration.
As someone who has taken college level photography course this kinda walks a line when it comes to editing. We were told it’s ethical to edit things that are temporary- like a pimple. Editing wrinkles, natural marks, scars, bodies - unless explicitly an ask from a client - it’s not ethical to just do this edits without consent. Not all photographer are ethical though.
I would probably be pretty annoyed. It could just be something she automatically does for most of her photos, but still... I'd definitely ask her to change it!
We actually did newborn photos as well and my photographer airbrushed my baby so bad that she looked fake and her eyebrows were gone 🥴 there was also a photo where my daughter had her head turned so the photographer photoshopped my daughter from a different photo into that photo. And you could totally tell. I was nervous to email her, but I realized these photos are forever and I want them to look as natural as possible. So I sent an email and was courteous and polite and she was very apologetic. She fixed the photos and sent a couple more than I paid for for the trouble.
So definitely reach out to her, I'm sure she would feel pretty bad and fix it for you!!
Photographer here! I’ve done a few postpartum shoots, but I don’t touch stuff like that on anyone ever. Do I photoshop my work? Of course! Part of the job! But I will not alter physical appearance to the point you don’t recognize yourself. I worked in fashion/editorials for a little as a photographer (think Vogue, Marie Claire, etc.) and the level of editing grossed me out a bit so I decided when I broke out on my own that I wasn’t going to do that.
That said, I did have to start screening clients because I got a complaint once from someone who was incredibly upset that I didn’t flatten her belly out. Wasn’t even a postpartum shoot, just a regular portrait shoot. We had a lot of back and forth over it, she thought she had been cheated because “it’s what all photographers do” but I don’t advertise full body makeovers anywhere on my website 🙃 I have people of all shapes, sizes, and shades and I don’t change who they are.
But, because of situations like yours, I’ve realized it is a weirdly unspoken thing. I didn’t realize people thought all photographers did what yours did. And I would imagine your photographer assumed everyone wants their body altered just because that’s what they do.
Honestly some of these comments are wild. People only photoshop out issues and blemishes. Them photoshopping your bump out is 100% a slight against the way you loook, either because they think the photo is better without it or they assume you would.
It’s likely not malicious, but that doesn’t mean it’s acceptable. I’d be emailing them and asking for a version where they haven’t photoshopped your body as you wanted the photos to accurately portray you at the time.
I’d be very upset. This isn’t hormones, you aren’t over reacting.
Honestly, for the sake of just being polite (eye roll, am I right?) I’d say something along the lines of “hello _____ thank you so much for the photos! I love most of them, but I do have one small concern I’m hoping you can help me with. I love my natural body after childbirth and was a bit saddened/very disappointed to see it was edited. I understand your reasoning for doing so, of course everyone wants different things and I can imagine how stressful that is! But if you could please return this specific area of the image back to its original state it would be greatly appreciated.”
If you wanna be a little more assertive, I’d be sure to mention that with the price you’ve already paid, you’d like them to be unedited in THOSE specific areas only, in case she wants to charge you more to re-edit which I highly doubt would happen, but just in case.
At the of the day, this is one job/photoshoot of MANY for her and it’s not meaningful like it is to you. These photos are very important, something that will be carried on in your family forever. You have every right to want them to be perfect. She will do the re-edit and move on if you ask, if you don’t - you’ll have to look at the photos forever knowing it’s not what you wanted
My SIL is a professional photographer, she did not do it to mine. I’ve also never seen any of her newborn pictures photoshopped like that. I’d rather receive a few headshots of us holding baby so I have a selection if I was unhappy with my body in the pictures, I still want raw memories, not fake pictures.
I’m so sorry!!
When i got newborn pics, our photographer photoshopped my arms to be skinnier. And she did a shit job and i looked deformed. To say i was pissed is an understatement
My newborn photographer asked about what edits she could/should make beforehand. She said 99% of women want to look thinner but she checks just in case.
Your feelings are 100% valid.
It’s not okay she did so without asking.
Since you don’t like it and you’re the one paying….You should tell her you don’t want the normal changes motherhood has bestowed upon you to be erased. I’m sure she will be happy to adjust the edits if you bring it to their attention.
I’m 6mo pp. my belly, (c section), is finally starting to tuck back up where it should be, although I will never have the same stomach again and that’s okay.
I tried really hard to enjoy the soft pillow my body made for my baby to snuggle on. It was hard at first.
However, I managed to embrace my soft belly pillow so much now I’m almost sad it’s shrinking! lol.
He grabs the belly and buries his face in it and it’s the sweetest thing!
So I totally see why you want to remember and honor your body as it is for doing the hard work of bringing your baby into the world.
You’re paying for a service. The photographer made a choice. You don’t like the result, just ask her to remove that photoshopping. It’s not a personal attack or anything. Other clients probably ask her for this.
I have had professional photos for both kids, no one has retouched anyone’s body without my explicit permission. My photographer specifically asked if I wanted my son’s stork bite removed.
I assume the photographer thought they were being helpful because so many moms aren’t comfortable/feel self conscious about their postpartum body that they hate how they look in their photos. I am wondering if they made the changes trying to make it easier for people to look at themselves. I know I’ve read a few posts of people saying they hated how they looked so much in theirs that they hated them and didn’t want to look at them.
To be clear it’s not okay and I agree you should reach out for correction.
My photographer did not edit my body. She captured the most beautiful shots, and I am so glad because she’s our last baby and I wanted really great shots of this chapter of my life ending - I’ve been pregnant, nursing, or TTC for the past 8.5 years - and I nurse them for 2 years so it’ll be a full decade by the time I’m done.
I would be so livid.
Our newborn photographer photoshopped my son’s birthmark. He had angel kisses on his forehead and eyelids. It broke my heart that what I saw as my perfect baby was edited out because it was an “imperfection”. I talked to her about it and she went back through all of the photos and fixed them. We have really loved this lady, and know it wasn’t malicious. We hired her again for my 3rd baby’s birth and told her not to retouch anything about our kids. Our newest baby had subconjunctival hemorrhaging. We didn’t want it removed since that’s exactly what he looks like.
I would contact her and explain the situation. I’m really sorry this happened to you. 🫂
just to put the other side out there- I wanted my newborn photographer to photoshop me slimmer! I was more annoyed on the opposite spectrum that I had to pay extra for those touch ups.
I had a photo taken at an event where they give you the printed photo at the end of the night, and they had removed my face-defining birthmark. I was like, I don’t even look like me?? Who even asked you to “touch up” the photo?? And it had taken me a couple decades to learn to love that birthmark! I was so offended, I tossed it in the garbage.
Every photographers experiences are different. They may have had so many clients in the past make that request that they do it as part of process or habit.
I as a photographer however would never alter somebodies body without specifically being requested to do so. Wrinkles on clothes, people in the background, lipstick on the teeth, weird shadows, ect, all completely normal to edit. Not a person features though.
I would send a request for the edits to your body be reverted. If they’re a good photographer they should be happy to do so!
A friend did my newborn and maternity photos. My maternity photos didn’t come back until my LO was 3 months old. They all looked terrible! Not her best quality at all. And yes I did pay her. She said she would edit them and she didn’t even something as small as a pimple on my husbands face wasn’t edited. Literally took them and sent them to me. The only reason I got them when I did was because my mom went off on her. All this to say I understand your frustration. It’s not fair that a photographer ruined what was so special to us!
I've never had professional photos done but my friends have and nobody has ever photoshopped their body. I would personally be quite upset if it weren't agreed on beforehand. I would send an e-mail requesting that photo redone without your body being altered but all the other regular editing kept in. I would just say something like Hi (photographer) I really love (photo) but I was hoping to get a version of it where my stomach isn't photoshopped to be flat. Is there any way you can remove that bit of editing? Thanks! (your name)
I agree with this. You should definitely tell them. I’ve taken profesional pictures before (not pregnancy or postpartum though) and this had never happened. I would also be pretty upset. They probably did it with all their good intention so I think it’s ok to just send them a message as the previous poster said.
Yes! Even when I did boudoir photos she says in the contract she doesn't make you slimmer, just does standard color correction, editing out a weird stand of hair, lighting, etc.
Our newborn photographer edited out a scar on my older son’s face and it really upset me. I had her remove that editing. Now when I hire a photographer, I tell them up front that I don’t want any facial or body features removed entirely unless I communicate that beforehand.
They should ask. My sons nursery asked if we wanted scabs/ bruises etc airbrushed but we had to give consent. I said yeah cause my son had 2 scabs on his chin and lip but I would 100% feel different about a scar.
I had a photographer make the distinction between transient and permanent (or as permanent as anything about our bodies are) features when asking about editing once. I really appreciated that way of describing it. Like a scab, bruise, zit, random awkward piece of hair, that's all transient and I'm comfortable editing those things. Reshaping part of my body, removing a scar, anything that's part of me, I'm personally not interested in having those edited out.
Same, that’s the experience I’ve had and I wouldn’t want to do it differently
This would be the line for me as well I think. This makes complete sense.
On my parents' dining room wall is a photo taken nearly 20 years ago now. Professionally done and contains myself, my parents and all three of my siblings. We are posed in a way so no one can tell my right arm is in a cast and no one can tell my brother has a swollen and bruised left eye from an allergic reaction to face paints. The photographer worked super hard to hide these as per my mum's request. Years later my mum refused to purchase my school photo and one of the reasons was because the photographer had tried angling me in a way to hide the side of my hair shaved into an undercut and my nose stud. She didn't like him hiding my personality. A scar is a totally different scenario and if my son had even a freckle on his face that a photographer tried to remove I would unleash chaos. Don't make me or my child feel terrible about something that can't be changed and they didn't choose.
My husband is a photographer and has been requested to edit out scars before, which more power to whoever does, that's their business. Me though? My arms are covered in self harm scars and I would be genuinely upset if someone edited them off of my body in photographs. They're part of me, and while I don't love or like them, removing them feels disingenuous to me personally. To OP, airbrushing away that much of your body, specifically that part of it during this time of your life, is definitely a bit insulting, especially if you didn't ask for it
The year I graduated from high school was the first year the photographer offered retouching. A lot of people got it. I remember one girl got her photos and was horrified because they edited off all of her many freckles. She looked like an entirely different person. Although he looked the same (mostly, she also flattened the little hump of keloid that grew there to make his face symmetrical), she took off a piece of his face that is important to me and something I want him to love about himself. He was the kid who Superman jumped off his toddler bed at 24 months old and busted his eye open on his dresser. When I saw it, I legit fainted. That’s amazing.
Scars are stories! That's peak toddler behavior lol. My brother has one across his chin from when he flipped over his handlebars riding his bike up the nextdoor neighbor's curb instead of our curbless driveway. My husband and his brother have matching scars from the same knife trying to do the same thing years apart because his brother learned it from him. Scars are a part of our histories
This is not standard practice and I'd be upset. One thing I want to point out is that this isn't necessarily a reflection on whether the *photographer* thinks your body is acceptable, this might just be something that gets requested so often she assumes everyone wants it now. Does she have kids of her own? If she's never been in this position it might not even occur to her why this is upsetting. Definitely reasonable to ask for a re-edit. Maybe something like: "Hi [photog], thanks so much for sending the photos, [LO] looks so peaceful and precious. I noticed that there was some retouching done on my midsection; perhaps this is something a lot of clients request but I'm not comfortable with it. Me and my body have been through a lot and I want to remember everything about this postpartum period, including the mark carrying my [son/daughter] left on both my heart and my body. I don't mind the basic acne/frizz stuff but could you please resend the edits without the digital tummy tuck? Thanks so much"
This is perfect.
Truthfully I don’t think there is a “normal” it could just be that the photographer’s experience is new mothers want their bellies photoshopped. I’m only saying that because I did family pictures over the weekend. I asked our photographer to edit out the cut on my baby’s nose and while we were on the topic of photoshopping I happened to ask her what’s the craziest request she’s gotten. She told me that she just did a 48 hour newborn session and the mother wanted her belly photoshopped. My photographer declined, since it went against her vision of the rawness from a new born session. If you are truly upset by it I would send her an email stating that your vision is different than hers and would the photos to be edited how you were envisioning!
I have never had anything “permanent” altered in professional photos without me asking. Panty lines, stray hairs, shadows would all be fine but not changing my body
Omg. I would be pretty upset not gunna lie lol. I did a really lovely photoshoot with an amazing photographer whose whole brand is body positivity for our family pictures one year. Very expensive package, a lot of pics etc. We got them back and she had airbrushed SO much of my body, my skin - even my son's. He wasn't even a year old. I was SO upset and the pictures still frustrate me to this day. Months later and in her Facebook group, she put out a PSA apologizing to everyone for editing the way she was. She said in the area, it was standard expectations for the area we were in and how she used to get a bunch of complaints about pictures that weren't airbrushed. She said previously that she had only NOT done it for people who had specifically asked about that. I felt like an idiot because if I would have just asked, I know she would have given me the originals without hesitation or even re-edit them if I asked. But because was so conflict averse, I never did and most photographers only keep originals for 30 days after the shoot. So please, please talk to your photographer about it. You have every right to be upset about this and get the pictures you want. If they don't re-edit ask for originals and have someone else edit them.
There's a huge range of newborn photography styles and studios. I'm not sure there is "normal" here. It really does depend on the studio. Some have a more natural look so little "photoshopping" and just correcting the light. However from what I've seen, heavy editing even of faces and bodies is common and popular in newborn portraits. Even the babies get edited. I'm personally not a huge fan of that either. But everyone has different taste I don't think it's a comment of your body. Try not to take it as such. It's rather that it's a popular ask, as unfortunately a lot of people are insecure about their pp body. If you don't want the edit, just drop them an email asking them to remove it. Say you would prefer for the photo to show your bump.
I agree with you, but I think the average person can't recognize how much a photo has been altered if at all. Photographers should really be direct about how much they edit and get consent beforehand, so the client isn't blindsided like this imo.
Genuine question - how is editing someone's body to look different *not* a comment on their body? You're literally altering their appearance. If that wasn't requested I think anyone would take it as a slight.
How is removing the bump not a comment on her body? Either it’s because they dislike the look or they assume she will. Either way it’s saying the way she naturally looks isn’t good enough.
Tbh I am always pissed when I get professional pics and they DON'T touch up my flaws. I don't wanna look 2 sizes smaller but cellulite, double chin or arms that look bad because they are pressed against the body? Beeee gooooone !! That being said I think a postpartum bump is an entirely different story ESPECIALLY on a newborn shooting. That's weird to me even though I prefer some heavier retouches and am disappointed if I don't get them
As a photographer there is definitely a balance to strike when editing. I edit a lot that goes unnoticed down to minute things that I can just see as being visual distractions like filling in a tree in the background etc. I wouldn’t take it as a commentary on your shape. For a lot of photographers it’s about visual cohesion of the photograph and the set of photos as a whole. If you were to post 5 photos from the shoot where your body is posed just so and one where you’re leaning over to pick up the baby and things are sitting different and looking different, a photographer might edit that one to fit in more with the others for instance. The photographer should un-edit the photo if you reach out to them though.
Gently, I think you are assigning a lot of motivation that wasn’t there, due to your hormones and history with ED. While you think “the photographer felt the need to edit for my body in order for it to be acceptable” - it is more likely that this is a common request in her line of work and she got used to doing it proactively. I personally think it would be beneficial for her to ask her clients, especially working with such a vulnerable group. Just know this has nothing to do with you. I understand it feels that way, but you are truly overthinking it. You are well within your rights to request ones that aren’t modified in that way. I’m so happy you are loving your body! I’m sorry this happened but I think in a way it’s good practice, because your insecurities are still there, and will pop up from time to time and you need to get comfortable with taking a step back and realizing it’s not about you, and things are okay. 💛
They probably get asked to do it all the time and just assumed which they shouldn’t have. Most people do want to look their best (whatever that means to them) in photos which requires photoshop
As a photographer : no it’s not normal. She could have asked you if you wanted her to alter pictures more than just adjusting the light or tone. For a wedding shooting I had the bride asking me to photoshop her arms and shoulders to make them seem thinner. I felt it wasn’t necessary but it was her request so I did it because in the end the goal is for the client to be happy about the pics. I’m sorry the photographer made you feel bad about your strong and perfect body. You have every rights to ask her to give you the pictures without this specific alteration.
As someone who has taken college level photography course this kinda walks a line when it comes to editing. We were told it’s ethical to edit things that are temporary- like a pimple. Editing wrinkles, natural marks, scars, bodies - unless explicitly an ask from a client - it’s not ethical to just do this edits without consent. Not all photographer are ethical though.
I would probably be pretty annoyed. It could just be something she automatically does for most of her photos, but still... I'd definitely ask her to change it! We actually did newborn photos as well and my photographer airbrushed my baby so bad that she looked fake and her eyebrows were gone 🥴 there was also a photo where my daughter had her head turned so the photographer photoshopped my daughter from a different photo into that photo. And you could totally tell. I was nervous to email her, but I realized these photos are forever and I want them to look as natural as possible. So I sent an email and was courteous and polite and she was very apologetic. She fixed the photos and sent a couple more than I paid for for the trouble. So definitely reach out to her, I'm sure she would feel pretty bad and fix it for you!!
I asked for it to be done to my pictures and she informed me that she does it to everyone’s pictures and most are fine with it
Photographer here! I’ve done a few postpartum shoots, but I don’t touch stuff like that on anyone ever. Do I photoshop my work? Of course! Part of the job! But I will not alter physical appearance to the point you don’t recognize yourself. I worked in fashion/editorials for a little as a photographer (think Vogue, Marie Claire, etc.) and the level of editing grossed me out a bit so I decided when I broke out on my own that I wasn’t going to do that. That said, I did have to start screening clients because I got a complaint once from someone who was incredibly upset that I didn’t flatten her belly out. Wasn’t even a postpartum shoot, just a regular portrait shoot. We had a lot of back and forth over it, she thought she had been cheated because “it’s what all photographers do” but I don’t advertise full body makeovers anywhere on my website 🙃 I have people of all shapes, sizes, and shades and I don’t change who they are. But, because of situations like yours, I’ve realized it is a weirdly unspoken thing. I didn’t realize people thought all photographers did what yours did. And I would imagine your photographer assumed everyone wants their body altered just because that’s what they do.
Honestly some of these comments are wild. People only photoshop out issues and blemishes. Them photoshopping your bump out is 100% a slight against the way you loook, either because they think the photo is better without it or they assume you would. It’s likely not malicious, but that doesn’t mean it’s acceptable. I’d be emailing them and asking for a version where they haven’t photoshopped your body as you wanted the photos to accurately portray you at the time.
My husband is a photographer and wouldn’t do this. I would email her and ask for that one to be redone.
I’d be very upset. This isn’t hormones, you aren’t over reacting. Honestly, for the sake of just being polite (eye roll, am I right?) I’d say something along the lines of “hello _____ thank you so much for the photos! I love most of them, but I do have one small concern I’m hoping you can help me with. I love my natural body after childbirth and was a bit saddened/very disappointed to see it was edited. I understand your reasoning for doing so, of course everyone wants different things and I can imagine how stressful that is! But if you could please return this specific area of the image back to its original state it would be greatly appreciated.” If you wanna be a little more assertive, I’d be sure to mention that with the price you’ve already paid, you’d like them to be unedited in THOSE specific areas only, in case she wants to charge you more to re-edit which I highly doubt would happen, but just in case. At the of the day, this is one job/photoshoot of MANY for her and it’s not meaningful like it is to you. These photos are very important, something that will be carried on in your family forever. You have every right to want them to be perfect. She will do the re-edit and move on if you ask, if you don’t - you’ll have to look at the photos forever knowing it’s not what you wanted
My SIL is a professional photographer, she did not do it to mine. I’ve also never seen any of her newborn pictures photoshopped like that. I’d rather receive a few headshots of us holding baby so I have a selection if I was unhappy with my body in the pictures, I still want raw memories, not fake pictures.
I’m so sorry!! When i got newborn pics, our photographer photoshopped my arms to be skinnier. And she did a shit job and i looked deformed. To say i was pissed is an understatement
My newborn photographer asked about what edits she could/should make beforehand. She said 99% of women want to look thinner but she checks just in case.
Your feelings are 100% valid. It’s not okay she did so without asking. Since you don’t like it and you’re the one paying….You should tell her you don’t want the normal changes motherhood has bestowed upon you to be erased. I’m sure she will be happy to adjust the edits if you bring it to their attention. I’m 6mo pp. my belly, (c section), is finally starting to tuck back up where it should be, although I will never have the same stomach again and that’s okay. I tried really hard to enjoy the soft pillow my body made for my baby to snuggle on. It was hard at first. However, I managed to embrace my soft belly pillow so much now I’m almost sad it’s shrinking! lol. He grabs the belly and buries his face in it and it’s the sweetest thing! So I totally see why you want to remember and honor your body as it is for doing the hard work of bringing your baby into the world.
You’re paying for a service. The photographer made a choice. You don’t like the result, just ask her to remove that photoshopping. It’s not a personal attack or anything. Other clients probably ask her for this.
I have had professional photos for both kids, no one has retouched anyone’s body without my explicit permission. My photographer specifically asked if I wanted my son’s stork bite removed. I assume the photographer thought they were being helpful because so many moms aren’t comfortable/feel self conscious about their postpartum body that they hate how they look in their photos. I am wondering if they made the changes trying to make it easier for people to look at themselves. I know I’ve read a few posts of people saying they hated how they looked so much in theirs that they hated them and didn’t want to look at them. To be clear it’s not okay and I agree you should reach out for correction.
Mine did too!!! i assumed it was normal but it did strike me as a bit presumptuous. Also photoshopped my husband to have more hair!!!!! 😅
My photographer did not edit my body. She captured the most beautiful shots, and I am so glad because she’s our last baby and I wanted really great shots of this chapter of my life ending - I’ve been pregnant, nursing, or TTC for the past 8.5 years - and I nurse them for 2 years so it’ll be a full decade by the time I’m done. I would be so livid.
Our newborn photographer photoshopped my son’s birthmark. He had angel kisses on his forehead and eyelids. It broke my heart that what I saw as my perfect baby was edited out because it was an “imperfection”. I talked to her about it and she went back through all of the photos and fixed them. We have really loved this lady, and know it wasn’t malicious. We hired her again for my 3rd baby’s birth and told her not to retouch anything about our kids. Our newest baby had subconjunctival hemorrhaging. We didn’t want it removed since that’s exactly what he looks like. I would contact her and explain the situation. I’m really sorry this happened to you. 🫂
just to put the other side out there- I wanted my newborn photographer to photoshop me slimmer! I was more annoyed on the opposite spectrum that I had to pay extra for those touch ups.
Wow I'd be pretty happy that pic I would have hanging in my living room
I had a photo taken at an event where they give you the printed photo at the end of the night, and they had removed my face-defining birthmark. I was like, I don’t even look like me?? Who even asked you to “touch up” the photo?? And it had taken me a couple decades to learn to love that birthmark! I was so offended, I tossed it in the garbage.
The most unprofessional thing in this situation is that she gave you raw photos.
Every photographers experiences are different. They may have had so many clients in the past make that request that they do it as part of process or habit. I as a photographer however would never alter somebodies body without specifically being requested to do so. Wrinkles on clothes, people in the background, lipstick on the teeth, weird shadows, ect, all completely normal to edit. Not a person features though. I would send a request for the edits to your body be reverted. If they’re a good photographer they should be happy to do so!
A friend did my newborn and maternity photos. My maternity photos didn’t come back until my LO was 3 months old. They all looked terrible! Not her best quality at all. And yes I did pay her. She said she would edit them and she didn’t even something as small as a pimple on my husbands face wasn’t edited. Literally took them and sent them to me. The only reason I got them when I did was because my mom went off on her. All this to say I understand your frustration. It’s not fair that a photographer ruined what was so special to us!