Why I’m done taking “flattering” photos
As photographers, we're acutely aware that 99% of the people we work with hate being in front of the camera, so we try to reassure potential clients in various ways: this is a safe space, I won't ask you to do any silly poses if you don't want to, it helps seeing yourself through someone else's eyes, and… I promise I know what I'm doing and we'll take flattering images that will make you feel and look good.
I used to think this was a good thing to say — until I realised that in doing so, I was just perpetuating the idea that there was something inherently “unflattering” about people, and that they needed my “help” to look better.
I won't lie - this was a huge slap in the face. As someone who's always struggled with the way I look, I was horrified to realise that I'd been unwillingly reinforcing the very thing I was trying to free myself from.
Of course I want people to love the photos I take for them.
I can use lighting and composition to create eye-catching images.
I can ask people to tilt their head towards the light, or move their arm a little to make a photo more interesting.
I can run my images through Lightroom to alter colours, correct contrasts and give everything an overall look and feel that is mine, and likely one of the reasons they booked me in the first place.
But virtually saying “Don't worry, I know you've probably got lots of body issues so I'll make sure I work around them to make you look your best”… Nope. Not okay.
By default, I don't retouch images, apart from the occasional pimple, rogue strand of hair, or crease on a shirt. I don't smooth skin out and I don't make people look thinner, because it's not my place to say “I think this is what you should look like”, no matter how bad I want you to love your photos.
But conversely, if someone asked me to do any of these things… it wouldn't be my place to say “no I won't, because I think you look amazing and you should believe it too”. It's not my place to downplay and invalidate the way you feel about yourself for the sake of promoting body positivity.
We all struggle with the way we look at some point or another. We all wish we were thinner, or bigger, or taller, or smaller… And one of my priorities this year is to be more mindful of what I do and say to put my clients at ease, and how I can help them feel confident in front of my camera without downplaying the way they feel about themselves, accidentally feeding into the diet culture, or reinforcing harmful patterns. 🧡
