Hello All,

My postgrad graduation is coming up in December and I've noticed the photography website (Success photography) states that you can opt to have 'touch ups' done on your graduation photographs for a small additional cost. Apparently they just touch up your complexion, brighten your teeth and the whites of your eyes.

Now I don't know what to do. I would never have specifically looked for a 'touch up' option if it hadn't been mentioned, but now I'm wondering if it will just add that 'finishing touch' to my graduation photos?

On the other hand, I don't have any problems I specifically want 'covered' (blemishes etc) and I would hate it if it looked like a bad photoshop job and it was obvious it had been messed about with OR they overdid the soft focus effect and made the picture look blurry.

So... I would love to hear other peoples' opinions?

If you have opted for this in the past - how did it turn out?

I had the option on my wedding photos, I have no idea actually whether he did it or not, he did 'effects' i.e. black and white, swirly things, but I don't think he touched up me personally. THe only thing he did do was remove all the guests from 1 photo, cos I just wanted a photo of 2 people lol, it looked fab in the end.

I doubt it will look like a 'dodgy photoshop' one and I'm sure if it did you could always demand the original RAW file back.

I always look rubbish in photos, my official graduation one makes me look stupid - my best one is in the gardens outside the cathedral afterwards, taken by my hubby - much more natural!

I'd go for it.

My husband is always touching photos up - from removing snot and food from the children's faces when they were little to removing a tree that was growing out of my head on an otherwise v good photo I needed to use for a research presentation. He also is good at blurring backgrounds. I'm not sure about the ethics of it but I was happy for him to remove my double chin!

======= Date Modified 09 Nov 2010 12:15:02 =======
I needed to use for a research presentation. He also is good at blurring backgrounds.

assignment help

Won't it seem a bit unnatural when you look back on it in years to come and you look different in all your other photos?

Personally, it sounds ghastly to me.

A friend of mine got her teeth whitened with her graduation photos.  Her teeth looked odd in the photo to me. If you don't feel you need it I wouldn't...but then it's all personal preference.

I have quite bad skin and when I had the option of having my graduation photo 'touched up' I decided I would like one photo where I have normal looking skin.

I think it was Success photography who provided the photography at my graduation. I was really impressed with the results, It's not obvious it has been altered at all (other than my skin looking better).
I didn't go for the teeth brightening, so I don't know how this would turn out.

Don't do it PsychGrad! Why would you want some stranger digitally altering your image to conform with his/her ideal of beauty? Just take a natural photo and don't be afraid to let your pride and happy sense of acheivement show on your face. I'm sure you'll look gorgeous...

If you haven't got any specifics that you want altering I'd say leave it natural. I had my teeth whitened at the dentist and then when it came to grad photos they touched up the teeth even more even though I didn't request it. When the photos came through I gasped in horror when all I could see was teeth even though the picture was a headshot. Even in 'the pic with the scroll thing they do - TEETH.

It was as if my teeth were graduating and the rest of me had gone along for the ride. Remember the Friends episode with Ross's teeth? Yep. My grad photos.

I rang the company who apologised and couldn't explain why they had been touched up and eventually sent me the originals.

I chucked the other photos away in case someone looked at them in bright sunlight and detached their retinas.

But that's just my experience.