Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

Photographer photo shopped out my babies birthmark

25 replies

duckbilled · 19/10/2014 23:37

Hi,

I am so angry right now! I just picked up the photos from my babies photo shoot and they have removed the birth mark from her face . I can't believe they would do this, she is perfect the way she is! How dare they?? Would you complain? I don't want to seem like a crazy mum but I am so upset, it's like they are saying she isn't good enough

OP posts:

YonicScrewdriver · 19/10/2014 23:38

Yes, I would complain.

hashtagwhatever · 19/10/2014 23:38

Yes I'd complain. What a awful thing to do

mindthegap79 · 19/10/2014 23:39

I'm enraged on your behalf. I'd find that very offensive and would be demanding a re-shoot.

Vijac · 19/10/2014 23:41

Yes, I'd complain. But don't take it personally. Someof these photographers seem to want to totally wash out baby photos. Our sons face was totally photoshopped to just a washed out monochrome, we had to ask them to reverse to a normal complexion!

YonicScrewdriver · 19/10/2014 23:45

Mind, the original photos are probably on file and look great! OP just needs those if so.

Snatchoo · 19/10/2014 23:46

This was me five years ago!

I complained, the manager came and collected the portrait from me (we'd already taken it home and it took me a while to see what was 'wrong' - ID twins only one with a birthmark) and said they would get a new one done immediately, of course free of charge. He also offered for me to keep the one I had and he would give me a discount if I would prefer (which I didn't!).

I was very upset. In my case, the mark was faint and pink and could have been just where the baby had scratched himself. I was very upset, but it quickly and easily resolved.

Demanding a re-shoot? Really? This is the compensation culture making itself known I fear!

mindthegap79 · 19/10/2014 23:46

Ah good, hopefully you can get the originals. Definitely complain though!

nannynoss · 19/10/2014 23:48

Yes, contact them. It may have not been intentional, they could have thought it was a graze or bruise? I took my charge for photos before, and rolled my eyes at how typical it was that he had scratched his face that day, and the photographer just said 'oh we always edit those out anyway'

plinkyplonks · 19/10/2014 23:48

If you're not happy, definitely complain - think you may regret it if you don't!

Snatchoo · 19/10/2014 23:51

I cried that they could airbrush my perfect little baby. Brought me right down with a bump that not everyone was going to be quite so enamoured of my little darlings I think!

Defo complain.

Apols mind if I sounded snarky. I assume they have the originals, I guess you thought otherwise. Which obviously could have happened.

mindthegap79 · 19/10/2014 23:51

Snatchoo Err, no actually. This would be to ensure the OP got a true picture of her gorgeous dd, as opposed to an inaccurate photoshopped one, and would have nothing to do with the compensation culture, as you put it.

As the OP said, she can get the originals, so obviously no need for a re-shoot.

mindthegap79 · 19/10/2014 23:53

No worries Snatchoo

Original poster

duckbilled · 19/10/2014 23:55

Thank you all for the replies. I am going to calm down and give them a call tomorrow.

It is true it may of been unintentional and they were trying to be helpful, but I do want to photoshop a giant penis on her head right at this moment!!

Well a extra tight cuddle for little duckling later and a few deep breaths for me.
Thanks

OP posts:

OwlWearingSunglasses · 20/10/2014 00:00

Yes it may have been unintentional

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 20/10/2014 00:03

Yes I would, definately. I would see it as they were saying my child was not perfect the way she is. When every child is beautiful, I believe.

Notmeagain1 · 20/10/2014 01:32

I think you are right to complain. The photo industry has got into the habit of photoshopping out all blemishes regardless of what a paret wants.

Im sure they have the digital originals and should be able to get you the copies you want untouched. Good luck.

sykadelic · 20/10/2014 03:30

A girl I know has a DD with a birth mark on her face that takes over half of her face and neck, but you could be forgiven for thinking it was a rash or something like that (it is pink).

I wouldn't complain in a "you morons" kind of way, but I would speak to the manager about changing their policy to ensure parents are asked whether they want their child's image altered and of course about getting the original images, mild changes (weird shadows, a stray hair) being okay of course.

MiaowTheCat · 20/10/2014 08:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SocialFool · 20/10/2014 08:34

My parents have done this. I was injured as a very young child and left with a scar on my face. My parents went through all the photos from my childhood, scanned them onto the computer and removed the scar. Just proof that I'm not good enough for them.

I would definitely complain because she will certainly realise when she is older and sees your photos and compare it to the ones you (presumably) have on display.

CombineBananaFister · 20/10/2014 09:36

Crikey, I am totally out of touch. Wouldn't have thought anyone would photoshop anything other lighting/composure etc without the customers say so.
Seems like a recipe for disaster (that policy) and its not like its italian vogue or something - its a baby picture FGS. Am saddened that we've apparently reached the stage of having to have 'perfect' portraits not natural ones.

YANBU - i would be annoyed too at the implication that a blemish is not good enough on a picture whether it be a birthmark or scratch

Original poster

duckbilled · 20/10/2014 11:15

Thanks everyone, I just called but they don't work Mondays so I have left a message and followed up with a email explaining the situation.

I was very calm and explained that I presumed it was a misunderstanding that it was a injury, however I would much rather have the originals.

SocialFool that is exactly why I am angry about it. She is going to have this mark on her face forever and I want her to grow up knowing that it is just another part of what makes her perfect.

OP posts:

sykadelic · 22/10/2014 02:31

any updates OP?

Bulbasaur · 22/10/2014 03:36

He could have thought it was a temporary mark?

I'd call, and just ask them to redo the post work and fix the lighting on the original photos without air brushing her.

LikeTheShoes · 22/10/2014 09:27

they Photoshopped a Mole of DS's forehead with us, when we complained they asked us if we wanted the "unimproved" copy.
The school doesn't use the company anymore.

Everyotherfreckle · 22/10/2014 12:05

Oh no OP that's awful and I would complain actually - they should have asked as that sort of thing is your decision.

When DS was a baby he had terrible eczema, he had steroid cream which was amazing but you couldn't use it all the time - one of the times I did use it (apart from when it really flared up) was when he had a baby photoshoot. However, there was still some on his tummy and the photographer asked if we would like them to photoshop it out so we said yes.

Anyway my point is that even though I am (rightly or wrongly) not adverse to 'improving' a baby under certain circumstances, I just cannot believe they didn't ask you first! If they had just photoshopped out DSs eczema without asking me I would have been really pissed off!

Flip