We’re in an age of social media and wanting our photos to stand out. So simple users turn to instant photo editing apps such as FaceTune, FaceLab, PicsArt just to name a few. These app make editing a simple photo easier than ever with a few clicks of a button. And if your’re a photographer that is struggling with editing, these apps may seem like a “quick-fix”, but relying on them in professional photography can be seen as “cheating” for several reasons!
1. Loss of Image Quality and Resolution Differences
If you’re a professional photographer you should be shooting in RAW. Not to go too far into details but its a specific file format given to photos that is dedicated to each camera / brand. A .NEF for example is the Raw file extention for Nikon brand and .CR3 is one of the file extentions for Canon brand. We all know that phone and computers read .JPG when we save images ( a.JPG is not a raw file its a compressed version).
Only certain programs such as the standard Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop can read these raws. We edit and then save in .JPG so other computers and phones can read the image file. Everytime we save a file into a .JPG the file gets compressed, loosing details in the image. Apps such as FaceTune cannot read Raw Files. So after transfer from Camera to Phone the file was compressed at least 1x. Then you edit, most exif data is stripped and you re-save, compressing that photo once again! Not to mention if you import it once again into Lightroom for a preset and then save yet again. It could go on forever….
This process, significantly reduces resolultion and quality. Sure it may look great on a small screen such as a phone, but have you blown the image up for large scale printing? For example you edit an entire wedding gallery using one of these Apps and it looks great on their phone and maybe even on smaller scale on their computer. The clients take their photo to a printing lab and want to print a large photo (20×30) to hang on their wall. All I am saying is YOU WILL HAVE AN VERY UNHAPPY CUSTOMER (for more reasons than just the resolution).
2. Value of Professional Retouching and Skill
Professional retouching done in software (not apps) such as Photoshop and Lightroom among several others, allows for controlled, high quality edits. These programs offer non destructive editing techniques that peserve image quality all while enhancing the overall image aesthetic. Using advanced editing software also says to the client, “Hey I am at an Advanced Level, I took the time to learn such software and perfectly crafted my skill”. Personally if I knew a photographer used these quick fix phone editing apps, I would not hire them. This is literally the difference between a novice vs advanced photographer. Clicking a few buttons does not make you professional by any means!
3. Lack of Authenticity
Photography is supposed to capture real moments, emotions, and details. Relying on an app that drastically alters a persons appearence can misrepresent the subject and create unrealistic beauty standards. Yes it’s ok to remove that double chin, those dark circles under the eyes and so forth but apps like FaceTune completely alter the persons image and likeness. Below is an example I did just for the purposes of this blog. Normally I edit in Photoshop but I was able to get my point across with a quick edit in Lightroom (not a preset edit either I shall add).
These are the exact same image. The one to the left (or top depending on what device you’re viewing this blog on) was edited in Lightroom, while the one to the right / bottom was edited in FaceTune. You can CLEARLY see the difference. The one edited in Lightroom looks like my client while the one edited in FaceTune looks VERY AI and not realistic. Do you see the issues I am pointing out here?
I literally tapped on 3 buttons in Facetune while I spent several minutes color grading and smoothing out skin and enhancing hair and details on the one in Lightroom. While sure the FaceTune edited image only took a few seconds compared to Lightroom, I did not cheat my way out of professionally editing a photo.
Final Thoughts?
Sure FaceTune and similar apps may be tempting for a quick touch-up, they do fall short when it comes to maintaining quality and authenticity in photography skills. For professionals and serious photographers, investing your time, money, and knoweldge into proper editing techniques ensures the best results without compromising the integrity of the image and your personal and professional reputation.
My craft with Liz Uniques Photography, you can be assured that EVERY photo is done with high care. No cheap editing apps will ever be used. I have spent over 3 decades learning various editing software from the early days of Paint Shop Pro and the original Photoshop from the 1990’s. I personally can tell if someone has used one of these apps vs using software to edit.
