It's 2017, and by now we all know that everyone from Beyonce to your first year roommate retouches their photos. Whether its a worldwide fashion campaign or an Instagram photo with under 20 likes, it's now unheard of for a photo not to be retouched in some capacity. The editing of photos, especially in the media and on social platforms have drastically changed today’s beauty standards… and not in a positive way. However, some companies and change-makers are fighting back, sick of a society where natural things like body hair, acne, scars, cellulite, fat and blemishes are considered a taboo.
Getty Images iStock is the latest company to get on board the anti-photoshop train. USA Today reports that the stock image giant has recently emailed contributors, requesting "that you do not submit to us any creative content depicting models whose body shapes have been retouched to make them look thinner or larger.” This is a great step forward in the fight against the distorted way that the media currently approaches body shape, and is a step in the right direction in ensuring that real bodies are shown on a variety of platforms.
However, there are a few issues with this to be noted. The first, and the most obvious, is that it still does not encourage body diversity, and still gives contributors the option to only use a model with a certain “look,” if they so choose. While the models may not have photoshopped bodies, their natural bodies still may comply with the current beauty standards, which are generally not size-inclusive. The second troubling issue is that the fight is currently only against the photoshopping of model’s bodies. The email went on to specify "other changes made to models like a change of hair color, nose shape, retouching of skin or blemishes, etc., are outside the scope of this new law, and are therefore still acceptable.” While I applaud the company for fighting against an unrealistic body image, it is still allowing for an unrealistic, edited ~beauty standard~ to still take place.
Getty sent a statement to i-D, explaining their actions behind their recent request “As a leader in visual communications, Getty Images upholds the responsibility to ensure accurate and authentic visual representation. Our perceptions of what is possible are often shaped by what we see: positive imagery can have direct impact on fighting stereotypes, creating tolerance, and empowering communities to feel represented in society. That's why over the last several years, Getty Images has made a concerted effort to change the way women and other marginalized communities are represented in media and advertising.”
While Getty and their recent rule, has some flaws, I commend the company for taking a huge step in the right direction. With such a large collection of stock photos and contributors, they are sure to make a huge difference!