Photoshopping female bodies has been a question of many debates. Getty Images, one of the largest stock photo agencies in the world, has just changed their rules concerning this issue.
According to their new rules, along with the submission of the images, you’ll also need to declare whether the model’s body size and shape have been digitally manipulated or not. If they have, you shouldn’t submit the images.
As FStoppers reports, this new rule came as a result of a similar law on commercial images, enforced b the French government. According to this law, those who fail to declare the alterations can pay a fine of up to €37,500 (around $44,040). Here is the full statement from Getty Images:
Important Information on Retouched Images
Effective October 1, 2017 a new French law obliges clients who use commercial images in France to disclose whether the body shape of a model has been retouched to make them look thinner or larger.
As a result, also effective October 1st, we have amended our Creative Stills Submission Requirements to require 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.
Please note that 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.
Effective 1st October 2017, any content submitted where this type of retouching has been carried out will be a breach of our Submission Requirements and your Agreement with us.
Although the new rule was imposed because of the French law, it seems that it’s applicable worldwide. It’s not clear, though, what will happen with the images submitted so far, since there must be tens of thousands of photoshopped photos.
With this new submission rule, the images that show the model’s body shape “thinner or larger” are not allowed. Yet, you can make their nose smaller, lips fuller, or change their hair color, which doesn’t seem to make too much sense. However, the body size has been the main focus of the fashion industry, and the main point of concern for the girls who don’t feel like they fit the beauty standards. Therefore, I believe it makes sense to put the focus on the body size first when it comes to the new submission rules. I see it as a very slight, but promising change towards creating positive body image. I can’t presume how it will affect the photographers and those who use commercial images, but it’s still to be seen.
[via FStoppers]
