It’s no surprise that social media is full of photoshopped and heavily edited photos. However, we tend to forget that when we’re scrolling through Instagram or any other platform and we’re bombarded with pictures of beautiful-looking people with perfect bodies doing amazing things.
But the truth is, a lot of these ‘perfect’ photos are all an illusion: they’re heavily altered to make us think that the models and influencers are living the dream while their real lives might be completely different. A set of photos taken by 2 supposedly Chinese social media stars and posted online showed their fans just how powerful Photoshop is. And just how much it can hoodwink us without us being aware of what’s going on.
The influencers showed how photo editing software can make them look radically different. Both the social media stars made themselves look skinnier and altered their faces.
2 influencers showed their fans what they look like when they don’t edit their photos
Image credits: Ex Treme
Image credits: Ex Treme
Here’s what the 2 influencers look after they edited their photos…
Image credits: coeyyyy
…and here’s what they look like in real life
Image credits: Ex Treme
The difference is striking
Image credits: coeyyyy
Image credits: Ex Treme
Here’s a couple more comparison pics to show you the power of photo editing software
Image credits: coeyyyy
This is how Coeyyyy’s followers are used to seeing her
Image credits: coeyyyy
Image credits: coeyyyy
Image credits: coeyyyy
The photos went viral not just in China but all over the world after Facebook user Jevin Cheng, aka Ex Treme, posted them on his page. His post got more than 5.6k likes and more than 18k shares. But the most important thing is that his post got people talking: there are over 11k comments beneath his repost of the pics.
According to World of Buzz, the caption on the models’ social media post reads: “After being secretly photographed, I haven’t been in the best of moods. That’s why these photos never made it online after I weighed my options.”
The pics shocked a lot of people. Some said that this is the reason you shouldn’t trust any photo that looks too good to be true online. While others pointed out that this is a whole other level of catfishing (for those of you who don’t what it is, it’s when somebody lures you into a relationship using a fake online persona).
Still, there were some people who doubted that the social media stars’ post was real. They think that photos can’t be photoshopped that cleanly and believe that the pics simply feature similar-looking but different women wearing the same clothes.
What do you think about the photos and about the photoshopping culture in the age of social media, Dear Pandas? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
With those photoshopping skills they really have no need to be influencers. Those are some seriously marketable job skills!
I've heard though that a lot of them don't actually have any skills: there are apparently phone-filters that will do all of that: make you older, make you younger, change your gender, make you a cat ... or give you anime eyes and skin.
Try Camera360 or Snow, these apps will really change the way you look. It can make you face longer/thinner, eyes bigger, skin lighter and smoother. Snapchat filters are on baby level compare to these Chinese apps.
Snapchat doesn't go anywhere near this level. As a person with low self-esteem, I must say it was the worst idea to download the damn thing. Those filters are scary addictive...
A friend used Snapchat to show me what I would look like as a boy... Looked exactly like my brother! Blew my mind!!!
like snapchat... heard of it? i just found out about this app
Indeed, but if they can make money from the edited photos, it's a lot more enjoyable and profitable than to work in an office
Yes. Most definitely. They have a brick background and there is no warping or distortion of the bricks. Those are some serious Photoshop skills.
The counter's line is definitely messed up. The bricks have minimal warping.
As if they do that themselves.
The only thing there influencing is the fact that you go places if you make everyone believe your just like everyone expects you to be rail thin and unnaturally perfect.
But if a backhanded compliment no?
I find this sort of sad. Just be the way you are. And they even look miserable in the photos.
Why bother to smile when you can photoshop it
Agreed. I find it pretty terrible that A) These women feel the need to 'fake' how they look to this extent, and B) This is encouraged via clicks and money by society as a whole. Being yourself isn't a crime (yet) but it sure isn't lauded...
How is it even possible to edit photos THAT much?
Dont forget we have entire movies now that only have about 30% real people and places...the rest are shopped, edited and CGI'd....we have come a LONNNG way in photo processing tech!
You can get a Photoshop trial for free, anybody with a half decent computer could do this after watching some tutorials. Liquify tool baby
This is just an app, no photoshop skills are required...
I do this for a living. I once had a couple who paid me to take 30+ pounds off of both of them in all of their wedding photos. Over 300 images. People are nutty when it comes to the way they want to be seen publicly. That, though. Their wedding? And they looked unhappy. Especially the bride.
With those photoshopping skills they really have no need to be influencers. Those are some seriously marketable job skills!
I've heard though that a lot of them don't actually have any skills: there are apparently phone-filters that will do all of that: make you older, make you younger, change your gender, make you a cat ... or give you anime eyes and skin.
Try Camera360 or Snow, these apps will really change the way you look. It can make you face longer/thinner, eyes bigger, skin lighter and smoother. Snapchat filters are on baby level compare to these Chinese apps.
Snapchat doesn't go anywhere near this level. As a person with low self-esteem, I must say it was the worst idea to download the damn thing. Those filters are scary addictive...
A friend used Snapchat to show me what I would look like as a boy... Looked exactly like my brother! Blew my mind!!!
like snapchat... heard of it? i just found out about this app
Indeed, but if they can make money from the edited photos, it's a lot more enjoyable and profitable than to work in an office
Yes. Most definitely. They have a brick background and there is no warping or distortion of the bricks. Those are some serious Photoshop skills.
The counter's line is definitely messed up. The bricks have minimal warping.
As if they do that themselves.
The only thing there influencing is the fact that you go places if you make everyone believe your just like everyone expects you to be rail thin and unnaturally perfect.
But if a backhanded compliment no?
I find this sort of sad. Just be the way you are. And they even look miserable in the photos.
Why bother to smile when you can photoshop it
Agreed. I find it pretty terrible that A) These women feel the need to 'fake' how they look to this extent, and B) This is encouraged via clicks and money by society as a whole. Being yourself isn't a crime (yet) but it sure isn't lauded...
How is it even possible to edit photos THAT much?
Dont forget we have entire movies now that only have about 30% real people and places...the rest are shopped, edited and CGI'd....we have come a LONNNG way in photo processing tech!
You can get a Photoshop trial for free, anybody with a half decent computer could do this after watching some tutorials. Liquify tool baby
This is just an app, no photoshop skills are required...
I do this for a living. I once had a couple who paid me to take 30+ pounds off of both of them in all of their wedding photos. Over 300 images. People are nutty when it comes to the way they want to be seen publicly. That, though. Their wedding? And they looked unhappy. Especially the bride.