Vita Brevis wrote:
Because plastic is shiny, and cleans up easily.

That's what she said!

L Foto wrote:
I got a request from a young model (15) that requested that I photoshop her photos from a TFP shoot to make her skin look smooth.  She wanted the Barbie doll look for the photo (or as I refer to it – plastic skin).   She was wanting the pictures so that she could enter them for most photogenic in a high school beauty contest.   But what I don’t understand is how a photo that has been overly photoshop can win for most photogenic.   This plastic skin look does not show how photogenic you are, or how good the photographer is, it only show that someone can use photoshop.  I have a really problem with young girls (this one with beautiful skin) want it to look fake in order to win.  Can someone enlighten me as to how fake and overly photoshoped equates with photogenic?

I can understand what you mean. But I personally like the look if it's not over done..I'm actually trying to learn more and more about it. Every single model I've known, wants that look. Really, that look can typically make most people LOOK better, I mean who doesn't want to APPEAR as if they have smooth skin? LOL. I guess it's about preference because I know I'm definitely not a fan of straight, no color corrected, portrait looking images, that have no fashionable or creative appeal. To me, it doesn't differ from Olan Mills or senior head looking images and I even hated those when I was in High school, lol. So I suppose it's preference...

Doug Lester wrote:
Because she is 15 and has no idea of what the modleing market is all about.

I think now a days, you'd be hard pressed to find MANY images in any magazine that haven't been retouched, whether it's taking out blemishes, smoothing skin, etc., etc. People who retouch them are just VERY VERY VERY good at doing it, that it's definitely not that noticeable. The whole industry is smoke and mirrors in my opinion, anyway...I've had the opportunity to meet a good number of celebs and models..95% of them very different than in the images. I don't see the difference in retouching a model's skin now a days with the computer, and how they used to do it (and still do) with filters. It's all an illusion to me.

Shan L Photography wrote:

I think now a days, you'd be hard pressed to find MANY images in any magazine that haven't been retouched, whether it's taking out blemishes, smoothing skin, etc., etc. People who retouch them are just VERY VERY VERY good at doing it, that it's definitely not that noticeable. The whole industry is smoke and mirrors in my opinion, anyway...I've had the opportunity to meet a good number of celebs and models..95% of them very different than in the images. I don't see the difference in retouching a model's skin now a days with the computer, and how they used to do it (and still do) with filters. It's all an illusion to me.

Of course all photos are retouched. I've no probem at all with that; with removing blemishes, but human skin, well human skin. It has pores, it has texture and that texture is beautiful. When skin begins to look like something made by Matel, then it's no longer human skin.  Human eyes do not 'glow', when they are P'shoped to such an extent that they look like something from Alpha Centauri, then they no longer look human. I strongly believe that models should look human. Martians, Alpha Centaurans and others who like non human 'looks' are free to disagree with me. 

The only question is that of degree. Do we remove flaws or do we remove humanity. I human skin or wax/plastic more attractive?

L Foto wrote:
Model wants plastic skin...Why?

Because that's what's in.  It's mainstream.  They do it in magazines all the time.  It's what people want it... give it to them.

For the same reason why some girls want plastic boobs.

Marko Cecic-Karuzic wrote:
Because people simply have wonderful taste, don't they?

Isn't the plastic skin look just a theme/style like anything else?  To do it right probably takes some skill on the part of the MUA.  I have seen some well-done ads on some of the fashion mags that make the models look like mannequins.  -The shots make you look twice. Sounds like a fun challenge to shoot.  I think it would be easier to do the effect with a young model with clear skin to begin with.  Everyone has different taste when it comes to art, otherwise there would be no sense in trying new and different things.  As for the 15 year old, she has a fresh new view of the world that is uncluttered with the all the expectations that us old folks have about art. 

Hmm... maybe I will try some plastic shots, any takers?

Doug Lester wrote:

Of course all photos are retouched. I've no probem at all with that; with removing blemishes, but human skin, well human skin. It has pores, it has texture and that texture is beautiful. When skin begins to look like something made by Matel, then it's no longer human skin.  Human eyes do not 'glow', when they are P'shoped to such an extent that they look like something from Alpha Centauri, then they no longer look human. I strongly believe that models should look human. Martians, Alpha Centaurans and others who like non human 'looks' are free to disagree with me. 

The only question is that of degree. Do we remove flaws or do we remove humanity. I human skin or wax/plastic more attractive?

Honestly I really don't care, lol women in photographs don't NATURALLY have red, glossy brown, lips, some don't even have fuller lips, blonde hair, brown hair, black hair, and then there's contact Lenses. Some women wear bra pad fill ins, some wear fake hair, some wear wigs, some men put socks in their pants in the underwear photo shoots. There are so many ways to photo shop, and retouch skin that I'm not really getting a clear view as to what you mean. But it seems you're really passionate about it, I say just don't offer it and it'll be one less thing you have to do I suppose.