Image via Sofie Gadd
A photo agency specializing in graduation photography in the UK has stirred controversy for offering “advanced digital technology” services for its graduation pictures.
Aside from choosing the number of wallet-sized prints and whether they wanted a digital download, students who logged on to Success Photography’s website to select their photo options were greeted with a choice of a ‘Digital Slimming’ and ‘Digital Complexion and Smile Enhancement’ offer.
For the modest sum of £10, they could opt to slim down their “bulky and unflattering” photographs, and students at the University of York had a field day tweeting pictures of the offer on their graduation day.
Reactions ranged from sadness to outrage, with one student calling it a “sad snapshot of society and why many people have such low self-esteem.”
The brouhaha prompted the agency to issue a statement on Twitter, saying that the service was aimed at “reducing the appearance of the gown only”, and not the person.
What do you think—is digitally altering photographs of special occasions like graduation ceremonies wrong, or are the students simply making a big fuss considering the widespread use of photo editing software?
Being able to select to have 'digital slimming' for my graduation photo... Hysterical!! http://ift.tt/1mYlIAC
— Naomi Bourne (@Naomi_x25) February 10, 2013
Image via Naomi Bourne
Just to make clear 'digital slimming' refers to reducing the appearance of the gown only, never the individual.
— Success Photography (@SuccessPhotogra) July 16, 2014
Image via Success Photography
[via BuzzFeed and BBC, images via Twitter]