![](https://funtechnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-modified-Kate-Middleton-photo.png)
![kate middleton photoshopped](https://www.diyphotography.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/kate-middleton1.png)
![kate middleton photoshopped](https://www.diyphotography.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/kate-middleton1.png)
I woke up the other day and turned on the news. One of the big stories of the day was the controversy about a modified image of Kate Middleton and her family. Being a photographer, I was highly intrigued by this story.
By now, most of you have seen the image.
![kate middleton photoshopped](https://www.diyphotography.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/kate-middleton2.png)
![kate middleton photoshopped](https://www.diyphotography.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/kate-middleton2.png)
At first, people were talking about one or two areas of the image that were manipulated. Now that a couple of days have passed, experts have located many areas of the photo that have been retouched.
But my question is: Why is this such a big deal?
I can tell you that every family portrait I have ever taken has been retouched to one extent or the other.
Here is what I am typically modifying:
- Adjustments to exposure, shadows, highlights and white balance (if needed)
- Removal of fly away hairs that are distracting (either going through the face, flying into the air, or going into another person)
- Removal of dust or pet hair on people’s clothing
- Removing skin imperfections (bad acne or shaving cuts)
- Removal of strings hanging off clothing
- Removal of distractions in the background (bright spots, exit signs, polls)
And sometimes I will even do the following:
- Whitening of eyes if needed
- Lightening of wrinkles (typically around the eyes)
- Head swaps (if a person had their eyes closed in a group shot)
During the CBS newscast, one of the anchormen said “I don’t understand why any photo needs to be retouched” to which I laughed. I am sure that this same person has plenty of portraits that have been taken and modified, whether he knows it or not.
I have said this many times in the past. I think that every photo needs some retouching, in one form or another. So I don’t understand why people are making such a big deal about this photo. Kate Middleton is known for being a photo enthusiast and she has taken many of her own photos in the past. But she is not a professional, and would not have the same Photoshop skills as we would. It looks to me like she was making the same modifications I would do, but just not as proficient at the process.
Yes, she is a royal which means that the spotlight is on her and her family. But is this photo controversy really worth the scrutiny that they are putting her through? I think that there are much bigger and more relevant issues in the world.
I just thought I would put my thoughts out there. What do you think?