So now we gotta look like aliens? This is the beauty standard??

thought you'd seen it all when it comes to influencers and celebrities editing their bodies for social media? think again! enter 'lens distortion', the sneaky new photographic technique that influencers are using to manipulate their bodily proportions for social media - and they cant even be caught out for it. because technically theyre not editing their body, the camera is doing it for them!

this is just a mini video, but its something to be aware of when you're scrolling social media. be mindful of the content you're consuming and be aware of digital manipulation so that you dont fall into the trap of comparing your own beautiful body in its reality, to the fakery online.

love ya x

[soulfoodsmama]

Landlords have been using lens distortion to skew the proportions of apartments and trick people for ages now the influencers have caught on. 🤦🏽‍♀️

[llkoolbean]

I think there's a difference between shots that are artistic and fun ( which have always been utilitized since the inception of photography) vs. trying to alter proportions for non artistic reasons.

[coraholunder]

As a photographer I have to say lens distortion can be a very fun and creative thing to play around with. If a celebrity uses it all the time and in a way that is not super obvious to their young fans though then you are absolutely right. But also if you like your face in the mirror but not anymore when you try to take a good selfie then that is lens distortion working against you. A selfie stick or a tripod and a bluetooth remote shutter can help in those situations to get more distance between you and the lens to create a more realistic image of your face. And a lot of YouTubers too probably just don't know enough about the cameras they are using. I've seen a lot of too big heads here too.

[phaikia]

Photoshop and tiktok / instagram have ruined entire generations.

[daniellecolbeck]

Normalization of distorted images merely exasperates societal body dysmorphia.

[fawnadeer]

Thank you for including Dua Lipa in this. For a while, I used Dua as "thinspo" for my disordered eating. Seeing her regular body made me feel better about myself

[baby.nay.]

I studied photography for college and thought I wanted to do fashion photography. This was a trend in high fashion photography in the late 90s/early 2000s, same era that praised extreme thin bodies in that industry. Feels like hiding behind high art when it’s that extreme, but this has been happening for most of photography’s history.

[olivia-bmmz]

Stephanie as a girl whos into weightlifting and the gym rat social media scene I would love if you could do a video about lense distortion / photoshopping / body surgery when it comes to female fitness models and influencers! I have had to unfollow so many accounts that I tried to use as motivation or inspiration because I've realized almost every single photo has been altered. Most use some sort of "bubble lens" on it to make the models bum bigger and waist smaller (or straight up BBLS that they are trying to pass off as "hard work" or results from a training regime they're promoting). Its honestly very toxic when it comes to a community that's based on pure and healthy morals that are being corrupted with a ton of fakeness (especially when it comes to standing out so you can promote products). I also feel like others would benefit from the exposure of this sneaky editing as well, especially since body dysmorphia is already a big issue in the gym community. Much Love <3

[ArYaMdI]

I always wondered why Dua looked so different in performances or events but in her photos she looks like a doll.

[MNiki]

This reminds me of the Steve Madden commercial in the 90's, the big heads, small bodies and the heroin chic look. Please love your body and don't let these celebrities look make you insecure about looks, love the skin you're in❤

[dinasilva]

My beauty Standard is being happy and a good person. I love your vídeos. 💜

[ripwednesdayadams]

i said it once and i’ll say it again— if her head is bigger than her waist it’s not real.

[davinahamers]

These pictures are not only dangerous for young girls and woman but also for boys/men. They also get an unrealistic vieuw on how woman should look!

[cguibcx]

Dua Lipa is literally the standard of beauty I have been holding myself to for years now, so seeing those paparazzi shots just instantly cured my body dismorphia.

[smolcutie]

I see most of lens distortion pictures as more artistic in nature than majority of pictures we see of celebrities. In my opinion it's like comparing a realistic painting to an avant-garde painting.

[TheZchristina]

Your content is like a palette cleanser after hours of social media scrolling

[electron-Volt]

life without social media is possible!

[lisarettenbacher]

As a photographer I feel like this technique is chosen as a stylistic tool to create a certain editorial/fashion look. Not to appear more skinny. Photographers know which lenses are "suitable" for portraits, but we like to break the "rules" to create more interesting pictures. I have certainly used this technique. Never with the thought of making the model skinnier! But to create a more interesting photo for the viewer.

Also if you are using your phone to take pictures of yourself, you would also be "guilty" of lens distortion. If you just use the standard default lens, it's a wide angle lense and also has lens distortion. (I am not talking about the zoom on your phone)

[beate]

I just wanna say that i get your reasoning about it affecting a lot of people (myself included) but theres nothing wrong with posing in a specific way to look different or better. Like how ringlight or certain ankles help show something off. If i had the tools i would definetely take photos like this because they do look really good! and im not the most photogenic person in the beginning.

Also, from an artists point of view, these photos are very expressive and just nice to look at. They show off so much more personality and action than just a normal pose could do

[amira]

Bella Hadid, Cindy Kimberly, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner etc... are not a good examples or role models for any one especially young girls it's always good to take a social break I remember when I use to cry in my bathroom cause I didn't look like these women. Remember to love yourself and remember not everything you see on social media is real