Celebrities Without Photoshop: Is This What They Really Look Like?

By Jo Piazza Posted Apr 20th 2010 07:15PM

Photos au naturel are all the rage this month as celebrities strive to exploit their "realness" by refusing to be airbrushed in pics, releasing the untouched versions of photographs that have been digitally altered and, in the case of Jessica Simpson, eschewing makeup all together for a cover shot for Marie Claire magazine.

But just how "real" are the pictures? This isn't how Kim Kardashian looks when she wakes up in the morning. The amount of effort put in by makeup artists and talented photographers, who can manipulate angles and lighting in ways that would turn a toad into a princess, still means these photographs are above and beyond what these women look like in real life.

"A small army of people can make anybody look good, even if they're not being retouched, with hair and makeup and lighting and good direction, you can't not end up with a good photograph," explains celeb stylist Robert Verdi, the delightfully bitchy star of 'The Robert Verdi Show.'

Kim Kardashian, Joy Bryant and photographer Amanda de Cadenet recently stripped down for the May issue of Harper's Bazaar. The ladies abstained from photoshopping and retouching for the spread in order to "accept their insecurities and reveal their most intimate thoughts."

Their most intimate thoughts? Whatever. We do want to give a big applause to Kim for abstaining from digital retouching. There is a slight indentation in her waist and a line or two on her belly that probably would have been scrubbed out. Maybe her famous booty would have been made a tad smaller or some boob spill-over removed. To be entirely honest, we can't think of much that would need to be corrected in Kim's naked spread. She looks pretty darn amazing.

That's because of the small army Verdi was talking about. Before a picture is even taken there are at least four hours of makeup. And that makeup isn't just going on the face.

"No one goes for the old school idea of the spray tan anymore. They literally put makeup on their body, like Dior's AirFlash Spray Foundation. It's like wearing nylons all over your body. Actresses have veins just like everybody else, but you put this makeup on and get an airbrushed look before the airbrushing. It erases lines, bumps, veins and razor burn and makes your skin glow and look really youthful," says longtime celebrity stylist and beauty expert Mary Alice Stephenson.

When Britney Spears released the untouched versions of her shots from a 2009 Candies ad, we saw a bruise that hadn't been covered by makeup was airbrushed away and it looks as though she was given a whole new butt, but she still looks beautiful. That's because a lot of the glitz, glamour and work that goes into creating the perfect photo happens before it gets airbrushed.

"Just by picking the proper shoe, you elongate the leg and can look leaner and meaner and more in proportion," Stephenson says. "Then you get into hair and makeup and that process takes up to four hours. Makeup artists know how to completely change the dynamic of a woman's face. And in most of these photos, hair is added. Rarely does anyone come to a set and just get a blowout. They have mohair pieces added to make their own hair look fuller and more luxurious."

Jessica Simpson Marie Claire

Jessica Simpson appears on the May cover of Marie Claire without any makeup and what she promises is air-dried hair. She still had the advantage of good lighting and a photographer who knew how to work the right angles of her face.

"Without retouching, lighting can make you look 10 years younger," Stephenson says. "I've worked for 20 years with every star in the world and these women know their best angles, their worst, what they want to highlight and the photographers do just that."

Why the rush to give up the retouching and try to show America their flaws? Because perfect people are annoying.

"These women are trying to relate to their audience of real women. Women connect with someone who is imperfect, and as girls like Kim want to sell products to real women they need to find a way to make themselves seem like they have flaws too," Stephenson says.

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Tags: britney spears, jessica simpson, kim kardashian

Comments

(124)

Wednesday 21 April

By Dan

Vote down Vote up Report this

I'd do anyone of them.

By Katie

WHY?????

By gary desarro

Kim Kardashian is a heathen HO...whether they touch up her nude picture...or whether they untouch her nude pictures. She should only go nude in front of a HUSBAND.

It is no wonder that our kids have a skewed view of life. Very few people look like Kim Kardashian, and those who do value themselves too much to pose like that. Can she make money any other way? >>>>Oh yeah!

By dodah001

Her daddy defended "garboons", and her and her sister support da "garboons" wid dere bodies. LOL

By Troglodyte

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

It is nice to see a pretty girl without tattoos. It is rare these days.

By c.b.

she should really get enough of takin naked pics after what ray jay did to her!

By Chris and Craig

why does Brittney have a camel-toe in the crotch in one picture and a smooth crotch in the other? Did some guy enjoy airbrushing her vagina? lol.

By BIG MAMA CAROL

To hippyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

By kmaa

If this Kim girl is not altered, they why in the world does she not have any lines from wearing a bathing suit? She was photographed in a Miama shot sitting pool side sun bathing. The last time I sun bathed, it only took about 15 minutes to get sun tan lines on my body. I guess her eyes are "naturally 2 inches thick with makeup".. Plus, did you ever wonder why the rest of us when we take a photo, all of our veins on our arms, neck, and other parts of our body show up and yet these celebrities always have perfect skin, all the same exact color and no veins anywhere? The photos are either altered or they are all zombies...

By Reece

This Stephenson guy just sounds like a prick...who cares if people want to younger. It's a personal preference. I applaud Kim and others for not being photo shopped and especially Jessica for not using makeup or fake hair. Face it people, they're still good looking despite poking fun at them. When you photoshop is when you get unrealistic results that cause young women to be bulimic, ect. But, when you take that away, you can attain the resulting persona if you really wanted to. Go get the fake hair and put on your makeup if you want it ladies, personally, i don't give a damn. But, don't be a bunch of haters! That's what really makes people ugly! Give credit where credit is due and just leave it at that. Just my humble opinion -Reece:)

By L.J.C.

Beauty is only skin deep! But Kim looks very deep. We all have to admit, airbrush or not, she is what most women would like to look like. Really Great!

By Phil

Who are these Kardashians and why are they on my screen?

By gabby

Hey celebs are always gettin there pictures taken at there worst why not get them when there at there best even tho its airbrushed..:)

By George

i love women for the way they are naturally, real men get turned on by womens imperfections, now thats hot

By Terri

My sister and I like you George...You are a real man!!!!

Thursday 22 April

By Mel Rose

I LOVE YOU, GEORGE!

By Jeff

What the hell is a Kardashian and who really gives a damn.

By DaisyB

These women are beautiful and i agree with Tiffany...These women are not average women. I think we, as a society, need to help our young and growing females that the power of their gender is not always tied to how "sexy" they can look but instead look into their character and achievments.

By kd

Honestly I think evry1 here putting ppl down are all haters u guys should post pix of urselves I doubt u guys look half as good as thz ppl...Quit hating and gOO Work out!!

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