topic Re: Before & After Pictures! in Community Chat

Before & After Pictures!

Q4u — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 15:23:48 GMT

If TPTB are going to show before and after pictures and want the after picture to always look thinner and better than the before picture, make sure that when the photos are taken that the optics in the background (window panes, accessories, etc.) behind both photos are the same size! Seriously, when looking at swimsuits or body shapers the background in the after photos are always smaller in proportion in comparison to the before pictures (and never the other way around).

Also, the item being compared does not affect the neck, width of the face, top of the upper arms, shoulders, etc... which all are larger (in comparison) in the before pictures. Both photo backgrounds as well as parts of the body that are not affected by the garment should remain the same in both photos but always look smaller in the after photo...!

It's probably my number one gripe. If I can see what they're doing, I'm sure others can.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

missy1 — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 15:38:33 GMT

Same with hair products. Before picture looks like the model rolled out of bed. The after picture the model has her hair washed and professionally styled (not air dried).

Sometimes I think food vendors show a better product on air, then when you get it delivered to your home. Bigger portions, etc. The chicken guy adds stuff to the breaded chicken to make it look more appealling.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

millieshops — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 15:47:17 GMT

No matter what they do, for anything fitted, I'm always going to buy locally until I can't

I use the models to get an idea what I might try on as opposed to what I might buy. No matter the gimmicks, I know I'd try on the type of swimsuit with the shorts, but I wouldn't give a second look to the one they followed it with - the one with the sexy rim of bikini showing. Doesn't matter which I like; it matters what my body tells me.

By the way - switching from skimpy color block to fluffy printed makes a much greater difference than any background ever could - and I assume that's their point. Still doesn't make me want to shop for a swimsuit online - not here, not anywhere.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

StillFuntoShop — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 15:49:21 GMT

Most of the before and afters insult your intelligence.

The Breezies and hair ones are the worst for me.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

DJs mom — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 16:11:50 GMT

The before & afters for hair products are a joke. Why not show a professional styled before pic w/o the product being sold and a professional styled after pic with the product? Showing someone whose hair looks like she just rolled out of bed as a before and then her styled by a professional as an after doesn't convince me to buy.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 16:20:54 GMT

In all cases, they want to show a dramatic difference .... and sometimes what you see is too good to be true.

However, there can still be an "improvement". Honestly, I don't pay much attention to before and afters.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

ChynnaBlue — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 16:24:11 GMT

@missy1 wrote:
Same with hair products. Before picture looks like the model rolled out of bed. The after picture the model has her hair washed and professionally styled (not air dried).

Sometimes I think food vendors show a better product on air, then when you get it delivered to your home. Bigger portions, etc. The chicken guy adds stuff to the breaded chicken to make it look more appealling.

Yes. I totally ignore all hair Before/After pictures because I don't care what the product is, the AFTER is almost always about having a professional stylist and not the shampoo/conditioner/cleanser used.

I use WEN products, but I know I will never have hair like a typical WEN model because I am never, EVER going to spend time blowing my hair out. I'm good with that.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

LilacTree — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 16:24:56 GMT

I've never noticed the backgrounds, but I always think the "before" looks better than the "after."

Re: Before & After Pictures!

tends2dogs — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 16:50:25 GMT

One of the things that has always bothered me in before and after are the products for skin care. They alway seem to have the model with a slight smile in the before. Of course, this is going to cause the crowsfeet and mouth lines to look more prominent. Then the after picture has the model with a completely serious, straight faced look which tends to smooth out the lines.

Bugs me........LOL.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

YorkieonmyPillow — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 17:09:05 GMT

With make-up demos, the light is always different colors.

Usually the "before" photo is lit with yellow lighting - I assume it makes the skin look sallow.

The "after" photo is with the yellow removed, a more bluish color.

Plus a lot of times in the "after" photo, they add eyeliner and blush where in the "before" they had no make-up at all.....

Re: Before & After Pictures!

Spurt — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 17:12:49 GMT

@LilacTree wrote:
I've never noticed the backgrounds, but I always think the "before" looks better than the "after."

@LilacTree Me Too LILAC TREE sometimes the BEFORE on the skin care products do look BETTER than the AFTER photos....LOL!!! Or the difference is so tiny its hardly noticeable...

Re: Before & After Pictures!

HappyDaze — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 17:27:22 GMT

I often think the before in the makeup demos are much better than the afters. I guess I am someone who prefers a less made up look or a more natural makeup look on most women.

I've never noticed the background either. I do notice if the lighting, angle or their expression is different.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

panda1234 — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 18:52:28 GMT

@missy1 wrote:
Same with hair products. Before picture looks like the model rolled out of bed. The after picture the model has her hair washed and professionally styled (not air dried).

Sometimes I think food vendors show a better product on air, then when you get it delivered to your home. Bigger portions, etc. The chicken guy adds stuff to the breaded chicken to make it look more appealling.

And they use smaller dishes, like a butter plate.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

dex — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 19:26:07 GMT

I think good camera work and lighting makes a better after shot than makeup or skincare.I always think people never really age in front of the camera.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

Q4u — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 19:55:15 GMT

I agree with all of you that there are "tricks of the trade" in order to have a better after picture but my particular gripe is the camara work they are doing in order to shrink the photo (or enlarge it) ever so slightly in order to have the before look slightly bigger and the after look smaller.

I remember one of the model Carrie modeling a shaper under her clothes. I expect them to pull up the dress and have it bunch around the waist, etc in the before and to have her look exceptionally smooth in the after. What I noticed during that one was that her upper arms were heavier in the before, her neck was wider, her face was wider and she had an overall larger look in the before than she had in the after. The after looked overall less heavy. It was subtle but the difference was there.... This was a small difference but I saw it and had to laugh......The only way to do this is to stretch the before photo ever so slightly horizontally (not vertically). It's done all day long in photoshop......

They would be better off without any before and after shots, especially with so many of the customers "seeing" the difference.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

shaggygirl — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 20:26:06 GMT

IMO the hair product demos are the biggest farce of them all. One model shampooed and that's it, nothing else nada. Hair looks fried. Then the product being sold, whether the cleansing conditioner seller or the shampoo plus conditioner sales folks. They use their products on the hair then they're all blown dry and styled by the pro. Guess they think we're dumb. On the other hand, it must be working for them, they're all making boucou bucks.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

Caligurll — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 20:39:30 GMT

There arr some before and afters where without the photos being labeled I wouldn't be able to tell whch is which.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

SunValley — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 21:15:30 GMT

The before and after swimsuit shot this morning was laughable. I have never seen a flesh colored body suit sold anywhere as a swimsuit (other than maybe a long ago PE class--the most effective contraceptive ever had to be our college PE swimwear.). Everyone would look horrid in that thing, let alone in a size too small. It just made the presentation seem less credible.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

DoneTryin — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 21:20:13 GMT

I have to laugh every time I see any of them. With the Breezies, well, just put the wrong size (too small) & wrong type (lacy under a smooth top) & it will look bad every time.

The ones that really, really irritate me are the ones for hair care & appliances. In the "befores" you can tell they just flattened down their hair, then it's suddenly full of volume after using the ____ (fill in the blank). One that's really obvious is the silver-haired model they use for the Calista styler. It's quite clear that she has thick hair that's full of body. The only way I'd believe any of these would be if they pulled someone out of a live audience & styled up their hair without having them go backstage for anything.

Re: Before & After Pictures!

Q4u — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 22:10:47 GMT

I agree with the poster who said that there are often befores and afters with absolutely no difference whatsoever....

I was watching the bathing suit presentation this morning and the befores and afters just brought it all back to me.....