face app, photoshop, and adjusting lighting

Billie Jay,

Well...speaking as one who used an AI version of my male self from a pic taken when I was 20, I suspect there are a lot of reasons why people do different things with photos. I, for example, don’t want to post pics of my face. Period. But I think people want to SEE a face to feel like they’re interacting with a person, hence my profile pic. The rest of the pics I put on my public photos are all me — unaltered. Just not a face. I like the AI photo because it is a feminized view of my actual facial features when I was 20 and I like to imagine what “her” life would have been. But for security reasons or vanity reasons, or reasons of shyness/embarrassment, etc, I think people are free to project what they want the rest of us to see. And I also labeled that pic for what it is in the description if you go to the public photos on the profile, so I’m also not trying to fool anyone.

People come here for their own different reasons with different attitudes and sensibilities, and I think it makes sense to be charitable about those sensibilities and meet people where they are rather than making them conform to what we want them to be. As CDers, we of all people I think should be prepared to be charitable about such things, since I don’t think whether you post 100% authentically untouched unaltered photos is a moral issue or anything.

If someone is discussing something I think might actually be immoral or destructive to themselves or others, I might speak up, but this issue seems relatively harmless to me. That’s my 2 cents anyway. I could be wrong! Lol.

God bless,
Steph

okay, then I don't see the purpose of posting an image that has your face in it at all...
for at least the first year here, I didn't post images of my face, until I was ready to go out and be with people...
Amanda was my real inspiration, and if you're wondering if her images are fake, I can assure you, she's as gorgeous in person as her most fab images...

Well, as I said, I think people naturally gravitate toward faces. It’s an encouragement to interact. I think almost all of us would say, for example, that human interaction has been hampered by mask wearing this past year. I mean, does it REALLY matter if someone’s photo is touched up or altered?

Im not going to post a photo of my actual current face because I have a beard and I have security concerns. So it’s embarrassing to me and I’m trying to remain safe and keep my family safe. Those are my sensibilities.

Im not going out with people, nor will I be going out with people en femme, so this just seems like a complete non-issue to me. You’re in your place, other people are in their own (different) places, so all should be allowed to do only what they are comfortable with doing, imho.

yes, it matters.
we have new CDs wanting to achieve the perfection they see in real time, not in virtual time.
they shave, they practice with makeup.
they try to do the best they can.
and what are they trying to keep up with?
a person with a beard?

I don't give a crap who has a beard, but I do care if they try to pass themselves off as an angel using the image of a Russian supermodel...

in my opinion, be who you want to be, be who you are. but don't pass yourself off as someone else.
be real.
even when reality has warts.

note that my opinion is NOT site policy.

Ohh, BilleJay...

How right you are! In this age of ‘fake news’ I’d rather see people who they really are than some souped up photoshopped/faceapped version of what they think they should look like!
My photos may be a little ‘treated’ but for cropping and a tad blurring what you see is what you get. Every now and then I have a real look at what I look like and I cry out! How could someone this unwomanly be even thinking of crossdressing!?
But on the other hand, every now and then... I see someone I want to be! And... I’m proud to be me.

I only post photos that portray me in my best... though my worst is not so bad nowadays!
Nobody, who would meet me on the street could say... faggot in a dress as I mean to continue with my transformation and my wife now considers my old drab self to be... dead! It makes me so happy...

Polly 💋💋💋👰🏼‍♀️🌷🌸🌺🌹

Billiejay....

As ever, when this topic comes up...it always gets very very heated, as this one will...

All I will say is this....if you ever bump into me in the street....you will certainly know, ( and probably won't forget...haha ) because everything you see on cdh.....is ME!!!!

Love to all, grace ❤️❤️

If the idea is to be real then don't wear a wig, breast forms or hip pads...we all do things to create an illusion. I'm not concerned if anyone uses Face App or any other filtering processes. I have many more things in my life to worry about other than that.

Sandy

That seems decidedly uncharitable and insensitive to me. Is this place only for people who are trying really hard (according to whose standards exactly?) to present a passable feminine appearance and all other considerations and situations are meaningless?

And once again, as I said before using myself for example, I am not trying to pass myself off as a Russian supermodel and very clearly state in the description of the profile photo that it is not real. There is no deception. Indeed, I have said multiple times in different threads that I am quite ugly.

I’m guessing most people here are smart and discerning enough to figure out for themselves which pics are authentic originals and which are not. If you can tell, I’m sure they can too.

I think it’s ironic that in a place that celebrates the illusion of presenting something we’re not that people would be upset about the fact that people are presenting an illusion of something they’re not...

Now I know why high school girls struggle so much...

I mean, again, do you not see the utter irony here? Do you wear a padded bra/inserts/breast forms/hip and butt padding/wig for your photos? If so, what about those poor folks who come on here and wish they could achieve the figure that you have or grow the beautiful hair you have? Is your standard of authenticity applicable only to one aspect of presentation but not to others?

I have used the face App to help with make up i admit but i have others that are just me. If the app changes my face to the pointbit isnt me i dont save i just delete it. I think us not perfect people like to see what we could look like with proper makeup. At least thats why ived dabbled it it.But I understand if it changes your appearance to the point of non recognition then you might as well put a total strangers face in

Well BillieJay you make a very good point, as along with some of the replies. If you present in the real world as your self then it seems odd that here you wish to have an illusion of the face you dream about. Yes we create our female illusion by pads and silicone breasts, but let's not forget, by hormones or surgery we can achieve amazing feminine resemblance. Makeup too as with real GG's can alter appearances dramatically. As with the real world we are all different and some are more cosmetically naturally blessed in the looks department, both in males and females. Anonymity and vanity play an huge part in these enhanced pictures, yes I agree they are annoying, but harmless in the sense that in reality we know that many are indeed illusions or Faceapp magic. What I find annoying is those that hide behind many disguises pretending to be different people, yet it so obvious who they actually are. And before you ask yes these are my own legs, and my friends on here know exactly how my face looks, and what I post on here  to them is genuine, because I am crap at photography. 

As someone who has done some amateur photography (and as a closeted CD)I am conflicted on this one. Personally I hate filters and photoshop. To me the art is in trying to capture "the real image." That being said my profile picture was cropped and the white balance adjusted. Where do you draw the line on image manipulation? For me, I want you ladies to have a sense of what "I" look like. However, I picked a picture that minimized my double chin! I am wearing a wig and makeup! I wish I could post more pictures so you ladies would have a better sense, but those would be "public" and what if people beyond this site recognized me? I certainly understand why members would want to use an avatar or manipulate an image to hide their identity. Besides, not everyone can get items like a wig and makeup past a SO, or have time to practice. Again, we all draw that line in slightly different places, ans as long as the intent is not to deceive for nefarious reasons, I am okay with that.