The New Intimacy

Pictures in reviews and filters

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Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
I think it's so great that so many people have been adding pictures to reviews lately, but something I've noticed is the use of filters on the pictures. I'm not necessarily referring to somebody giving the edges of the pictures a pretty swirl or anything like that, I'm talking about taking a picture and adding a color filter or something else that takes away from the quality of the picture overall. Sure it may look kind of cool, but if the purpose of adding the pictures is to show extra detail and the filters take away some of that detail, doesn't that almost defeat the purpose of adding a picture to your review to begin with?

I don't know really, what do you guys think?
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
I don't care what kind of filters or addition a picture has, I just like looking at it
5
I don't mind some things, but if you're taking away the ability to see any detail, then I'd rather not see the picture
62
Add a pretty edge, but don't touch anything else!
10
Don't even add the pretty edge, just upload and post the picture
45
I don't like seeing pictures in reviews at all
3
Other
4
Total votes: 129 (100 voters)
Poll is closed
09/03/2011
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Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
In my own reviews, I just upload and post a picture. I don't necessarily care about fancy edges on pictures or anything like that, but if you start adding "artistic flair" that changes how the item looks, I'd rather not see the picture at all. If all I can see is that yes, it has a specific color and a general shape, that picture isn't helpful to me. I want to see all the ridges, all the loops, all the imperfections, everything you can show me with a picture. Otherwise, why even add it?
09/03/2011
Contributor: Coralbell Coralbell
I agree, Sam. I don't mind a border, but if you're adding something that takes away from the details then you're taking away some of the picture's usefulness. I like to see pictures because they're helpful, not because they're pretty.
09/03/2011
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
I dont like anything obstructing my view of the photo. Call me a naturalist.
09/03/2011
Contributor: Peggi Peggi
I agree, I just upload the picture AS IS I don't even add any borders because I don't want anything to distract from the photo and I try to use a "naked" background as well, no designs or anything distracting. I don't like anything obstructing the view of the toy or item itself, because that defeats the purpose, in my opinion! Cropping is fine, if you need to add a border don't make it distracting, etc.
09/03/2011
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
I don't mind a boarder but filters that change the color or look do nothing for me.
09/03/2011
Contributor: Sir Sir
I don't like pictures in reviews because the formatting looks like crap. I would rather have a link to a blog post with the pictures on it.
09/03/2011
Contributor: BellaDonna2884 BellaDonna2884
I don't mind boarders but the point of pictures is to get a better understanding of the product.
09/03/2011
Contributor: Miss Anonymous Miss Anonymous
I have to agree. When I post pictures I'm like Peggi. I leave it as is, because I want you to be able to see the item.
09/03/2011
Contributor: Kindred Kindred
I'm not really sure what "filters" you are talking about. I typically crop pictures and adjust the image with software. Only recently have I used borders because I created an image with multiple pictures in a row that I wanted to be viewed together and I felt the border actually helped.
09/03/2011
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
I've never felt a need to do any editing except to make the size of the picture not overpower the whole review. (And I keep the aspect ratio locked so that nothing gets distorted when I shrink it.)

Personally, the more clear and natural a picture is, the more useful I'll find it. I've got nothing against a border, but there's not really any reason to add a filter.

Also, personally, I tend to think that one, two, or three pictures can be really helpful, but when you start having many more than that it starts to be less useful, because the pictures overshadow the review. (General guideline, of course, these things vary from review to review. But in general---less is more.)
09/03/2011
Contributor: sexyintexas sexyintexas
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
In my own reviews, I just upload and post a picture. I don't necessarily care about fancy edges on pictures or anything like that, but if you start adding "artistic flair" that changes how the item looks, I'd rather not see the ... more
Agreed, thats how I do mine. Take the pic, upload it and post it. I want to see exactly what it looks like. If you can add an edge without taking away from the picture then that's great, as long as it doesn't take away from it.
09/03/2011
Contributor: Sex'и'Violence Sex'и'Violence
I like seeing the pictures but I'm not a fan of all the different filters.
09/03/2011
Contributor: PassionQT PassionQT
I haven't noticed, other than in videos. I sometimes use an old-time movie filter, but when it comes time to highlight the toy, I want it to look exactly like it does.
09/03/2011
Contributor: Coralbell Coralbell
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
I've never felt a need to do any editing except to make the size of the picture not overpower the whole review. (And I keep the aspect ratio locked so that nothing gets distorted when I shrink it.)

Personally, the more clear and natural a ... more
I agree with your last paragraph. I like when pictures are there to point out something specific. I don't need 12 pictures showing every possible angle.
09/03/2011
Contributor: JessCee JessCee
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
In my own reviews, I just upload and post a picture. I don't necessarily care about fancy edges on pictures or anything like that, but if you start adding "artistic flair" that changes how the item looks, I'd rather not see the ... more
It really depends on the item.

I have seen effects added to pictures that actually pushed me to purchase items.. one example of this would be Stunted Velvet Elegance by ~LaUr3n~ I would not have bought these if it hadn't been for the cool edits on the pictures. In retrospect I think I only bought them because I thought her pictures made the stockings look good, and I am glad I got them.

I can appreciate anyone's effort when they take the time to include a picture, even if I don't find it particularly helpful, I still appreciate the effort they put into it.
09/03/2011
Contributor: Kkay Kkay
It depends on what it is and how it's handled. Photo editing is a delicate thing, and a lot of people unfamiliar with it plug-and-play with the default tools and feel it's an improvement when in reality it detracts from the picture.

I'm not going to step up and say no, absolutely no editing- if I had a decent enough camera to upload pics with my reviews, I'd probably tweak them- but I think that you need to pause when you have the picture in your editing software and ask yourself why you're editing the photograph and what you want to get from it.

To me, it's like fonts. There are a lot of amazingly gorgeous fonts out there, but the minute someone does an entire webpage in one, I'm running for the hills.
09/03/2011
Contributor: Silverdrop Silverdrop
I use the 'auto adjust color' button, but that's all. It almost always helps, and on the rare occasions where it makes it worse, I hit undo.
09/03/2011
Contributor: cheetahpita cheetahpita
If the editing makes it harder to see the toy or changes the details, then it would be annoying. I haven't come across any pictures like that, but the whole point of the picture is to show off the product - no point in making it harder to see.
09/03/2011
Contributor: That Man from Mars That Man from Mars
I don't really like editing at all. I guess if it's just a border that's fine, but I want to see what it really looks like.
09/03/2011
Contributor: ZenaidaMacroura ZenaidaMacroura
If I edit a pic (I haven't added many to reviews yet, but I'm working on some), it's just simple things. I like to add a small black border just to make it look a little more put together, and I will usually adjust the exposure if the picture I took doesn't do the toy justice. Also, I may adjust the exposure to show detail. For example, I'm working on a review of the Deuce harness, which is black. With a flash, the harness looked weird, but natural light wasn't enough to show detail. So I adjusted it a bit, which makes the harness look a little lighter black, but now I can see all the little details I described in the review.

I really like pictures in reviews and usually feel it's very helpful. I've never really seen a review with too many pics (so far, though I'm sure they exist). I don't mind borders, text, and things like that as long as it's not in the way, and small adjustments to color and whatnot, as long as it's actually to make the picture look more like it should.
09/03/2011
Contributor: Tuesday Tuesday
I edit pictures to try to achieve a color that's as close to the real color as possible. I'm not terribly good at that. I don't add borders. I always introduce photos with words so the pics are never touching with the exception of my Deux review. But that's a special case.

I'm not a fan of filters that alter the color or obscure the product in any way.
09/03/2011
Contributor: Kayla Kayla
I have no problems with adding items to the picture to make it more awesome, but as the picture is really meant to display the product, just don't mess with anything of the picture itself. Adding a backshadow or borders to make it awesome doesn't bother me, but most of the fillers do if it really alters how the toy was originally pictured.
09/03/2011
Contributor: Shellz31 Shellz31
I like a simple border cause it adds class to the pictures and defines them - to me it shows the person has pride in their photography enough to finish them off. Sometimes I may blur just the background so the actual toy is the main focus ... which is what it should be anyway. And that's the reason I use one simple colour blanket as my background otherwise it takes away from the subject.

My pet hate is pictures where the toy is sitting on a blanket that has loud bold colours and shapes ... it's too busy and takes away from the actual toy! Fair enough if it's of someone wearing something - ya can't help background then.
09/03/2011
Contributor: Sunshineamine Sunshineamine
I think a picture of a product is best left alone but borders are alright
09/05/2011
Contributor: Lucky21 Lucky21
I don't mind if someone is going to edit the picture to make sure it looks the most accurate, but it should be there to represent the product.
09/05/2011
Contributor: toxie m toxie m
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
I have no problems with adding items to the picture to make it more awesome, but as the picture is really meant to display the product, just don't mess with anything of the picture itself. Adding a backshadow or borders to make it awesome ... more
Yes, this exactly. I tend to like a simple border because it makes the image a touch more professional-looking (usually) but colour/light adjustment should be to make the picture clearer and more accurate, not artistic or fancier
09/06/2011
Contributor: Beaners Beaners
I don't mind making it easier to see, but I don't think adding some artistic flair is necessary. And altering a picture like adding a filter over the whole thing is just unnecessary. I do love pictures in reviews though. They're so helpful!
09/07/2011
Contributor: js250 js250
I feel the picture should be left alone. Edens has professional photos already and the personal review pics are to clarify the item, not advertise it.
09/18/2011
Contributor: Illumin8 Illumin8
Quote:
Originally posted by js250
I feel the picture should be left alone. Edens has professional photos already and the personal review pics are to clarify the item, not advertise it.
I agree with this. If it's nothing major, it doesn't bother me, but I'd rather just see the original picture.
09/18/2011