When is photoshopping okay on a bed and breakfast website?

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J

JBloggs

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When there is a power line or bright red hydrant that distracts away from the main image in a photo (header or otherwise) on the website
When there is too much clutter in the image, easier to air brush over a few things
When the colors are not vibrant enough, to just freshen things up a bit
other...
none...
 
TheBeachHouse said:
We have had this debate in my family. Interested to hear the input..
Click to expand...
TheBeachHouse said:
We have had this debate in my family. Interested to hear the input.
Click to expand...
Beachie what was the debate? Care to share?
Over a slight "touch ups" or making things overly photoshoppy? Sometimes that doesn't bother me as much as hiding something does. In other words, over photoshoppy is being creative and it looks pretty, vs just hide the big dumpter parked next to the inn, or something. For that, it should be, imo, a creative ANGLE for a photo. ie zoom in on a andirondack chair vs taking the whole view into the image.
 
I would say to remove extraneous stuff like power lines/cords/the A/C unit if it's ugly. Brighten the colors when the photos just aren't vivid because of bad lighting. To make the photo more appealing. I often crop a lot out of photos to focus on an element in the room.
I'd love to crop out the B&B next door! ;-) You can really only see parts of it and not the sign.
I do close the drapes/blinds if the view is not good, ie the inn next door!
Taking out cars in the parking lot? Sure. Putting in windowboxes or flowers that are never going to be there? No.
Photoshopping IN things that aren't there or laying out your photos in such a way that implies something is there that is not like a lake or something, no no no.
I think EN took out SS's hairdryers that were attached to the wall, great improvement in the photos because those were a distraction. But, not a big deal when actually in the room. So that was ok.
Taking out something that might be a real problem like RR tracks? I don't think it's a good idea to do that. Photoshopping out the neighbors' kids' toys? Yeah, ok, because they are not going to be there all the time. 'Repainting' the neighbor's dirty house? If it's just dirty, ok, if it's a falling down dump, don't get it in the photo in the first place. Altho, that's probably what you're talking about. But we can't pick our neighbors and if everything else is ok, a lot of people will ignore the unsightly house or car on blocks.
Adding 'creative' like your sparkly snow scene? Cute.
As a side note...how about the things we use in the photos to perk the room up? Flowers, a setting with wine, things like that. Does that imply those things will be waiting for you? (We don't do flowers so if I put them in a photo is that deceptive?) Do I have to put 'serving suggestion only' on the photo? ;-)
 
Madeleine said:
I would say to remove extraneous stuff like power lines/cords/the A/C unit if it's ugly. Brighten the colors when the photos just aren't vivid because of bad lighting. To make the photo more appealing. I often crop a lot out of photos to focus on an element in the room.
I'd love to crop out the B&B next door! ;-) You can really only see parts of it and not the sign.
I do close the drapes/blinds if the view is not good, ie the inn next door!
Taking out cars in the parking lot? Sure. Putting in windowboxes or flowers that are never going to be there? No.
Photoshopping IN things that aren't there or laying out your photos in such a way that implies something is there that is not like a lake or something, no no no.
I think EN took out SS's hairdryers that were attached to the wall, great improvement in the photos because those were a distraction. But, not a big deal when actually in the room. So that was ok.
Taking out something that might be a real problem like RR tracks? I don't think it's a good idea to do that. Photoshopping out the neighbors' kids' toys? Yeah, ok, because they are not going to be there all the time. 'Repainting' the neighbor's dirty house? If it's just dirty, ok, if it's a falling down dump, don't get it in the photo in the first place. Altho, that's probably what you're talking about. But we can't pick our neighbors and if everything else is ok, a lot of people will ignore the unsightly house or car on blocks.
Adding 'creative' like your sparkly snow scene? Cute.
As a side note...how about the things we use in the photos to perk the room up? Flowers, a setting with wine, things like that. Does that imply those things will be waiting for you? (We don't do flowers so if I put them in a photo is that deceptive?) Do I have to put 'serving suggestion only' on the photo? ;-).
Click to expand...
Madeleine said:
I would say to remove extraneous stuff like power lines/cords/the A/C unit if it's ugly. Brighten the colors when the photos just aren't vivid because of bad lighting. To make the photo more appealing. I often crop a lot out of photos to focus on an element in the room.
Click to expand...
Photoshop "enhancement" or in our case innhancement. :) Cropping, covering, brightening is not an issue.
Speaking of next door, if there is one thing I would ALWAYS crop out of a photo it would be a red car parked in the parking area of a B&B...you KNOW that red car! In fact pack the lot with cars or remove one red bulls eye target of a red car.
I just saw the other day, the blue truck is gone! The lady must have died, it has been in every photo showing across the street since we first looked at this inn! EVERY PHOTO! I have an expertise of taking photos AROUND to ignore that truck! avert the eyes FROM that truck,,,anything but that dang beat up old truck!
 
Here is a photo of some kids at a state park, I happened to see "activity" on the image = if you can view this: PAGE DOWN and see what came of this simple photo, photoshopped. It will take a second to show you...the "Enhancements" which is not actually what I would call it. :)
 
Joey Bloggs said:
Madeleine said:
I would say to remove extraneous stuff like power lines/cords/the A/C unit if it's ugly. Brighten the colors when the photos just aren't vivid because of bad lighting. To make the photo more appealing. I often crop a lot out of photos to focus on an element in the room.
I'd love to crop out the B&B next door! ;-) You can really only see parts of it and not the sign.
I do close the drapes/blinds if the view is not good, ie the inn next door!
Taking out cars in the parking lot? Sure. Putting in windowboxes or flowers that are never going to be there? No.
Photoshopping IN things that aren't there or laying out your photos in such a way that implies something is there that is not like a lake or something, no no no.
I think EN took out SS's hairdryers that were attached to the wall, great improvement in the photos because those were a distraction. But, not a big deal when actually in the room. So that was ok.
Taking out something that might be a real problem like RR tracks? I don't think it's a good idea to do that. Photoshopping out the neighbors' kids' toys? Yeah, ok, because they are not going to be there all the time. 'Repainting' the neighbor's dirty house? If it's just dirty, ok, if it's a falling down dump, don't get it in the photo in the first place. Altho, that's probably what you're talking about. But we can't pick our neighbors and if everything else is ok, a lot of people will ignore the unsightly house or car on blocks.
Adding 'creative' like your sparkly snow scene? Cute.
As a side note...how about the things we use in the photos to perk the room up? Flowers, a setting with wine, things like that. Does that imply those things will be waiting for you? (We don't do flowers so if I put them in a photo is that deceptive?) Do I have to put 'serving suggestion only' on the photo? ;-).
Click to expand...
Madeleine said:
I would say to remove extraneous stuff like power lines/cords/the A/C unit if it's ugly. Brighten the colors when the photos just aren't vivid because of bad lighting. To make the photo more appealing. I often crop a lot out of photos to focus on an element in the room.
Click to expand...
Photoshop "enhancement" or in our case innhancement. :) Cropping, covering, brightening is not an issue.
Speaking of next door, if there is one thing I would ALWAYS crop out of a photo it would be a red car parked in the parking area of a B&B...you KNOW that red car! In fact pack the lot with cars or remove one red bulls eye target of a red car.
I just saw the other day, the blue truck is gone! The lady must have died, it has been in every photo showing across the street since we first looked at this inn! EVERY PHOTO! I have an expertise of taking photos AROUND to ignore that truck! avert the eyes FROM that truck,,,anything but that dang beat up old truck!
.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's my car... I'm too lazy to move it when the mood hits to take pix. I try to hid it behind the tree but then I just forget it. I like to think it highlights where to park. ;-0
 
Enhancing the colour, changing the gamma, etc. Correcting little errors. Fine. Putting in something that isn't there... nope. Removing the chip of the paint? Sure. Taking Joey entirely out of the photo... sure.
 
I think the bottom line is that it must reflect what the guest will find when they arrive. If the reality doesn't meet or beat the images, in their mind, the innkeeper may hear about it, in person and/or on TA.
I don't see anything wrong with photoshopping as long as it's just to make the image as good as the reality. I've edited bed photos to remove wrinkles. I've edited to remove lap cords so the photo looks nicer. I've removed power lines. Those type edits aren't any big deal to me.
 
When thinking about this I am always reminded of a couple of guests who had stayed elsewhere and made comments at our breakfast table.
One had booked in the big city near us... they commented they should have known something was up when the website B&B pic was so cropped it chopped off the sides of the house. The reason it was cropped was because it was so close to its neighbors you could borrow a cup of sugar without leaving home! They had to keep their window drapes closed or the neighbors could just peek right in!
The other was regarding a B&B that used fisheye photos for the rooms. The people thought the room was much larger than they actually were because of the distortion. - this was some time ago, hopefully fisheye is not still on any site!
I see no problem removing power cords or other small objects from room pics, taking forgotten eyesores out of pics that were missed when staging the room..
 
copperhead said:
When thinking about this I am always reminded of a couple of guests who had stayed elsewhere and made comments at our breakfast table.
One had booked in the big city near us... they commented they should have known something was up when the website B&B pic was so cropped it chopped off the sides of the house. The reason it was cropped was because it was so close to its neighbors you could borrow a cup of sugar without leaving home! They had to keep their window drapes closed or the neighbors could just peek right in!
The other was regarding a B&B that used fisheye photos for the rooms. The people thought the room was much larger than they actually were because of the distortion. - this was some time ago, hopefully fisheye is not still on any site!
I see no problem removing power cords or other small objects from room pics, taking forgotten eyesores out of pics that were missed when staging the room...
Click to expand...
copperhead said:
I see no problem removing power cords or other small objects from room pics, taking forgotten eyesores out of pics that were missed when staging the room..
Click to expand...
I guess I have to practice removing stuff. I always end up going back and taking the photos again!
 
copperhead said:
The other was regarding a B&B that used fisheye photos for the rooms. The people thought the room was much larger than they actually were because of the distortion.
Click to expand...
A photographer from the state tourism department stayed at my place a few months ago. He sent me some beautiful pics of my rooms that he'd made with a wide-angle lens. I couldn't use them for just that reason. They made the rooms look MUCH larger than they really are. Must be careful to not mislead anybody.
 
we did it for some photo's we had done for an add - we have Camberley in big blue letters across the front, we had bad weather recently and one blew off! had to have a whole new set made as they couldn't match it plus the fixings on the old ones were just about to go anyway - so photo shopped in the M so we could get the add in on time.
 
when i first put up a website i used a template with this pretty ocean shore on the top. then i got an email asking if that was the view from the b&b. !!!! yikes. had to take it down immediately. you could see a harbor from the b&b, but not a pristine beach with footprints in the sand! it never occurred to me someone would think that stock photo was the view.
just goes to show ... lots of people believe what they see in pictures. so you have to be careful.
yes, someone fixed my first room photo attempts and erased the blow dryer off the wall. seeing how unappealing they looked, i had to relocate them for real!
notice in magazines you rarely see electric cords in the pictures ... just lots of light. magic!
room photos --- i've stayed at places and wondered how they made the room i was staying in look so big. fancy photography at work there ... maybe they stood on a chair against the wall.
 
Joey Bloggs said:
TheBeachHouse said:
We have had this debate in my family. Interested to hear the input..
Click to expand...
TheBeachHouse said:
We have had this debate in my family. Interested to hear the input.
Click to expand...
Beachie what was the debate? Care to share?
Over a slight "touch ups" or making things overly photoshoppy? Sometimes that doesn't bother me as much as hiding something does. In other words, over photoshoppy is being creative and it looks pretty, vs just hide the big dumpter parked next to the inn, or something. For that, it should be, imo, a creative ANGLE for a photo. ie zoom in on a andirondack chair vs taking the whole view into the image.
.
Click to expand...
Joey Bloggs said:
TheBeachHouse said:
We have had this debate in my family. Interested to hear the input.
Click to expand...
Beachie what was the debate? Care to share?
Over a slight "touch ups" or making things overly photoshoppy? Sometimes that doesn't bother me as much as hiding something does. In other words, over photoshoppy is being creative and it looks pretty, vs just hide the big dumpter parked next to the inn, or something. For that, it should be, imo, a creative ANGLE for a photo. ie zoom in on a andirondack chair vs taking the whole view into the image.
Click to expand...
Whether to take out outdoor power lines that run through the view.
 
TheBeachHouse said:
Joey Bloggs said:
TheBeachHouse said:
We have had this debate in my family. Interested to hear the input..
Click to expand...
TheBeachHouse said:
We have had this debate in my family. Interested to hear the input.
Click to expand...
Beachie what was the debate? Care to share?
Over a slight "touch ups" or making things overly photoshoppy? Sometimes that doesn't bother me as much as hiding something does. In other words, over photoshoppy is being creative and it looks pretty, vs just hide the big dumpter parked next to the inn, or something. For that, it should be, imo, a creative ANGLE for a photo. ie zoom in on a andirondack chair vs taking the whole view into the image.
.
Click to expand...
Joey Bloggs said:
TheBeachHouse said:
We have had this debate in my family. Interested to hear the input.
Click to expand...
Beachie what was the debate? Care to share?
Over a slight "touch ups" or making things overly photoshoppy? Sometimes that doesn't bother me as much as hiding something does. In other words, over photoshoppy is being creative and it looks pretty, vs just hide the big dumpter parked next to the inn, or something. For that, it should be, imo, a creative ANGLE for a photo. ie zoom in on a andirondack chair vs taking the whole view into the image.
Click to expand...
Whether to take out outdoor power lines that run through the view.
.
Click to expand...
TheBeachHouse said:
Joey Bloggs said:
TheBeachHouse said:
We have had this debate in my family. Interested to hear the input.
Click to expand...
Beachie what was the debate? Care to share?
Over a slight "touch ups" or making things overly photoshoppy? Sometimes that doesn't bother me as much as hiding something does. In other words, over photoshoppy is being creative and it looks pretty, vs just hide the big dumpter parked next to the inn, or something. For that, it should be, imo, a creative ANGLE for a photo. ie zoom in on a andirondack chair vs taking the whole view into the image.
Click to expand...
Whether to take out outdoor power lines that run through the view.
Click to expand...
Take them out, that is fair enough. When there you wouldn't even notice them.
I took some photos at a music event last summer. I took many as I figured I may need a photo for something later on. I went to use one and would YOU BELIEVE there is a FIRE RED extinguisher right next to and behind the guitar player. It is in the flipin' photo! WHAT THE!
I cropped the image to remove it. Trust me when I say I never ever every sat and stared closely at the LIVE scene to even notice the dang thing! But there it is, who knew! Cut it out.
 
I wanted to show the image - red extinguisher!
extinguisher.jpg

Here is this performer singing about REAL southern summer girls...a silly song. Turn it up!
Here is my image altered so called "PHOTOSHOPPED", I did NOT want to share this singer in real life, just the musical part of it! I needed the instruments.Not the white legs, ha.
http://lizzy.net/
 
Joey Bloggs said:
I wanted to show the image - red extinguisher!
extinguisher.jpg

Here is this performer singing about REAL southern summer girls...a silly song. Turn it up!
Here is my image altered so called "PHOTOSHOPPED", I did NOT want to share this singer in real life, just the musical part of it! I needed the instruments.Not the white legs, ha.
http://lizzy.net/.
Click to expand...
that is one bright red distraction!
 
Yeah, the white legs are just as distracting as the fire extinguisher!
 

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