“Before” and “After” pictures.

from my personal view its all about confidence, people wouldnt be looking for such dvds if they were happy with the way they are. knowing how i was before and after weight loss, before, i was depressed, never bothered with make up or doing my hair etc as i felt ugly and didnt see the point, after losing weight i now am feeling a lot more positive in myself so i make the effort to make myself look nice with hair makeup and nice clothes etc so i guess it does appeal to a lot of the market if there are other women out there that feel/felt the same way i did!!

I think most people want to beleive this can happen. But in the end its sad that even after all that it dont last for very long and if they look close onlythe makeup has made the differeance

Of course LOL that's the idea. A good posture, nice clothes, hairstyle and make up can make the person look so much better that it's exactly what they want to achieve. I don't think everyone notices, some people so want to believe in the miraculous results that they don't notice the details, which is sad but true and these are the ones that they aim for:)

Yes, I see this all the time in "before/after" pics. i think they do this purposely, to make viewers think what ever made the "after" will also bring that much beauty and happiness.

That is true,it is not only you!

well that's what i call optical illusion. the artist are just very good that those people appear something different. and then again there are things like photoshop that can really add something from nothing.i hope the next time we see pictures like this i hope that they will add the name of the photographer and the one that edits the picture.. you know for credits fot the artist's artistic capabilities. lol

I have noticed this as well. I think they do this for marketing purposes to help their product more. It creates the effect that losing weight and getting cosmetic surgery will make everything better.

I was very unhappy before my weight loss surgery and all of my pictures showed it. For many years, I had a frown on my face. Some of the pictures of myself had the *fake* smile on my face and it is so obvious. After my weight loss surgery, I *felt* happy so I smiled and am taking care of myself. There really is a difference in how people feel about themselves and how it shows in the pictures that are taken of them.

I think they purposely do that do show drastic affects. It's like they put a 400lb woman in a bikini to exaggerate how big she is when a slimming one piece might make her look alot better. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~

oh pola it is well know that people "before" feel so bad with themselves that they stand with their shoulders down, they do not want to put on some make up because they do not think it would make a change and they can not smile, don't know why they just can't. lol. of course i noticed those pictures, and how they "paint" the "after" pictures with makeup, different shadows and many more. i am sure everyone notice it. i think it makes it unreliable, and that is a pity. i do think that people would notice the difference of people before and after the change, even if they would not add those things, and it even would be more reliable.

I noticed that myself too but I think that most of the results are real but not so drastic. I mean when a person loses 5kg we can't really see it but if they put some make up on the her she'd looka like she had lost 10kg and we will all see that. The same thing about all the before after pictures.

i noticed this too in my opinion they do so to attract more more and people to avail their service thats it. they do earn and for their business to grow, i think if you really wanna know just find out out two three people who availed their services ask them questions and satisfy your curiosity then only decide whether to use their service or not hope this will help you out thanks for starting the discussion lots of other people also get know about this.

Hi polachicago, I tend to notice this as well. Usually, when I see the before and after pictures for cosmetic products, it seems to me that a different expression and makeup are added to the "change" which is commonly represented in the after picture. I guess it is up to each person to judge for themselves. Take Care.

i think its not that people can not see it but because they are not open minded in thinking that there is still a chance for them to change their physical appearnce or what they see in the mirror through make-ups, tanning, highlights, new hair style and etc. i think at first they are just shock and amazed that to the extent its hard for them to believe that what they saw in the mirror is just the same old person they saw before the makeover started

You're right, I've noticed this too. The "before" pictures are often badly lit, too, making the person look even less attractive. Maybe it's that the "before" photos are taken by a family member or friend, while the "after" photo is taken by a professional photographer hired by the diet company. But the "before" person does look sloppy, unhappy, miserable, etc., besides being out of shape.

This has been a marketing ploy for generations. I recently saw a woman's magazine from the fifties, and it's the same message, with the happy, well made up 'after' woman against the overweight, sad woman with no make up.

Because they want the "before" picture to look as bad as possible and the "after" picture to look as good as possible. The other ones that bug me are when they show women saying "I lost 50 pounds in 5 months" or whatever and they are obviously pregnant in their before picture. It's like HELLO! Giving birth to a baby doesn't count as weight loss!

Personally, I never believe these sort of pictures. It is so easy these days, especially with the computer technology to make people look entirely different - therefore, what's stopping them doctoring the result? :-)

Hello dear polachicago. I often see this kind of before-after pictures. I don't think that they are real as the photographic technology is so advanced that it could make you believe its truth with the great and obvious comparison. I will only believe when I could have the chance to see the real person or the real stuff. Thanks for your interesting discussion.

I always notice that. I think it's funny. It's like "OF course her face is clear! Makeup clears it!" duh. Even the Fat and Skinny before and over photos are like that. They've always got some great makeover and look nothing like the "before" person...especially since the before people are rarely the same as the after people.