“Don’t post that picture of us until I can edit it first,” I find myself telling my friends. I need to add a filter, adjust the brightness, alter my skin tone and sometimes even whiten my teeth or soften the texture of my skin before it graces the world of social media because, for me, the way I look isn’t perfect until I completely modify my appearance. The photo isn’t good enough for the world to see. The edits will protect my self-confidence as people won’t be able to judge the lonely pimple protruding from the center of my forehead or the stray hair that catches my eye.

I have a responsibility as a photographer to stop supporting acne stigmas by editing out the pimples in senior photos or family photos, but everyday consumers also have a duty.

[penci_text_block block_title_align="style-title-left" custom_markup_1=""]I was ready to start the day, my eyelashes coated with thick mascara, skin hidden behind a mask of foundation, fingers littered...