This article was originally published on SmartCelery
Who doesn't love to dabble in a bit of photoshop? After all, it makes our pictures better. But most of us aren't the best at face tune or photoshop, so when given the opportunity to have a pro edit our pictures – for free – we'd jump at the opportunity, right? Well, plenty of lovely people over on Twitter have sent their images to pro photoshopper and graphic designer James Fridman to get him to use his skills to elevate their pictures. The results are amazingly hilarious. He's given them exactly what they've asked for but in the most literal sense. Here's what to expect when a photoshop expert takes your requests literally.
Make Him Disappear
If you haven't experienced annoying photobombing, count yourself lucky. Those who have, know it usually happens when you have found the perfect lighting and finally have the ideal angle only to find your friend has ruined the picture. A friendly Twitter user experienced that, with – of all things – her potential profile picture. Thankfully, she could send it to Fridman for a quick photoshop edit. Her request was, “make him disappear.”
With the magic of photoshop, James certainly made him disappear. Her old friend is gone, transforming into the rock. Not Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, just the boulder in the back with the friendly eyes and smile.
Be Careful What You Wish For
Every bride wants her wedding pictures to capture the day's atmosphere and be an idyllic representation of the couple's love. For one couple, this wasn't the case. When the photographer delivered the final photographs, the bride was obscured by a massive pole in one image. Thankfully, James could remove it. The graphic designer was more than happy to fulfill the request this young bride had to have the pole removed.
In true James Fridman fashion, he removed the pole. But, he also managed to remove the bride and groom, the entire wedding really. But she wanted it gone, so mission accomplished?
Let's Cover That Up!
While on holiday you're exposed to so many different cultures' art. It's only natural that you'll want to share the pictures you take of these monuments with your family and friends. Traveling through Europe, you'll find plenty of centuries-old statues in various states of undress. But one user found himself in a unique predicament. He realized he couldn't share one picture with his conservative mom because the statue was naked. James was entrusted with one task: cover up the statue to make the image less offensive.
James obliged in the most hilarious way possible. Now, there's no naked statue. Problem solved. His mom surely wouldn't mind seeing her adult son in his briefs, though? We hope not!
You've Dug Yourself in Deep With That One
Wanting to appear taller in pictures is probably one of the most common requests photographers receive when editing. But, since most people don't have access to a pro editor, they resort to creative camera angles, different poses, or just making everyone sit, so it evens out the height difference. Brooke, however, turned to James to ask him to make her as tall as her partner. She may have dug herself in deep with that one. Can you imagine what James did?
He dug her boyfriend into a rather deep hole. Guess that's the last time he'll be wearing those white pants.
Is This Zoomed in Enough?
The gushing waterfall and picturesque mountainside are all captured beautifully in this image. The only problem? Diane is too far away. You can't see her face in the picture. Given that zooming in would pixelate the photograph, and since she loved James' previous work, her only request: rectify the fact that she's too far away in the picture.
The outcome is hilarious. Diane failed to be specific. She didn't mention she still wanted the background in the image, and to be honest, she didn't say she wanted to be visible in the photo either, just nearer to the lens. Because she was vague, James can say it's another mission accomplished.
From Child to Daddy, Real Quick
With the last name Child, it's both hilarious and ironic that you maintain a youthful appearance as you mature. While most of us would embrace the "baby face" one tweep wasn't appreciating his youthful look and wanted James to make him look "more daddy." James, being the ever-helpful photoshopper, got to work.
What's more daddy than BBQ tongs and a graphic t-shirt that throws shade at the electricity bill? A goatee, bandana, and polarized cycling glasses that don't match. Guess the daddy vibe isn't a fashionable one.
That's a No-Brainer
Context is important. You may type one thing, but you would expect the person on the receiving end to look for context cues. However, when you’re dealing with James, you need to be very precise about what you want him to do; otherwise, you may end up beheaded. One Twitter user learned this the hard way when she complained about what looked like a boy coming from her head. She requested that James remove “it”.
By “it” we assumed the boy. Not James, he assumed her head, responding to the user hilariously, calling his photoshop job a “no-brainer.” Very punny.
The Simple Solution to Balding
This Twitter user got what he requested from James, not in the ironic sense either.
Feeling insecure about his balding, this young man – like many who want to solve minor imperfections – turned to photoshop. Thankfully, James was willing to offer his expert services for free and fixed years of balding with only a few tweaks.
If you thought James could give this guy a full head of hair, you'd be wrong.
James only had to make one minor adjustment to the image. The fix is so simple the user could have done it himself.
James Is Not A Butcher, Lady!
Sometimes the camera lens has a way of distorting body parts and making them seem odd or disfigured. That’s not the case in this image. When Rebecca noticed her boyfriend’s feet seemed unusually long, she decided to ask for James' help. She wanted her boyfriend's feet to look smaller in the image. Given that she had petite feet that only accentuated the size of her boyfriend's feet, James' quick thinking allowed him to come up with a brilliant solution.
Instead of taking the obvious route, James decides to put everything into perspective and employ Einstein's theory of relativity to solve the problem. Because if both their feet are long, then neither of them are.
Where’s Waldo?
There are times in life where you want to be alone. That was the case for one Twitter user who wanted to remove his friends from a photograph. After attempting to take his friends out of a group picture without expert help, he turned to James in desperation. Given that James has expert-level photoshop skills, the tweep thought he could guarantee he was alone in the image without affecting the image quality. James obliged.
If you notice, the guy is alone. But instead of being front and center, he is standing eerily in the back. Maybe being a loner isn’t all it’s cracked up to be?
Dating Darth Vader
What – or rather who – don’t you expect to see in a picture of a young couple in love? Darth Vader. Luke Skywalker’s father makes a prominent appearance in this lovely couple’s photograph. When this Twitter user realized this was the only decent picture he had with his girlfriend, he asked James to “fix it.” With this vague brief in mind, James got to fixing the photograph.
James didn’t see a problem with Darth Vader taking center stage in the picture and decided to photoshop the guy’s girlfriend onto Vader’s body. Clearly, he’s a Star Wars fan.
That Got Dark Quickly
Since most of us live in the city, seeing a cow is uncommon. One Twitter user found herself in the countryside and decided to capture a selfie with grazing cows in the background. But given that the cows were at a distance, her request to James was to bring the cows closer. His edit was certainly unexpected but emphasized how most of us get closer to cows every day.
Since getting up close and personal with a cow is rather rare, James decided to capitalize on that rarity and put a raw steak on a plate. The humor is both dark and meta.
You Get What You Ask For
As a fan of James' work, it seems Liam wanted to put James' photoshop skills to the test with this image. Taken at Christmas, the picture was captured on a camera that was too far down and – frankly – makes Liam and the family look like giants. We don’t know how Liam – or his family – was unaware that the camera angle was bizarre, but with James' help, the camera angle could be fixed.
James definitely changed the angle. Now it just looks like Liam and his family are tiny people photobombing a picture of a chandelier.
Is He Dropping Bars?
The bathroom's acoustics make everyone's singing sound better, but that doesn't mean you want it to appear on your cover art.
However, this wasn't the experience for one Twitter user, who was 'dropping' his first single and wanted James to make it appear as though he was in Hawaii or Cali.
Since he was already shirtless and had the perfect lighting, James only had to change the background making it appear as if he was on a tropical beach. Maybe with some ladies since it’s not a breakup song?
Perhaps James is referencing Jim Morrison's “LA Woman” that was also recorded in the lavatory. We certainly hope he isn’t giving commentary on the man’s vocal abilities.
Be an Eco-Friendly Tourist
As a rule, Photoshop is used to fix minor imperfections. However, this Twitter user didn’t want a minor adjustment; she wanted James to edit the image, so it appeared as though she was carrying a bag, her hand placed in just the right position to be holding onto a strap. Seemingly on a lux vacation, can you imagine the type of bag James could convincingly give her?
A trash bag! Tourists often leave heaps of trash when they leave a resort. James was doing the most for the environment and the destination by ensuring she wasn’t one of those tourists.
Spending Time in the Garden
James certainly gets the weirdest requests, but as the king of photoshop, he’s always willing to oblige. One user was tired of the concrete and gray walls, so her request to James was to transport her and her boyfriend to a garden. The greenery and plants will be a welcome escape from those dreary four walls. So, can you imagine the kind of garden James thought was appropriate?
The neighbor's garden! You can see her boyfriend’s head peering over the fence and their feet underneath it. At least the privacy fence means they get to enjoy each other’s company.
It Could Have Been Worse?
This aesthetic photograph only had one problem: the pesky pole was ruining the vibe. When you are surrounded by greenery and the flowers are in full bloom, you want to highlight those aspects, not the practical – but unsightly? – architecture. In this photograph, Talia Jade wanted the pole removed, and we assume replaced with something more suitable for the surroundings? Like a bouquet.
But, when James thought to replace it with something more suitable, he also thought more practical, putting a watering can in her hand. Now we know why the plants are so lush!
You’re Beautiful The Way You Are
James doesn’t only tease his audience with hilariously literal photoshops, he also has his heartwarming moments. Something his followers learned when a young lady requested that he make her appear ‘normal.’ Suffering from muscular dystrophy, she wanted him to straighten her arms. James didn’t oblige this time; instead, he took the opportunity to shun ‘normal’ beauty standards and preach self-acceptance.
Rather than straightening her arms, he paid the young lady a compliment. Highlighting all her wonderful traits. But, there’s a message in here for all of us, “if people can’t look past your physical condition, they are most likely not worth your attention.” Preach it, James!
The Ultimate Bad Boy Transformation
Perhaps to get more girls or be the cool kid among his friends, whatever the reason, this one Twitter user wanted to embrace his bad boy side. Sporting what we can only describe as a goofy look (the unicorn tattoo and fanny pack aren't doing him any favors), he wanted James to turn him into a bad boy. Something we can't envision. But James, being an out-of-the-box thinker, knew how to transform this guy in an instant.
Editing in a sign that prohibits everything he's wearing, James didn’t make him a bad boy; he transformed into an outlaw.
You Can’t Have Plants Without Water
Some people are focused purely on aesthetics. And who can blame them? When you get to take what can only be described as a striking photograph, you probably want everything to be perfect. One Twitter user had this dilemma after noticing a groundskeeper watering the plants in the background and asked James to remove him.
But, with James' quick and dry wit, he decided to change the scenery completely. Not only did he remove the groundskeeper, but he also removed the greenery he was responsible for maintaining, reaffirming a valuable lesson that you can't have your cake and eat it too.
The Smile Beneath The Mask
During the pandemic, many doctors and nurses had the extraordinary responsibility of overcoming one of the greatest feats in modern history. The overwhelmingly sorrowful task was enough to break many spirits. To combat the gloom and sadness, one Twitter user wanted James to ‘doctor’ up the pictures to cheer up the medical staff. James did what he does best.
Adding cartoonish smiles to the masks, he provides comical relief in an otherwise melancholy situation. Our only request now is, where can we get those masks online?
Float Like A Butterfly, Bark Like A Boxer
More than four decades after retiring, Mohammed Ali still has his fair share of fans. One Twitter user's boyfriend fell into that category. To commemorate her boyfriend's love of the world-famous boxer, she wanted James to edit the picture. Her request was to turn her boyfriend into a boxer, so the image – taken next to the icon's star – would be more memorable.
The ever accommodating James did exactly what she asked for, turning her boyfriend into the most adorable – and dare say greatest? – Boxer we have ever seen.
Love The Skin You’re In
Photoshop has only fueled unrealistic beauty standards causing many to want to change their appearance. But, when a photoshop pro like James gives you advice, you take it. After all, he knows what he's talking about. This Twitter user was left with a heartwarming message from James after she asked to have her acne removed. Instead of editing her acne, James told her to embrace her beauty.
Because a photoshop fix is temporary, James gave her some kind advice. Whether she takes it or not, the premise remains the same: embrace your natural beauty and don't be too concerned with your physical appearance.
Anything But a Middle Finger!
An otherwise wholesome picture was ruined by her sister flipping off the camera, according to one Twitter user’s request. So, to restore the picture’s wholesomeness, she asks James to make it look like her sister isn’t holding her middle finger up. Knowing how inventive James is, he had many ways to photoshop this, but instead of choosing to place something in her hand as he has for other requests, he chose war.
Now, it looks as if her sister is threatening her with violence and flipping her off with her middle toe. Moral of the story: let your siblings be.
It’s Time for Lights Out
Lighting is critical when you want to capture the perfect selfie. But, for aesthetic reasons, you may not want to be stuck with a massive bulb at the back of your head, no matter how necessary it is to capture the image. Léa, caring more about the aesthetics, asked James to take the lights out. He did as she requested, and the outcome is spot on!
Yes, Léa, that’s what happens when you take the lights out. Maybe removing it wasn’t such a bright idea after all.
The Right Kind of Agent
Movies, books, and media, in general, have romanticized the idea of being a spy or agent. After this unassuming Twitter user had fired a pistol for the first time, he thought he could be the next James Bond or any agent. His exact request was for James to make him ‘look like some sort of agent.’
Not specifying the type of agent, James obliged.
After firing only one shot, he's certainly closer to being a real estate agent than the gun-wielding kind. Thank you, James, for preventing the potential threat of an inexperienced agent.
Be My Mannequin
We thought guys going to great lengths to pretend to have girlfriends only happened in the movies. We were wrong. This Twitter user was so fixated on having a girlfriend he decided to pose with a mannequin. But, like many other users, he also wanted James to cover up a minor imperfection – the scars on his leg. James killed two birds with one photoshop.
He turned the man into a mannequin. Now he has no scars, and the doll instantly looks like she’s his girlfriend. Well played, James. Well played.
Maybe be a Little More Precise Next Time?
With the number of requests James gets to remove people in the background, it’s amazing he still has inventive edits to go about accomplishing this rather mundane request. But, when one Twitter user wanted him to remove ‘the guy in the background,’ he had two options: the guy on the left or the guy on the right. He decided to go with the more prominent guy: the guy right behind her.
Since James' photoshop skills don’t extend to removing intertwined arms, he decided to leave the user with one final remnant of her boyfriend, his skeletal structure.
She’s No Longer in the Background
James has received yet another background request, this time from Juan Louis. This cute picture taken on the beach was seemingly not good enough because of the lady in the background. Juan – like so many before him – asked James to eliminate her 'from the background.' James, being the people pleaser he is, removed her from the background and placed her front and center.
Not knocking his photoshop request, but we would have left her in the background. Anyway, considering she’s your friend, maybe don’t leave her out of the picture next time?
Delivering the Cheesy Solutions
Not everyone who’s taking a picture thinks to look around them to determine if the background is suitable. So, when you end up in an elegant dress and only after you've taken the picture notice a pile of pizza boxes behind you, you turn to photoshop, or in this case, James. When this Twitter user realized the pizzas took away from the classy vibes she was emitting, she asked James to move them out of the background.
Instead of using an erase tool, James decided to deliver an unusual edit, turning the girl into the pizza delivery person. Need we remind you, James, that while everyone loves pizza, it's not anyone’s idea of classy. Classy. That was the context cue, James!
Problem Solved!
Most people would be thrilled to be able to peacefully stroke a tiger. Not this guy, he wanted James to turn what is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience into a once-in-a-lifetime nightmare. Rather than having him stroke the tiger, he wanted James to make it appear as though the tiger was mauling him. A bit macabre, but it’s his picture, so who are we to judge? That said, James needed reinforcements to make the mauling more believable.
Carol Baskins to the rescue! Knowing her, he’ll probably be fed to the tiger (allegedly).
The Quickest Manicure
Sometimes you don’t have the time to sit around and get your nails done. Not your fingernails, your toenails. If you found yourself in that predicament, what would you do? Most people would crop the image. Not Joana, she decided to ask James for his help fixing the faux pas. James, loving a quick fix, gave her an instant manicure. Maybe shoes would have worked too?
But, on second thought, if she’s self-conscious about her bare nails, maybe she could have worn shoes the first time around?
Oh Deer!
It’s not every day where you have a sheep and a deer in one picture. But, one Twitter user seems to have a vendetta against sheep, asking James to photoshop ‘another’ deer in the image. Maybe we’re missing something, but we don’t see another deer in the image?
Regardless, James comes to the rescue, providing the elusive other deer, except not in the form of a statue.
Knowing James' love of mythical creatures – throwback to dating Darth Vader – we’re not surprised he turned her boyfriend into a deer. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised by any of James’ edits.
Make Your Mark
Only 10% of the world’s population has birthmarks, so you’re one of the few if you do. Nevertheless, most birthmarks are nondescript and in areas where you wouldn’t even notice them. For one Twitter user, not only was he blessed to have this rarity, its placement is rather unique. But, instead of embracing his distinctive feature, he wanted James to make it look better or have his face be the same color.
James wasn’t having any of that self-loathing, encouraging the tweep to embrace his ‘imperfections.’ After all, we think the birthmark really brings out his eyes.
A Minor Adjustment
Lindsey was in for a treat when she asked James to make it look like her hands were holding a glowing orb. Most editors would know she meant to move her hands closer to her face, so they rested on her face. But since James is the definition of taking something literally, he turned her face into a glowing orb.
Now that she has got what she asked for, she can't exactly complain. We hope she wasn't planning to use the edited image in a portfolio. Well, even if she was talent scouts would love her inner glow!
Here You Go, Buddy
Of all James’ hilariously precise edits, this one has to be our favorite. Although it’s yet another request to have the guy in the background removed, the outcome is adorable. Instead of removing the guy with the blue shirt, he decides to remove the most distracting guy from the image, bringing the true star of the picture to the foreground.
We can see how happy our furry friend is, given the smile on their face now that the guy ‘in the background’ is removed. He did seem a bit too eager to be in the picture.
Better Shot Next Time
Of all the strange things to happen since the advent of social media, there is yet to emerge a case of someone going to the hospital because of a photoshop request. At least not yet, anyway. Unfortunately, for one Twitter user, his request to James may be the first such incident. He wanted it to look like his friend had taken a shot, so James delivered a realistic edit.
Had his friend taken the shot, the only logical conclusion is that the ambulance would need to be called. Hopefully, healthcare is free wherever this guy lives.
Improve Your Aim
Optical illusions make a fun photograph if you can accomplish the look with the right angle. Regrettably, this wasn’t the case for Jonas, who missed the illusion by less than an inch. Thankfully, there’s James Fridman, who offers his editing services for free on Twitter. So, doing what anyone would if they found themselves in that predicament, he asked James to make it so that the water would go into his mouth.
Given that this guy clearly doesn't have the best of aim, James provides better aim in the picture. It could have been worse.
When You're Outside with the Boys
We live in an age where most of us spend more time inside than outside. For one Twitter user, however, it seems like his desire to be indoors is chronic. So much so that, when he wanted to have a picture of him and his friends outside, rather than going outside, he asked James to edit the picture. His request was to make it look like they were outdoors.
James did exactly that. By removing the boys from the picture, it’s safe to assume they’re outside.
Bear with Me
Finding yourself on a seat next to a bear is what anyone would call a nightmare. Not this avid James fan. After posing with a statue of a bear, he wanted James to make it more realistic. The result was very lifelike.
If you found yourself in the vicinity of a bear, it would probably maul you. This is exactly what James thought when he edited the picture to be more realistic. The bear would break the bench too.
Is this More Natural?
What’s the best way to pose on an empty train? Since there aren’t any guides, this tweep realized that her hands looked especially awkward in this seated picture. To combat the ‘weird’ look, she asked James to make it look like she was holding the pole, to give her hands something to do. James was ever-accommodating, following through with her request.
But, while he was putting the pole in her hand, James also managed to vandalize the train in the process. But, in all honesty, her hands do look less awkward now that she’s holding the pole.
That Awkward Moment When You Wear Matching Shirts
Couples often coordinate outfits as a sign of love and admiration or to look cool. However, this wasn't the case with this couple. When this husband and wife took a gondola ride in Venice, the wife found that her striped t-shirt looked identical to the gondolier. Considering that it looked odd, the husband turned to James for his help fixing the faux pas.
James, seeing the hilarity of the situation, decided to keep the matching theme. In keeping with the theme, James made the husband and gondolier have matching shirts. Maybe next time James can make them all match?
What’s Cooler than Ice?
English is a language of context. Looking at the picture, you might think this young lady is a tad bit overdressed to spend an afternoon at the lake. She had the same opinion since she wants James to make her look like she’s someplace ‘cooler.’ Of course, James has plenty of options. He could make it look like she’s at a nightclub, upscale restaurant, even a tropical destination. But, not James. He loves to take things literally.
He decided to go with a freezer. Considering she’s covered in icicles, James thinks she’s been there a long time.
Let Me Get You Out of There
Some poses seem good at the moment, but when you review the photograph, they look strange. This was the case for this sweet couple, who obviously hired a professional photographer for a photo shoot. However, when they got the pictures back, it looked like the lady was in a hole. Wanting to get her second half back, she asked James for assistance.
With his editing prowess, James managed to get Saskia out of the hole in her house and into a manhole in the street. Thankfully, her boyfriend was there to help her out!
Groot’s New Girlfriend
If you’ve watched Guardians of the Galaxy, you probably know about Groot. It looks like James, here, is working on Volume 3, by introducing Groot’s girlfriend to the lore. At least, that’s what he’d have you believe, given his editing. Heather requested that she wanted to be in the tree. Instead of placing her on a branch, James turned her into the tree, pose and all.
Hopefully, Heather makes an appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy 3. She still has time to make casting since it's only scheduled for release in 2023.
Perfection isn’t All it’s Cracked up to Be
Given that so many people have some OCD tendencies or are very finicky, to say the least, James has probably gotten his fair share of editing requests because looking at a picture was unbearable. Kim was one such request. She thought her family picture was perfect. But everything good about it was overshadowed by her son’s crooked bowtie. James could easily fix the bowtie, with one condition.
To make the bowtie straight, James made Kim’s son crooked. Perhaps Kim will appreciate the picture more now?
A Selfie with the Perching Ducks
Why not take a picture of the ducks? This question will remain in our hearts and minds for as long as James’ wacky editing does. This didn't pop into this couple's mind. After spending a day at a lake, they decided to take a selfie to capture the ducks in the background. Clearly, the ducks were not interested in obliging. Still forging ahead with the plan to have ducks in the background, they enlisted James’ service.
Instead of doing the couple a disservice with CGI ducks, James decided to give them real ducks. Just not the kind in a lake. To complete the look, he also changed the lighting.
Drunken Hero
It’s baffling what teenage boys get up to without supervision. One Twitter user made some questionable posing choices. The result was he looked like he was blackout drunk while his friends were carrying him. Since his friends are nonchalant in the picture and his clothes are still dry, we can guarantee that's not the case. But to solve his shenanigans, he turned to James.
Working his photoshop wizardry, James edited the boy into a valiant – possibly deceased – hero.
Our advice: Next time you pose, open your eyes and straighten your neck, then you won’t end up dying in a war.
She’s Definitely Reflecting
Although English is a language of context, there are times when you need to read and reread a text you’ve received to understand what someone is requesting. This is one such incident. When James received this message, he must have been doing some mental gymnastics considering that this Twitter user wasn’t clear regarding what she wanted. Instead of asking for clarity, James rolled with it.
Now, she is the bean. It’s amazing how he came to that conclusion from her text. But we hope she got what she wanted.
Love is in the Air
What could ruin a romantic day with your girlfriend on the beach? Capturing a half-naked guy in – what would have been – a cute picture. Unfortunately, for one couple, that was the reality when they took a picture just as a photo bomber was ‘running’ past. Because they wanted to salvage the picture, the couple asked James to make it more romantic.
Not seeing any issue with the distracting speedo-laden guy running in the background, James edited roses into his hands. Now he’s not photobombing, he's simply bringing the young couple flowers.
Browsing through all these photographs, James has taught us one thing: not everything needs to be perfect, and photoshop should be used sparingly or – in James’ case – not at all. Thank you, James, for that vital life lesson.