This Instagrammer is famous for photoshopping freckles & highlights onto celebs
I feel like this day and age, anyone can do anything on the Internet. I really do. Apps like Instagram and Twitter can give the plebes of the world the ability to gain tons of exposure by doing the really random things they are good at. Seriously, the possibilities to get your niche talent out there and garner a following are truly endless.
So, when I find something that someone does on social media that makes me take a step back and say, “WTF? How is there this massive audience for this?” it immediately interests me. Flashback to a few weeks ago. I was aimlessly scrolling through my Instagram discover page, you know, like one does, and I found this strange photo: one side is Amanda Seyfried as a blonde with blue eyes, and the other side is her as a brunette with brown eyes.
It’s kind of freaky, right?
Of course I immediately clicked on the account to see even more. The account I’m referring to is @SkyzEditz, an account dedicated to editing celebrities and fellow Instagrammers photos. The edits can be as simple from changing somebody’s eye color to making them look 50 years younger. It’s wild to look at.
And I’m not alone in thinking that. @SkyzEditz already has 88k followers. And that’s a hell of a lot of fans for something that’s so niche.
I was so excited when the genius behind the account decided to speak with me, and was shocked when they emailed me back with the name Stefan, because for some reason I assumed that SkyzEditz was a girl.
Check out our convo below.
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So you’re a guy. Do most of your followers know your true identity, or has it been a secret up until now?
Yeah, I’m a guy! I’ve kept my personal life and my online life completely separate from each other. I was never exactly sure what would happen if I did tell people. I kept my replies to my follower’s gender neutral and I never went into too much detail about myself. I was too nervous to reveal anything. I know it’s 2017 and it’s fine for guys to be more artistic and interested in beauty/makeup, but there’s always been a fear at the back of my mind of being judged— as that comes with being fairly popular on social media.
This is Stefan. Everybody say, “Hi, Stefan!”
Tell us a little bit about your Instagram and the editing account world. It seems like it would be such a niche audience!
It’s crazy. I had no idea people would be this interested in editing. I started the account last year editing only highlight onto photos, and then I saw that my followers loved before and after edits of celebrities, which led me to change my feed to suit my audience better. My content mainly consists of celebrities/Instagram influencers, and what I do is edit their features. For example, I change their eye color and sometimes add or remove freckles — it completely depends on how the photo has inspired me. Editing photos wasn’t as popular around the time I started, but I noticed an extreme increase of interest once my account started doing better. It’s amazing to think I’ve inspired so many people to start editing.
Would you say that most of your followers think that you are a woman because of the work that you do?
Yeah, I would say so. I do talk to quite a few of my followers and I have gained some friends along my journey. As I said before, I don’t get into much detail about my personal life, but it would be sad to think my followers would think badly of me based on gender — especially in this day and age.
How did you get started? Did you just wake up one day and say, “I’m going to edit photos of people on Instagram” one day?
Well, as a teenager growing up in a world like this, it’s hard to not hate yourself for not looking like a 10/10 model. Social media is the most judgmental place ever so I used to edit my photos to remove the occasional blemish. My friends were so impressed by how I did it so they asked me to start editing their photos, which led to me think, “Whoa, where could you take this? How else can you edit photos?” Now here I am with 88 thousand followers and I still get spots, a.k.a. zits.
Why do you mainly edit photos of women?
Well, most of my followers are female and I would say the majority of my audience is interested in the beauty and makeup world. So I try to post content they would like. I’m also just so used to doing it I haven’t thought otherwise. But I am definitely open to including more male edits on my account, I just need to get inspired!
What is your favorite photo you’ve ever edited and why?
Haha that’s a very tough question! My favourite photo I’ve ever edited is one where I did some crazy star sign looks on the amazing @starlit_makeup which she then went on to repost —I liked this one due to how creative I had to be when it came to what I could do to represent the different star signs, but I was really happy with how it turned out!
What is the edit that’s gotten the most hype (good or bad) and why?
My most controversial post is where I removed all of a girl’s freckles and edited makeup on top. Obviously, there is a massive, ongoing controversy on whether people prefer the natural look or the makeup look, but I think the edit just showed how both looks are awesome and people can rock what ever look they want.
Could you end up doing this for a living?
Who knows! Of course I would love too. But I’m quite responsible in regards to wanting a job and learning how to do other things. At the moment this is just a hobby but I’m not sure if mixing work and pleasure is the best idea as I’m worried it might make me less inspired.
Where do you se yourself and your account in the next few years?
Well, in a few years I would hope to have grown my Insta family, but I don’t have any crazy expectations. I’m really glad people like my edits and I will just keep doing what I’m doing and if people want to follow me then that’s amazing! In regards to myself, hopefully with a full-time job whether that be to do with editing or something else. Nothing’s set in stone, I will just have to see where life takes me.
Wait, how old are you????
18!
If you could edit a celeb in real life, who would it be and what would you do?
Bella Thorne, I would edit her back to her original form. She’s naturally so pretty, so I would probably do that.
Is there any editing account beef we should know about?
Haha! Well, my account has been blocked by some of my beauty competitors! For reasons I do not know. I don’t want to mention any names as the last thing I need to do is start drama. But no, at the moment the editing Insta scene is a very friendly loving place.
What is your Starbucks order?
Well here in U.K. our Starbucks’ are pretty boring so I just go for hot chocolate. But I do dream to one day try the Mermaid Frappuccino.
Any advice for people who think they have niche audiences and want to garner a bigger following?
If you have an idea, go for it! You never know what people may be interested in. You can start something amazing if you put the time and effort in. Just don’t over think and enjoy what you’re doing. Things will work out if you have an optimistic mind set.
Do you see yourself collaborating with makeup brands at some point? Or maybe celebrities to edit their photos for them?
Yes, collaborating with makeup brands is definitely something I would love to do, yet I’m also considering starting a line of either clothes or beauty products soon. I’m waiting to hit the 100k mark and I might announce something! In regards to editing photos for celebrities, of course I would! That’s pretty much a life goal for me. I do edit photos of beauty gurus on Instagram, but having an actual red carpet celebrity wanting me to edit photos for them would be absolutely mind blowing!
