I feel like the reason netizens get mad about photojournalists taking photos is because the fans & fansites don't get to heavily edit them before releasing them. This typically means the idols are not whitewashed to hell & have not had their skin smoothed, eyes made brighter, etc. I actually like seeing the real, untouched photos with correct exposure because you can see what they actually look like. I have been genuinely shocked when I've seen journalists pics or non fan photos where the idols are like WAYYYY tanner than they look in videos/fan photos & have always been shocked when I'm able to see their skin texture because I've only able ever seen the edited stuff. I mean even if you have great skin you still have texture, but most of the times that's edited out & videos now (even behind the scenes ones that are supposed to be "real" & "candid") almost all feature filters placed on them with smoothing & brightening. As someone who does photography for a living & also does videography on the side it's super obvious to me, but it seems most people don't notice. It's such a shame because all of that from the filters on videos to majority of photos being edited so much & presented as "real".. it just perpetuates this idea that idols are somehow not human beings & are a product that is always supposed to look (& act) perfect & any sign they are actually normal humans is taken as either someone "doing the idol dirty" or that the idol themselves is acting in offensive or unacceptable ways which just continues to feed this never ending cycle.

Not gonna lie, they all seem to practice that open eye stare and have it ready to go at any event. They always look camera ready because they’re idols so of course all their candid shots look like studio sessions. I don’t think some should even be considered candid if they’re aware of the cameras.