Should I horizontally flip a client's portrait?

Question

I have a corporate client for whom I did a shoot earlier this week. They complained that all the portraits were of the team members facing the same way and they like to do composite images of the team as a group with the half on the left turned to the left and the half on the right turned to the right. Instead of heading out to shoot again, should I recommend they just flip the necessary portraits horizontally to achieve this? If not, why?

Answer 1

As a photojournalist flipping an image is a sackable offence.

It is a definite no-no in many organisations.

If you do it you need to watch out for reversing information on the subjects - such as name tags, clothing pockets and other things.

I wouldn't do it myself.

Answer 2

First of all did they explain to you before you shot them that "they like to do composite images of the team as a group with the half on the left turned to the left and the half on the right turned to the right. "? If they did not, then it is their fault for not providing you with that important detail. If they did however, then you should re-shoot. I do not recommend flipping half the group in a composite unless you used a seamless with no visible pattern. Otherwise the background will not match up. Also the lighting on your subjects will be from the opposite direction.