Face In or Face Out? That Is the Question

You’ve probably seen the terms “face-in” or “face-out” floating around the world of escorting. What does it mean, and what does it mean for clients and providers? Why do some people stay face in, or elect to go face in after being face out, and vice versa?

I started face-in, because it seemed like the wisest choice. However, after a couple years of escorting, I got tired of all the blurring and the extra work it caused me to have to do. At the time, I didn’t really have other factors that would be too heavily affected if people in my life found out about what I do. Also, I really see my photo work as a creative endeavor and I wanted to share that more fully with the world. Plus, I was curious how showing my face would affect my business.

I’m happy with my choice to be face-out, but a small part of me does wish I had considered the rise of facial recognition technology and AI a bit more. But, it is what it is!

Face In & Face Out Defined

Face-in means a provider does not want to show her face online, in her ads, or on her social media. The provider will usually blur her face or use some other method of obscuring it from public view. Some people use an artistic little starburst or paint splash. But, blurring is the most usual method.

Some people who are face-in choose to show their face to individual clients before meeting or on a subscription site like OnlyFans. Others do not. Some blur their entire face, others just blur a small portion, like just the eyes or just the mouth. Many face-in providers also blur other identifying features such as tattoos.

Face-out means a provider will show their face online. Some people choose to go face-out because they believe it will help them get more business.

Why Do Providers Go Face-In?

Some clients think that blurring a face is a sign of insecurity. They think that the face-in person doesn’t think they are pretty enough to show their face. The reality is that for most people, that is far from the truth. Hiding your face online is a result of the stigma of sex work, and the repercussions that can come from doing this job. Being outed as a sex worker can affect other employment, housing, personal relationships, child custody, immigration, travel, and other significant areas of life.

Want to Be Face In? How to Do It

With everything going on lately, some face-out providers are choosing to go back to being face-in. And, many who are starting out are also choosing face-in. According to some sources, blurring or obfuscating your photos is not quite enough. Some people recommend fully removing your face from the photo, then blurring on top of that because of the advent of unblurring software. Other people recommend not using the original blurred photo, but taking a screenshot of that photo instead, to prevent metadata from giving identifying information about the photo or obfuscation that has taken place.

There is also an app called Fawkes that some people have been using whether they are face-in or face-out. It allows you to show your face but the app makes it unrecognizable as you to AI or facial recognition software.

The best practice for avoiding facial recognition software is to blur or otherwise hide the entire face. However, some people are less worried about that and more worried about being seen by people they know. If you are the latter, then you may be OK with blurring just a part of your face.

Either way, if you have significant tattoos and are concerned with privacy, it’s probably a good idea to blur your tattoos as well.

For blurring, there are several useful apps you can try. I like Airbrush and Meitu.

Considerations for Clients

Clients can sometimes be wary of providers who blur their faces, often because they misunderstand why they do so. It’s understandable for some people to hesitate to book someone when you’re not fully sure what they look like. However, if seeing someone’s face is extremely important to you, simply book someone who is face-out. It is usually considered rude to ask a face-in provider to show you her face card before meeting. Remember, it is for her security and safety, not a sign of insecurity.