Getty Images iStock informed contributors via email Monday, that effective Oct. 1, they cannot submit "any creative content depicting models whose body shapes have been retouched to make them look thinner or larger."

The move is in reaction to a new French law that obligates clients who use commercial images to disclose whether models' body shapes have been retouched to make them look thinner or larger, according to the email. France's law also goes into effect Oct. 1, according to the email titled: "RE: Important Information on Retouched Images - Legal Update."

Retouching images is a common practice in the media business, but this development comes during a time when public conscientiousness regarding weight and image is undergoing a radical shift.

Getty Images is a premier stock photography source for media outlets across the globe. Getty photographers, whose work is well-respected in the industry, are often given top consideration at major events.

A spokeswoman with Getty, Anne Flanagan, said the guidelines will also apply to all staff and contributing photographers who submit creative content for commercial use as of Oct. 1.

Flanagan said via email, Getty's editorial policy requires images to be accurate, but noted this is the company's first guideline that addresses retouching for creative content.

"Images illustrate and reflect the events of our world today and therefore have a responsibility to be delivered to the customer with accuracy and impartiality," the existing policy states.

"We have been passionate about elevating the ways in which people are portrayed by the media and we have been very clearly communicating this to our contributing photographers," Flanagan said Tuesday. "In fact, we’ve seen a trend towards stepping away from the hyper-airbrushed, perfect images of the past and a growing demand for intersectional realism."

The policy shift will likely have significant repercussions across the industry and possibly beyond in the days to follow.

The email states that "other changes made to models like a change of hair color, nose shape, retouching of skin or blemishes, etc., are outside the scope of this new law, and are therefore still acceptable."

Email: Agnish@northjersey.com