Anybody that dabbles in digital #photography knows that lighting is a key element in determining the final look of an image. And those that do professional photography should know that.
After looking at some of the VF Oscar Party images, it seems that the folks hired to do the photography didn't get the memo about the guests attending this party being portrayed in a flattering manner. The photos are garish in both tone and detail, and people attending the party got done dirty by some poor choices in on-site lighting and post-processing.
TBH, the photos are unflattering in the same way the the VF photos of the Trump Administration taken in December 2025. In that case, it was suspected (or maybe confirmed) that the unflattering photos were a deliberate artistic statement by VF about the administration but I'm not sure what if the poor post-Oscar photos were also intended to send a message or were just a result of some poor technical choices.
Note that I have no love for most actual or quasi- celebrities, and they probably look as garish in-person as they do in these photos. But the photos are far from glamorous, and that is on VF.
Vanity Fair’s Oscar Party Light-Mare
Inside the Vanity Fair Oscars party: Attendees complain about bad lighting on the red carpet.
The Hollywood Reporter (www.hollywoodreporter.com)