I was gonna comment the same thing. I've seen other very similar articles, and it's all basically about having a good looking human subject, zooming into them as much as possible and blurring the rest of the background. To me, "it's all about skill, not the location" would be about shooting the actual "ugly" locations and making them look nice. Actually have seen articles here about that too - it *is* really impressive.

and who thinks flowers and christmas trees are ugly?

Was thinking the same thing: "So, just blur the background, then?"

Well, here's your chance, hop to it.

Oh photography isn't that simple at all! You can take an ugly picture of a beautiful girl! Sure models make it easier, and I admit that some (not all, but definitely some) of these photos were a poor example of the attempt at the concept, but honestly it's all about ANGLES! Angles and lighting and wardrobe choices and makeup choices and... there's so much to it. Anyone can be a good photographer if they set their mind to it, but it is NOT simple! Not everyone who is pretty photographs well. Photo editing in and of itself is also a skill. So is learning how to light. Now, I used to believe the same thing. There's pretty things, and we just point and click, I said to myself. But as I've advanced in skill I learned that's not true, it takes persistence and knowledge and patience and a million other things I can't even begin to tell you here. Please believe me when I say there's more to it, and please respect and value the art. <3

and a good camera and lights and knowledge on how to get that background blur and how to get the right light angle. But you do have a point, it's not immense skill, it's just skill in general that a professional photographer would have.

And why is she holding her hair the same way in a bunch of them? This is what happens when you use your wannabe insta famous friend instead of hiring a professional.

you just need tons of photoshop skills, not really skills to take pictures

Don't try to be that good, be better.