Before and after retouching

An unedited photo is only half a photo. Even if the skin isn’t retouched, the rest of the photo needs to be adjusted and the difference will be night & day. Photo retouching/editing is so important that I include retouching with every photo. Most clients have probably never worked with a photographer that is capable of actual professional retouching, so it’s my job to inform them of what actually happens during editing. Editing a photo consists of a few key parts, depending on the needs of the photo:

Shaping clothes & hair

Skin cleanup, texture cleanup, fuzz cleanup

Skin discoloration

Eye enhancement

Teeth, lips

Hair enhancement

Advanced skin retouching

Color grading

Contrast & General Lighting Modifications

Contouring

It sounds excessive right? False. A professional camera picks up every little detail in a photo. This isn’t iPhone photography. I deliver massive, high-resolution files capable of being displayed on the side of buildings. Every small detail is notable (as clients love to remind me haha!). Makeup off? Every little jagged line or mistake in blending will absolutely show.

However, not every photo needs all this work. For instance, I try to keep headshots looking as natural as possible. The last thing you should be doing is submitting a super manipulated photo for castings. The primary job of the retoucher is to ensure that it looks like the photo HAS NOT BEEN RETOUCHED. Occasionally I’ll have a client that wants excessive work done. That’s okay and I can do that per request but I highly recommend against it, your friends and colleagues will NOT think it looks good.