Before and After: Real Retouching Examples Explained
One of the best ways to learn retouching is studying real before-and-after comparisons — not just seeing the result, but understanding every decision that went into it. Let me walk you through five common retouching scenarios and explain exactly what I did and why. Example 1: Corporate Headshot The brief: Professional but approachable. The client wanted to look polished without looking “retouched.” What I did: Reduced (not removed) under-eye shadows using Curves with a painted mask Cleaned up two small blemishes with the Healing Brush — these were temporary, not permanent features Evened out a red patch on the neck using a Color blend mode layer Added a subtle dodge to the catchlights in both eyes Minor color grade to warm the overall tone What I didn’t do: I left laugh lines, forehead lines, and skin texture completely untouched.
