Techniques
5 Common Retouching Mistakes That Make Portraits Look Fake
I’ve reviewed thousands of retouched portraits over the years, and the same mistakes keep showing up. Here’s what to watch for — and how to fix each one. 1. Over-Smoothing Skin This is the #1 mistake I see. Beginners blast the entire face with blur, removing every pore and wrinkle. The result looks like a wax figure, not a person. The fix: Work at 100% zoom and use frequency separation or dodge and burn.