Retouching Techniques
The Art of Portrait Cleanup: A Step-by-Step Guide to Natural-Looking Retouching
The Art of Portrait Cleanup: A Step-by-Step Guide to Natural-Looking Retouching When I first started retouching portraits, I made the same mistake many of us do: I cleaned up everything. Every texture, every subtle shadow, every whisper of character. The result? Portraits that looked plastic and lifeless. Over the years, I’ve learned that great portrait cleanup isn’t about erasing reality—it’s about enhancing it thoughtfully. Today, I’m sharing the approach we use in our studio to create portraits that look professionally polished while still feeling authentically human.