Retouching

The Ethics of Retouching: Where to Draw the Line
Industry

The Ethics of Retouching: Where to Draw the Line

Every retoucher eventually faces a request that makes them uncomfortable. A client asks you to make someone look twenty pounds thinner. A brand wants a model’s skin to look literally poreless. A parent asks you to slim down their teenager in a family photo. These aren’t hypotheticals. They’ve all happened to me, and they’ll happen to you. Having a framework for thinking about these decisions before you’re in the moment is essential.

The Complete Guide to Professional Headshot Editing
Portrait Retouching

The Complete Guide to Professional Headshot Editing

The Complete Guide to Professional Headshot Editing I’ve edited thousands of headshots over my career, and I can tell you this: a great headshot isn’t just about the photographer’s skill behind the camera. It’s about what happens after. The editing phase is where we transform a good photo into a portrait that lands interviews, builds credibility, and makes you feel confident. Whether you’re updating your LinkedIn profile, preparing for an audition, or building your professional portfolio, knowing how to edit your headshots properly makes all the difference.

Before and After: Real Retouching Examples Explained
Workflow

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.

5 Common Retouching Mistakes That Make Portraits Look Fake
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.