If you’ve ever looked at a photo and thought, “Wow, that must have come straight out of the camera,” I hate to break it to you, it didn’t. Not mine, not anyone’s. Retouching is the step between taking the shot and making it really pop, and it’s why professional photography has that extra magic.
Retouching isn’t about making people look fake or erasing every wrinkle, freckle, or bit of texture. It’s about shaping the image so it tells the story it’s meant to tell. Every photo, even one taken with perfect lighting, top-tier gear, and the most photogenic subject, has something that could be improved. A hair catches the light wrong, a shadow falls in the wrong spot, colors are slightly off. The camera captures reality, but reality can be messy.
I’ve heard people say, “I want my photo natural, no editing.” The truth is, every photo they’ve ever loved has been edited. Magazine covers, billboard ads, the portraits on their favorite websites… all retouched. The trick is that good retouching doesn’t scream “edited.” It just makes you think, “That looks amazing.”
Here’s a perfect example. The first photo might look finished, but the client had a strict brand guideline where every background on their website had to be exactly the same shade. Even the tiniest variation was a no-go. I removed the subject from the original background and placed her on one that matched their site perfectly.
She was also wearing a flower pin, which was the main detail of the look. The artist felt one of the lower petals looked droopy, so I adjusted it to appear fresh and balanced while keeping it completely natural.
Before
After
You wouldn’t know these edits were made unless someone pointed them out. That’s what good retouching does. It blends in so well that it feels like it was always meant to be that way.
My process usually starts with the basics like exposure, color, and white balance to set the mood we want. Then I clean up distractions, even out tones, enhance textures where they matter, and make sure skin still looks like skin. The goal isn’t perfection for the sake of perfection. It’s making the image feel balanced, believable, and in harmony with the rest of the project.
Retouching also keeps everything consistent. For an editorial shoot, every image needs to feel like it belongs together, so when you see them side by side in a magazine or online, they tell one complete story. The work behind the scenes is what makes the final image feel effortless.
Nothing comes out of the camera perfect, and that’s a good thing. Retouching is the final brushstroke, the polish that makes an image stand out. It’s what takes a good photo and makes it one you can’t stop looking at.
If you want to see how retouching can change the way people see you or your brand, check out my portfolio or get in touch. Every photo deserves that second look.