The goal of retouching a photo is to make it look like, there was actually no retouching done!
The photo of you, needs to look like you, by being natural, relatable, and genuine. We are not taking photos and doing beauty retouching for the cover of fashion magazines like Vogue or GQ.
Here is a photo of me, straight out of camera (SOOC).
Usually, I follow these, but not limited to, re-touching steps:
- General adjustments
- Exposure (is the photo too dark or too bright?)
- Colour (is the person too warm (red), or too cold (bluish)
- Whiteness, blackness, contrast
- Calibration (correct for the camera and lens)
- Remove the lights modifiers
- Details
- Enhance the irises (the eyes are the window to the soul, just sayin')
- Blemish removal (anything that is not going to be there in 2 weeks)
- Make up correction - little, or too much, lipstick, eyeliner, etc.
- Teeth whitening, if needed
- Hair - removal fly away hairs (hair, nose, eye), missed shaving, etc.
- Lighten "bags" under the eyes
- Skin tones - for example, redness in skin, or skin dis-colouration
- Skin texture - depending, add a little softness
- Wrinkles - I may reduce them, but I don't remove them
- Clothing - remove blotches, marks, dandruff, dead skin etc. Note, black clothing looks great, but my camera picks up a lot of details.....
- Other
- Remove glare in glasses
- Minor adjustments to clothing
- Specific requests - if there is something a you specifically want such a removal of a nose earing, or reduce the visibility of a birthmark/mole, etc.
- Crop
- Provide the images to you in three different sizes:
- WIDE - pretty much, as captured
- TIGHT - more captivating, emphasizes face and eyes,
- SQUARE - for social media profiles (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook)
So, here are three different sizes of the "final" image.
How much does professionally retouching cost?
Nothing. There is no additional retouching cost for the professional headshots that you select in my studio.
Resources for retouching
There are an endless number of resources for learning how to professional retouch photos. Some of the ones that I use to include:
Once you have a professional headshot or portrait....now what?
It’s completely normal to feel nervous about getting a professional headshot, you’re not alone. In fact, I’ve written about that very thing here. My job is to make the experience as comfortable and relaxed as possible, so your natural confidence comes through in every shot.
One question I often hear is, “Should I smile in my headshot?” The answer depends on a few things, and I break it down in this blog post. Don’t worry, I'll guide you every step of the way so you never feel unsure in front of the camera.
Once you have a great image, there are so many ways to use it, from LinkedIn and websites to press releases and more. For ideas, check out the best ways to use your headshot.
Read more about professional headshots:
- What makes a good headshot - Part 1
- What makes a good headshot - Part 2
- What makes a good headshot - Part 3
- General questions about professional headshots
Peter Istvan Photography
Peter is a professional headshot photographer. Available in studio, or on location. Serving Parry Sound, Muskoka, Sudbury, North Bay, Barrie, Toronto, and surrounding areas. View pricing and scheduling.
