Here we go. Spurred by a reader's astute suggestion this morning, I think we should discuss retouching. As said reader noted:
"now that "retouched" is almost required/automatic-- how do you find a retoucher? How do you work with them?"
Friends, I haven't the foggiest. What if you were me and you wanted to make Sara here's hair green? Bad things would happen:
And yet, I'd rather not pay an outrageous hourly rate for this hair color. I'd like to just buy a box at Rite Aid, as it were. Is this a simple question of Photoshop workshops? I sort of think not... I think many photographers are happy to have a basic knowledge of Photoshop, but need a little help once in a while.
Conversely, if you do your own retouching, you can jack up your invoices to outrageous sums, and many PEs won't be the wiser. Trust me.
What say you?
I suppose you could always team up with this guy.
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I digital tech for a few photographers on a freelance basis to help pay the bills. they prefer me over the big companies (industrial color, etc.) because they basically send out a random tech who will produce cookie cutter work (not always a bad thing). i work with my photographers on a personal basis, so i know their palette and style.
i feel retouchers are the same way. its good to have 1 or 2 people who know your work well, and will be able to create a final product that is synonymous with the photographers vision. there are huge retouching houses that will spot your photos, make everything neutral, and give you a clean final product, but i think photography deserves more than that.
maybe im romanticizing photography too much.
Or this guy:
www.euphoria-imaging.com
I am also a retoucher.
I can do a lot of different things.
I have only heard of people using freelancers through work of mouth, but right now also, I am the top hit on google for the search term "Washington DC Retouching"
Here is my blog:
http://washingtondcheadshotphotographer.blogspot.com/
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Kristina Sherk
http://www.Kristinasherk.com