Toronto photo retouching

A camera doesn't see the world quite the same way as our eyes.

For better or worse, our eyes are very forgiving. We don't really notice wrinkles, stray hairs, uneven skin tones, or dark circles under the eyes on friends around us. But a camera records every flaw and blemish in exquisite detail.

We also don't notice things like miscoloured lighting, overly bright highlights, odd reflections, converging verticals, or assorted other distractions.

Unlike our always moving and always adapting eyes, a camera captures one moment forever. Only when looking at a photograph can we see all the things our eyes missed.

Standard post-processing helps a picture meet our basic expectations. It includes making adjustments to colour, contrast and brightness so that a photo meets minimum professional standards. In general, all pictures need some post-processing.

Retouching goes a few steps further. A retouched photo shows a more polished image and perhaps even what we wished we saw.

Retouching a portrait isn't about vanity. Our brains are hard-wired to judge people based on their facial appearance. This is a built-in survival mechanism. Retouching to correct for things like oily skin, blemishes, yellowing teeth, and uneven skin tones will make you look healthier. In turn, this will make you look more attractive which will make you seem friendlier and trustworthy. Appearing neatly groomed will also make you look more competent. Simply put, a properly retouched portrait will help you make a stronger first impression.

Despite what you may have seen on TV or in a movie, enhancing a photo requires a lot more than just the click of a button. It might take 15 minutes or it might take a couple of hours to retouch a single photo.

Here are some before-and-after retouching samples: