Retouching solution: Brighten the image, remove a jacket collar wrinkle, fix a loose jacket sleeve, remove a distracting pocket square, change the tie to something more harmonious, even out the skin tone and skin colour, remove dark circles from under the eyes, brighten both eyes (sclera and iris), enhance one catchlight, remove dark shadows from the hand, and replace the background.
Only brightening the photo would not have corrected all the issues with this portrait. More complete retouching produces a more compelling photo.
When a photograph is important, you don’t want someone simply “editing” it.
You want someone who knows what to look for.
I’m often asked, “How much does it cost to retouch a picture?” The answer depends on the photo, the amount of work involved, and the result you want to achieve.
My general retouching rate is CAD $140 per hour. But an hourly rate alone doesn’t tell you what your photograph will cost. Some images require only a few carefully considered adjustments. Others demand hours of detailed work.
That’s why I need to see your photo before I can quote a price.
Retouching Begins With Looking
Professional retouching isn’t simply a matter of following instructions or executing a list of presets.
You may know exactly what you want changed: a stray hair removed, a crooked collar corrected, facial shine reduced, or an object removed from the background. This is very helpful.
Or you may know that something about the photo isn’t quite right without knowing exactly why. Perhaps the image feels cold, the lighting seems harsh, or the subject looks tired. Maybe the background isn’t right. This is when experience makes a difference.
I examine the entire image, not just the problem you noticed. I look at skin, hair, clothing, lighting, colour, contrast, composition, and distractions. Then I decide what deserves attention and what should be left alone.
The best retouching is often the retouching you don’t notice.
Every Image Receives Individual Attention
I don’t apply the same treatment to every photo.
A family portrait, a wedding photograph, a professional headshot, and a commercial image all have different requirements. Even two photos from the same session may need different approaches.
For example, you might ask me to remove stray hairs and lighten under-eye bags. But when I examine the photograph, I may also notice that the colour needs correction, the exposure is slightly off, or a crooked collar draws attention away from the subject.
I’ll explain what I see and recommend the corrections I believe will improve the photograph. You decide what you want done, and you know the cost before the work begins. Recommended additional work may or may not cost more.
Retouching solution: Straighten the bottle, center the bottle by extending the image to the right, remove dust and dirt from the bottle, adjust overall exposure, correct overall colour, modify lighting on the bottle, and replace entire background.
Fixing only the label would not have fixed the photo. More comprehensive retouching leads to a more impactful image.
Why I Need to See Your Photograph First
A description can only tell me so much.
If you say that someone’s clothing looks messy, for example, I need to see whether that means a crooked collar, twisted sleeve, wrinkled jacket, untucked shirt, or something else entirely.
Seeing the original photo lets me understand the image as a whole and determine the work it actually requires.
Once I’ve examined the photo, I can provide an exact price.
When the Photograph Matters, the Details Matter
Some photographs are replaceable.
Others aren’t.
It might be a wedding photograph from a day you can’t recreate. A family photo that will become an heirloom. A professional portrait that represents you to clients. Or a commercial image that represents your business.
Those photographs deserve more than a quick filter, an automatic correction, or a one-size-fits-all editing service.
They deserve a careful eye.
My approach to retouching is simple: preserve what’s real, remove what distracts, and improve what can be improved without losing the character of the photograph.
If you have a photograph that matters to you, send it to me.
I’ll take the time to examine it properly, tell you what I recommend, and give you a precise price before I begin.
When the photograph really matters, give it the attention it deserves.
