There is a Reason Celebrities Have All Their Photos Retouched.

Is retouching necessary? Photographs, unlike moving images like in film or video, are a frozen instant in time. That one moment in time is there to look at over and over, and over again. The slightest imperfection, not normally noticed in real life, stares back at you every time you view the photos. Even if you are young, in great shape and have great skin, for perfect photos you will still look better in a properly retouched photo.  If you want a perfect photo you will always want something corrected.

“Perfection” really only exists with retouching.

As they say “What you look like in photos is all that really counts!”  The high quality digital cameras of today do not miss a thing. Small size images can possibly get away without it. If you are satisfied with the way the small images look and do not plan on printing or using the photos at a larger size you may not need retouching. Without retouching at large sizes you will see even the tiniest of blemishes.

Photoshop Retouching Fixes Anything

Do you want your upper arms thinned, the double chin undoubled?  Do you want your waist made smaller? Shall we make the chest a bit bigger? or higher? You want more muscle? The bump on your nose softened just a bit? How about looking totally like one of those Playboy centerfolds of yester-years? It can all be done and made to look totally natural with Photoshop and a skilled retoucher.

What Should You Retouch? When and When Not?

It is important to evaluate the retouching needs of the photos at the size they will be shown at. That may be 9″ x 12″ in a print portfolio or about 5″ x 7″ on a computer monitor for Internet display. If you zoom in and look at a high resolution file, full size on your computer screen you will see every little pore and the tiniest of imperfections of any photo.  No need for that.  You are probably seeing what the photo would look like if it was printed 2 x bigger than life size and if you were standing only 12″-18″ away from it. Photos are never viewed like that in real life. It is not practical to make a photo perfect at that size as it would take 2 to 3 times the work and time (and cost) to do them.

Retouching Has Become the Norm

Most people in the world today know and understand that most all published photos are retouched… if you are one who thinks retouched photos are destroying society and making our kids have unrealistic expectations — you are out of touch. The youth of today know it is a bit of fantasy, and they more than anyone want to make sure their photos look just as great and have the same advantages as the super models and celebrities.