Retouching costs: what is included and what is additional
Your session most likely includes at least on Photoshop retouching and includes High Resolution and Print rights. You can have your prints and retouching done by anyone. They do not have to be done by us. You can do it yourself or you can hire an outside retoucher.
Computerized retouching is included in all sessions on all images at no additional cost.
To help keep the retouching costs down, we normally use a flattering lighting and use a special software on all images. Computerized retouching software uses special algorithms that smooth and adds a slight glow to the skin.
It is often sufficient for smaller prints and younger subjects, men, and children, where no heavy age lines exist and reshaping is not required. We normally use a light setting, however we will do a stronger computerized retouching when it works well with the photos. This can ultimately remove or minimize most all but the very deepest of lines.
Basic Photoshop work – $20 to $30 per image For Headshots
Additional Photoshop Retouching is at additional cost and is done using Photoshop in conjunction with other sophisticated image editing applications.
Here we can do just about anything you could imagine. Our basic Photoshop work includes softening or removal of light to moderate facial lines, minor body sculpting (simple slimming and enhancements) define jawline, light scar removal, soften or remove skin blemishes, small tattoos, mild/few stretch marks, smooth neck etc., removal of any visible lights or light stands, extend backgrounds or flooring if needed, as well as basic Black and White conversions.
The following Photoshop work subject to additional charges: $60 per hour
We charge $60 per hour for more complicated and time-consuming retouch work.
— Color or image changes on wardrobe, background, hair etc.
— Extreme or complicated body sculpting, large tattoo removal,
— Alteration of client’s wardrobe items (addition or removal of items, straps, adornments, logos etc.),
— large number of stretch marks, skin blemishes, fat rolls, facial lines and wrinkles,
— head swapping, removal of braces, dental changes,
— mono and polychromatic, HDR or other specialty conversions,
— or any subjective revision requests on our original retouch work.
All images are first brought to their best color and contrast levels. We believe that retouching should always maintain the character of the subject, and look “realistic” while still showing them in an “idealized” or “fantasized” manner…
Retouching costs can vary considerably from image to image.
This depends on the final print size desired for the images, the age of the subject, the size of the areas, the percentage of skin to be retouched in the image, the amount of retouching required, and whether body or facial re-contouring (thinning enhancing) is desired or needed and to what extent. Other items that can add to the cost are color changes, background changes,
Here are some approximate retouching costs various types of images of female subjects.
(Men normally around 25% less)
These rates are for retouching to a magazine cover standard – jpg or .tif files — 8 1/2″ x 11″ at 300 ppi, capable of prints up to at least 20″x30″ and probably larger.
- –Headshot of a younger female subject needing cleanup of blemishes and lines – $20.00 ea.
- –Headshot of a younger female subject needing full cleanup of all blemishes and lines with contouring and enhancements- $25.00 ea.
- –Head and body shot of a younger female subject needing full cleanup of all blemishes and lines with contouring and enhancements- – $25.00 – $35.00 ea.
- –Headshot of middle age female subject needing cleanup of blemishes and lines – $25.00 – 35.00 ea.
- –Headshot of middle age female subject needing full cleanup of all blemishes and lines, with light contouring and enhancements- $35.00 – $40.00 ea.
- –Head and body shot of middle age female subject needing full cleanup of all blemishes and lines, tattoos, with body contouring and enhancements- -$30.00 – $50.00 ea.
Nudes and Semi-Nudes (Retouched in “Playboy Style”)
- –Headshot and full body nude or semi-nude of younger age female subject needing light cleanup of blemishes and lines – $20.00 – 30.00 ea.
- –Headshot and full body nude of middle age female subject needing full cleanup of blemishes and lines with body contouring and enhancements- $30.00 – $40.00 ea.
- –Headshot and full body nude of middle age female subject needing a large amount of cleanup of all blemishes, stretch marks, scars, tattoos, freckles, etc. as well as with body contouring, and “proportion enhancements”- -$35.00 – $60.00 ea.
Revisions on our Retouch work:
Any specific client requests, that were missed or any obvious mistakes made by us will, of course, be fixed and not be subject to any revision fee. Subjective revision requests are subject to a minimum $20 rework fee. We use our best judgment from our years of experience to give the photos a professional and flawless look. We do any specific work requested by the client as well as any obvious things we can do within the time allotted by the quoted price, to make our client’s images look the best we can.