Basic Retouching vs. Digital Art - "Extras"
Below you will find a quick reference of what is included with your finished images.
In short, “Basic Retouching” is for incidental details, where “Extras” are digital art, special effects or enhancements.
To answer the FAQ: Do I retouch them myself - short answer … No, not any more.
Why?.. Because how we do anything is how we do everything. I’ve had to accept that my full-time artist is better, faster and has freed me up to see the finished work with objectivity … a second set of eyes to request reworks before you ever see them.
In 25+ years I’ve invested no less than 20,000 hours in Photoshop. “Clicking zits since ‘96” (and a cringe-worthy poet for even longer - HA)
My perfectionism was costing me a great deal of late-night edits. In 2008 it became clear that I would have absolutely NO life unless I hired an artist to handle my retouching … a proposition that has proven win-win-WIN. A win for my talented contractor, a win for me (less time at the computer, more time with camera) and a HUGE win for my clients. I didn’t know how not-great I was at blending blemishes until I hired a full-time artist.
THE PROCESS:
Within 24 hours of our session, I personally cull the images. Because it’s me that gets to know who you are and how you’d like to be seen, I’ve never been an advocate of culling services.
From there I personally manage the exposure, composition and color edits before my artist ever sees them. This allows me to toggle the before/after photos with an objective, editorial eye.
As true-to-life as I prefer to keep the finished images that we deliver, there are inevitably "incidentals" that don't need to be permanently displayed.
These lists are for human subjects and backgrounds. Most of my product clients know that anything is possible with inanimate subjects.
**PLEASE NOTE:** This is a judgement-free safe space. We see you as great, just as you are. That said, we won't judge you if you prefer making changes that exceed incidentals ... the items listed in Basic Retouching.
BASIC RETOUCHING:
These items are included at no extra cost (with rare exception) on purchased file or print orders, unless otherwise stated. e.g. Marketing Packages "hourly plus all files" are color/exposure corrected, but not retouched unless stated.
Previewing before/after work from my professional artist…
Purchased prints and/or files receive these common treatments "above the shoulders" as a rule of thumb. Clothing flaws or background alterations are "extras."
• Dark lines under eyes are minimized and blended, but rarely removed. More can always be done, but my default is "Believable."
• Facial Blemishes - Acne is the most common.
• Birth marks or Age Spots - Only by request. We assume you embrace nature, but won't charge extra for these minor extras. If we accidentally remove them, just say so and we'll revert any that were seen as incidental blemishes.
• Stray Hair - on the inner (face) and outer rim of your hair line.
• Eye & Teeth whitening - Digital is brutal on coffee and tea stains - our default is to whiten within reality, not glow-in-the-dark white.
• Facial Sheen - Today we're able to blend out hot spots with ease in post-production. If you wear makeup, apply for evening wear (a tad heavier than usual to compensate for studio lighting).
This is one of those cases where the “Extras” are free. The parent of my senior became my lighting assistant, so I counted this as “Basic Retouching.”
• Glass glare and distortion - We don't charge extra for either, unless your eye color is not detectable. Transition glasses are an exception and should not be worn for outdoor sessions.
• Gaps in hair or rogue strands... I do my best to catch these while shooting, but it happens... It is rare, but this can fall under "Extras" when extra time is required.
• Inset molars, shaded by front teeth. (replace missing teeth, see extras)
Misc others... It's Oregon ... shooting outside in a thin top on a cold day ... I don't embarrass easily so just let us know if we can add a few clicks to keep you modest, or if you have a strap showing that you'd like removed.
If it's easy (not time consuming), it's free...
DIGITAL ART EXTRAS
Teams grow or can’t always come together on a single day…
Most of these are services that exceed the face and head except for head swaps or changing or extending hair color to hide roots between colorings.
You will not be judged and we are respectful of not discussing things that are sensetive topics.
Eye opening
Besides, I hear "...20 years and 20 pounds..." at LEAST three times per week. Nobody is every saying to add them except my youthful financial advisors and medical professionals that cannot wait for their faces to indicate "seasoned."
Most of these extras are around the $10-20 range and won't be done unless we can make it look completely natural. I can show you multiple head swaps at the studio that you would never know had blinking or missing subjects in them.
• Head/eye Swaps - In group photos, there's always a blink or two. "Opening eyes" is usually done by swapping them from a similar pose.
• Hair coloring - Adding or removing grey.
• Chin thinning or removal - One of our most common requests and I never feel “fake” about honoring it. Why? - Because studio lighting angles give you a nice bone structure, often thinning one side, but at the expense of the other side grabbing a tad too much light. The alternative is flat lighting that is NOT complimentary - makes most people look like linebackers … not the usual goal of most people I serve.
• Clothing repairs or color alterations
• Subjects added to or removed from groups.
• Background extensions or clipping paths (removal of background altogether) Pretty much anything to do with the background is an extra, but rarely runs more than 10-20 minutes in extra work. ($10-$20)
• Braces removal or addition of teeth
Pretty much anything you throw at us “may” be accomplished if the base image(s) are lit similar-enough to be combined.
If it makes or breaks your liking vs. loving an image, just ask. Perfection may be more affordable than you realize, and it might just save you rescheduling your entire team when somebody joins you or retires.