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PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
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Photo "Quick Tip" #20:
PORTRAIT RETOUCHING SOFTWARE - Getting that Professional "Model" Look
PORTRAIT RETOUCHING SOFTWARE - Getting that Professional "Model" Look
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Article by Stephen Kristof FreePhotoCourse.com Staff Writer/Photographer all rights reserved "Back in the day" professional photographers of glamour and fashion models would physically retouch their subjects' portraits with airbrushes. Those days are long gone. So how is it done today? Firstly, understand that retouching in the professional world of advertising and media is almost ALWAYS done. Virtually every picture of a professional model that you see in a magazine, webpage, advertisement, product package or poster has been professionally retouched. It's not a real warm and fuzzy statement about society and business' penchant for defining human beauty, but it is a fact of life in the world of professional portrait photographers. Today, retouching is done with a variety of software options that are dedicated to portrait work. While most people are aware of the general practice, they are usually wrong about the software. |
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It's rather common these days for the layperson to refer to an obviously retouched photo as having been "Photoshopped", as though the name of the software is a verb. And while, yes, one can use Photoshop to remove blemishes, adjust skin tone and make minor changes to a person's appearance, it is not the primary software for this purpose. Most photo pro's use Photoshop, Lightroom and other professional image editing software to process almost all of their images before they are presented to the client. However, when it comes to retouching portraits, after cropping, exposure and other processing jobs are done in Photoshop or Lightroom, the portrait image is usually then moved into another program in the workflow that's dedicated to portrait retouching. One of the most popular and powerful portrait retouching programs is Anthropics Technology's "Portrait Professional" or "Portrait Pro" for short. "Portrait Plus", "Beautone" and "Face Filter" are other popular retouching options.
One thing you should know about this retouching business is that it goes much further than the arena of professional models! I'm about to reveal a hidden secret that most portrait photographers don't discuss with their clients and generally don't want you to know about. It's a secret held by the best portrait photographers generally everywhere around the world who regularly shoot weddings, family photos, glamour/boudoir work and other personal, non-professional client work. Get ready, because here it is. They almost always use portrait retouching software as a routine part of their post-shoot processing. That's right. Even though you didn't ask for it, the best photographers will use various portrait retouching software to, basically, make you look fantastic.
One thing you should know about this retouching business is that it goes much further than the arena of professional models! I'm about to reveal a hidden secret that most portrait photographers don't discuss with their clients and generally don't want you to know about. It's a secret held by the best portrait photographers generally everywhere around the world who regularly shoot weddings, family photos, glamour/boudoir work and other personal, non-professional client work. Get ready, because here it is. They almost always use portrait retouching software as a routine part of their post-shoot processing. That's right. Even though you didn't ask for it, the best photographers will use various portrait retouching software to, basically, make you look fantastic.
"I'm about to reveal a hidden secret that most portrait photographers
don't discuss with their clients and generally
don't want you to know about."
don't discuss with their clients and generally
don't want you to know about."
So, what do these programs do, exactly? The technology has progressed immensely during the last ten years to the point where changes can be made to everything from facial structure (ie. raising the cheekbones), to changing a subject's eye color and even applying makeup digitally. The software is now so advanced that the changes, done properly and responsibly, are convincing enough that even experts can't tell the difference between real life and the altered reality of the manipulation that occurs.
Is it ethical to make these adjustments and retouches without a client's request or advance approval? Well, it goes back to the old idea that in any business, you want to give the customer what he or she wants. And even if they haven't asked for it, if what you give them is more of what they want, they'll keep coming back and they'll tell their friends, who will also become customers. Think about it this way; if you are not using this software but the photographer in competition with you is, then who do you think will get more referrals and repeat business?
Take a look at the examples below. In the image on the left, the model has not yet been "retouched". On the right, it's easy to see how the software has added makeup to the model, altered her facial structure, raised her cheekbones, changed the lighting pattern, smoothed her skin, darkened/plumped her lips, increased the vibrancy of her hair, sharpened her eyelashes, defined her eyebrows and broadened her smile.
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The advances are truly head spinning and so, so, realistic. A professional portrait photographer with experience in retouching software can get the spectacular results you see above in just a few minutes. So, then, why on earth would any portrait photographer in today's world not use retouching software?
One caveat, though, is that the software is so powerful and so effective that one can go overboard quite easily. Used responsibly and effectively, it is an outstanding tool. However, it can be abused and overdone, and that is when a client may actually take offense to the extra "work", citing his or her displeasure with the obvious manipulation. Understand that if you have manipulated to the point where your client looks like a different person, they will likely be displeased. At the worst, he or she may be insulted.
Thus, a word to the wise... Learn to use the software. Respect its power. Use it to give that extra special lift that will make your client feel flattered by his or her own image and by your excellent work with them. Use it to eliminate things like blemishes, temporary spots, large pores or problematic textures. Use it to enhance the natural curvature of the facial structure and other existing attractive features. Use it to correct lighting. Use it to brighten and clarify eyes. Use it to whiten yellowed or decayed teeth. But, whatever you do, don't use it to create a different person.
If you're wondering which software the pro's use for portrait retouching, I've provided an updated list of some of the top software applications below, along with links. (Disclosure: we do not have a referral arrangement with any of these companies. This section is provided merely for reference for our readers who may want to follow-up and research further.)
One caveat, though, is that the software is so powerful and so effective that one can go overboard quite easily. Used responsibly and effectively, it is an outstanding tool. However, it can be abused and overdone, and that is when a client may actually take offense to the extra "work", citing his or her displeasure with the obvious manipulation. Understand that if you have manipulated to the point where your client looks like a different person, they will likely be displeased. At the worst, he or she may be insulted.
Thus, a word to the wise... Learn to use the software. Respect its power. Use it to give that extra special lift that will make your client feel flattered by his or her own image and by your excellent work with them. Use it to eliminate things like blemishes, temporary spots, large pores or problematic textures. Use it to enhance the natural curvature of the facial structure and other existing attractive features. Use it to correct lighting. Use it to brighten and clarify eyes. Use it to whiten yellowed or decayed teeth. But, whatever you do, don't use it to create a different person.
If you're wondering which software the pro's use for portrait retouching, I've provided an updated list of some of the top software applications below, along with links. (Disclosure: we do not have a referral arrangement with any of these companies. This section is provided merely for reference for our readers who may want to follow-up and research further.)
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