what is retouching? | sarasota premiere photographer

i get this question often so i think a visual explanation is best. below are some examples of before & after shots to show the difference between a non-retouched proof and a retouched image ready for printing.

this first image here shows:

left image - the image as is - straight from the camera.

middle image - the image after editing & post production where color correcting & enhancing are applied. this would be considered a proof and is generally what you would see in sneak peeks and your online gallery. this is applied to all of edited images which is the reason it might take a few weeks before you see your full session.

right image - when you select an image to be printed regardless if it's a 4x6, a 20x30 or an album/book... the image will be re-opened, inspected, and carefully retouched prior to printing. retouching softens lines, removes blemishes, brightens the eyes, whitens the teeth, calms stray hair... overall polishes the image. i take much care to do this in a subtle manner so that it's not over done or you loose a natural birthmark. my goal is to just make you look great.... and produce an image i would be proud to put my name on.

here's a closer look at the retouching....

we do this for all images - some may need more than others - but yes even kids and babies get it.

once your session ends, my real work begins. i spend endless hours on the computer in the editing process creating a stimulating and exciting proof gallery that i can only hope will awe you in the end. i literally can not retouch every single image & therefore only will retouch your selected images to be printed as prints or in books & albums.

i know many would be happy with the un-retouched proof as your finished print and would prefer a discount instead... please keep this in mind, as i mentioned before, i have already put time & energy into that one image... by the time you see your proof it's already halfway to being complete. i am a professional photographer and with that believe in the final polished print bearing my name.

but i understand the desire to have all of your images, they are in fact still special moments captured & preserved. although you might not want every single image displayed throughout your home... you may still want to have each & every memory... therefore i offer an affordable option of purchasing your entire set of proofs (keepsake box) or having them preserved to disc (this option does not include retouching any image).

please feel free to email me for more information.
sorry for the long read - thank you to all who actually reads it all.
B-