Skapanorn Retouches wrote:
Tell the retoucher what you need. If you want only light retouching, tell him/her that. Don't be shy about telling exactly what you're looking for.

But what is over-retouched to you? It differs from person to person, and maybe you should hire a retoucher that you feel works by your standards.

Do you even have permission from the photographer. Some photographers do not like their work being altered. There is no credit to the photographer for these images which I find odd also.

Shelby Wylde wrote:

Do you even have permission from the photographer. Some photographers do not like their work being altered. There is no credit to the photographer for these images which I find odd also.

Maybe the photographer isn't on MM? Why does always someone have to assume the worst in these threads? This isn't what this thread is about.

Skapanorn Retouches wrote:
Tell the retoucher what you need. If you want only light retouching, tell him/her that. Don't be shy about telling exactly what you're looking for.

But what is over-retouched to you? It differs from person to person, and maybe you should hire a retoucher that you feel works by your standards.

thank you-- good advice.
how similar does the image i show him/her as an example have to look to the image i want retouched in order for the example to be helpful?

mikedimples wrote:
You only waited five minutes...

Anyways, ask for texture preservation and a natural look. Find pictures of retouching you like and retouching you don't like, sending both examples to the retoucher. Generally lower prices mean more obvious retouching.

thanks, i'll make sure not to go too cheap then...

Skapanorn Retouches wrote:

Maybe the photographer isn't on MM? Why does always someone have to assume the worst in these threads? This isn't what this thread is about.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the Photographer being on MM or not - if u post someone else's work u credit the owner of the copyright PERIOD

And even tho the "permission" is not what this thread is about - It's never wrong to remind someone what's the LEGAL way to go about things.

About the original OP question - I suggest u to look for a retoucher with samples u like and link the person to a retouch in their folio so u can have exactly what u want.

Tones and lighting have nothing to do with texture and amount of retouch - don't say u want little retouch done, u want natural and texturated not little.

have fun with it and make sure u have permission from the photographer.

x

hannahlin wrote:
So, being a brainless model, I have never had to direct someone in terms of retouching photos. I have several photos now that I need retouched and I know I don't like it when photo's look over-retouched... but I don't know how to express/direct what I want. Any suggestions?

I think "Don't make them look over-retouched" expresses it pretty well. Given that instruction, I would make it my business to go in like a thief in the night, so you'd never know I had been there if you didn't have the original for comparison.

And I wouldn't take the legal warnings too seriously if I were you. This forum is overpopulated with lawyers who never saw the inside of a law school. Just fix your pictures.

Brian Ziff wrote:
ask for the good shit.  then lower your head slightly and raise your eyebrows while inquiring, "you know, the good shit?"

From my private retouching stash? Are you kidding me? Oh, the Ziffman sent you? Why didn't you say so in the first place?

There's a couple of ideas floating around in this thread that are just begging to be merged... look for examples of the retouching you like, and look for a retoucher you like. Just look for images that looks like what your after, and message that guy/gal; even if it's a photographer portfolio, if they're good retouchers, they often do it on the side, or maybe they'll point you to whoever's been secretly retouching for them...

A N G I E wrote:
Look for a retoucher you like and ask for a natural looking retouch

+1

Make sure your clear you dont want it to look processed.