Beth F PDX wrote:
My question is how influential would a senior retouching title be on my resume? If the experience is there and my professional portfolio (a lot if stuff that I can't post on the internet at the moment) has some big brands and good work would it be that big of a difference having that title?

Title means nothing. Being a retoucher your images speak for themselves.

The title in itself is quite worthless, however if the agency is one of the large international chains having their name on your resume would mean something to clients that don't recognize good retouching form mediocre retouching.
What clients you work for at the agency is more important.

Beth F PDX wrote:
It's not my favorite company, the work isn't bad and the pay is great, but I am not really enjoying the company culture.

So you have done work for them. The problems with being "employee" and freelance are different and you must decide for yourself - other than the title and portfolio pieces.

The title is immaterial and only impresses those in the corporate culture or corporate politics. That's part of the "employee" thing. You have to play the company game. Note that "some" advertising agencies have a very loose "culture" - they recognize that the creative types are different and don't lend themselves to the strict norms. That's at odds with the straight laced clients who are not with the modern trends.

You get a steady pay check - but it may not be as much as you can earn freelance - if you develop a good freelance business practice. You have to deal with the down sides of the freelance, but if you handle that well, it's not as bad as playing politics as employee in a company you don't like.