Peano wrote:
Mine is: "There are no rules."

Okay.  So I just need to stay open minded.

George Ruge wrote:
Mine is, " if it ain't broke, don't fix it! "

Yes!   I like that one.

alberta86 wrote:
Okay.  So I just need to stay open minded.

Not necessarily. You can set strict standards and adopt hidebound preferences till the cows come home, if you please. But I think it's a mistake (and a common one at that) to convert one's standards and preferences into rules that are somehow supposed to govern others.

Gary Alan wrote:
mine is

"why should i change this"

if I cant find a reason i dont change it..

Then of course the client comes back with "why didnt you change this?" o_O

And if you do they ask "why did you?" Catch 22

alberta86 wrote:
Do you have a "Golden Rule" for NOT retouching something?  If so, I would love to know what it is?

Photojournalism - exposure & adjustments only

Peano wrote:

Not necessarily. You can set strict standards and adopt hidebound preferences till the cows come home, if you please. But I think it's a mistake (and a common one at that) to convert one's standards and preferences into rules that are somehow supposed to govern others.

My problem is that I'm so new I don't have any real standards or preferences.  I'm trying to find my way and am curious as to what other retouchers' standards are.  I have so many questions but they usually all boil down to "Did I go too far with that?"  And then sometimes I shy away from retouching things because I say to myself, "Who am I to change it?"

So in short, I guess I'm looking to just govern myself and reduce some of this turmoil in my head while retouching an image.

alberta86 wrote:
My problem is that I'm so new I don't have any real standards or preferences.  I'm trying to find my way and am curious as to what other retouchers' standards are.  I have so many questions but they usually all boil down to "Did I go too far with that?"  And then sometimes I shy away from retouching things because I say to myself, "Who am I to change it?"

So in short, I guess I'm looking to just govern myself and reduce some of this turmoil in my head while retouching an image.

The key (well maybe not the key but perhaps a hint) is to have a goal and idea of what the final image will look like. so you have a context , a framework to help guide your process. It might also be helpful to set some limits at the beginning of an image like "this image will appear natural when I'm done" or" this image will be obviously altered but still appear to be a result of "normal darkroom processes" have a goal and a limit and don't be afraid to follow a tangent.

alberta86 wrote:
Do you have a "Golden Rule" for NOT retouching something?  If so, I would love to know what it is?

"touch everything a little bit, but nothing too much."

NewBoldPhoto wrote:
The key (well maybe not the key but perhaps a hint) is to have a goal and idea of what the final image will look like. so you have a context , a framework to help guide your process. It might also be helpful to set some limits at the beginning of an image like "this image will appear natural when I'm done" or" this image will be obviously altered but still appear to be a result of "normal darkroom processes" have a goal and a limit and don't be afraid to follow a tangent.

Thanks!  This was very helpful for me.

PhotoHive wrote:
My only rule would be to leave the face geometry alone; no resizing the eyes, no change to the nose shape or ears, jawline etc... I can remove blemishes, skin overlapping under the eyes and so on, but not make someone look completely unrecognizable.

Body is a different issue; no qualms there.

What kind of photography do you specialize in?

Downtown Pro Photo wrote:
I have done some teeth straightening for clients that wouldn't be correct for the person, but it was to show some teens what they would look like if they did go in for braces.  I checked with my dentist to make sure it was accurate before showing them.  They liked the way it looked so much they went and got braces.

That's cool to use retouching to make a positive change in people's lives.  I never thought of that and would love doing something like that.

alberta86 wrote:
A retoucher will always be limited by what the photographer sees.  Is that a correct statement?

No.









I could go on . . .

NewBoldPhoto wrote:

The key (well maybe not the key but perhaps a hint) is to have a goal and idea of what the final image will look like. so you have a context , a framework to help guide your process. It might also be helpful to set some limits at the beginning of an image like "this image will appear natural when I'm done" or" this image will be obviously altered but still appear to be a result of "normal darkroom processes" have a goal and a limit and don't be afraid to follow a tangent.

Well stated.

alberta86 wrote:
Do you have a "Golden Rule" for NOT retouching something?  If so, I would love to know what it is?

As you realize, there are no general rules.

Mine:

* Not because you can do it means you should

* Not because it looks better means that it looks good

* Don’t fix it if it ain’t broken


Then other things to take into account like when you alter something in the image you need a reason other than “I think it’s going to look better” - Basis for your aesthetic decisions

Everything you do to a model shot should be to enhance composition, you don’t slim her down to slim her down but to make her fit better in the frame, make the shape more interesting, to have more elegant lines. The same with clothing, eyes, arms or nose. When you change the lipstick/eyeshadow tones, you do it to take attention from them or drawn attention to them.

Your job as a retoucher is to create an interesting image with no distracting elements.

Enhance composition and depth in terms of Color, light and texture and guide the viewer through the image.

Don't forget about how perception tricks you:

When you zoom in for too long you are so concentrated on details you can't see shape.
Like this "illusion" http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/mag … _alphageek

Also, perception of colors http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_constancy

One more thing about perception in general... taste.
Even tho there are no rules, there are, most of them intrinsic to traditional art principles. There for, the more you consume great art (Photography, Film, Architecture, Drawing, Painting, etc) the more you will develop an eye for retouching.

Also, if you're starting I wrote this and hope it helps you https://www.facebook.com/notes/natalia- … 5785528265

Good luck!

x

George Ruge wrote:
Mine is, " if it ain't broke, don't fix it! "

I tell models this all the time

Peano wrote:

No.









I could go on . . .

Wow!!! How'd you make the sky like that?!   That's awesome!!!!

Big A-Larger Than Life wrote:
Wow!!! How'd you make the sky like that?!   That's awesome!!!!

If you mean the last one, hue/sat layers to darken and tint the sky. Gradient at the bottom to create the glow on the horizon.

EDIT:

robert b mitchell wrote:
I will retouch until it starts to feel wrong. Then I backtrack...and start all over again.

I guess you're in the same boat with me then

alberta86 wrote:
What kind of photography do you specialize in?

I don't really specialize in any kind anymore.  I do lots of portrait; not really for fashion.  A good part of what I do doesn't fit on ModelMayhem (3D virtual visits, journalism, stock)