Photoshop is my go to editing software for post shoot editing and retouching, but there are some things that I just won’t do when it comes to editing a session.
The first thing I won't do is make you look less like YOU. My general philosophy is to remove any blemishes or other non-permanent marks or artifacts on the skin. The amount of retouching desired is up to the individual client and I do my best to honor retouching requests while also making sure your photographs are still YOU.
What about stretch marks? Great question! We probably all have them – it’s a fact of life! I don’t automatically remove them but I do soften them in post session editing. They are a part of who you are and where you have been in life. If you want to completely cover them instead of seeing them at all, we can discuss outfit options or use creative posing to make you look and feel your best.
Scars are another important topic to talk about. Although scars are permanent, they can be covered using a couple of different methods during the shoot. We can use makeup depending on the size of the scar. Or if the scar is not on your face, we can use clothing or creative posing.
But what if none of the above works? Example, you had a facial piercing at one time and makeup doesn’t cover the hole that well. I can (by request) remove the scar in editing. If you have a scar that you are concerned about, let me know before your session so we can talk about the best options for your shoot.
Freckles! Many clients have freckles and love them and some clients don’t want to see them in their final images. Most of the time freckles can be covered using a full coverage foundation. (If you are working with one of my amazing stylists, be sure to talk to her about how much coverage you want from your makeup.) If your freckles aren’t covered by makeup and you DON’T want to see them, I can de-emphasize them in post retouching but I do not completely remove them.
There are so many more topics to talk about when it comes to using Photoshop for post session editing and retouching. One of the hottest topics being about the liquefy tool (to make you look thinner). I use the liquefy tool, but probably not for reasons you think! I will talk more about that in a future post. I hope you found this helpful and look forward to your comments! mj
