Retouching a photo is often the final and main step in image processing, which takes much longer time than shooting. Each master performs correction of the drawbacks of the image in his opinion and with different quality, which often leaves much to be desired. Also there are different levels and types of photo enhancement; it depends on the number of applied tools.

The real art of image retouching is impossible to learn in a short time, this requires a hard and painstaking practice. And even a long training does not guarantee that the retouch will be performed at an excellent level, since this is a very complicated process. Professional correction of lacks is distinguished by accurate work performance, correct preparation of the cadre, keeping of the natural texture of the skin and other elements, preservation of the quality of the cadre and even its enhancement, and most importantly – preservation of the naturalness of the photo when removing any deficiencies (skin, hair, wrinkles, etc.). 

What is High End fashion retouching?

High fashion photo editing is one of the approaches of high end portrait retouching of photographs, which is comprised of the practice of more special manipulations in contrast with the general portrait enhancement, with the purpose to create a complete image of the object in the photo.

The very core of this type of retouching is hidden in the title itself; high end is a specific term that denotes “elite level” and “completeness”. And this kind of retouching is used exclusively by professionals who fix up the photo, so that then it is used for magazines’ publishing work and in advertising design.

Photographer: Rossella Vanon 

High End fashion retouching features

In this type of portrait retouching, there is a very fine line between “high quality” and “overphotoshopped image”. Therefore, it is very important for a master who performs such work to have a sense of proportion, because in the end, photography can become annoyingly persistent, which is also undesirable, as well as the presence of various imperfections. For this reason, it takes quite a long time to perform this type of retouching.

The main attention in adaptation of high end fashion photography is paid to the saving of the texture of the skin, especially for large-scale studio portraits, for example, in the style of beauty. It is necessary to keep the proportions and the naturalness of the picture.

How to fix a photo, but keep it natural?

Many people are faced with the feeling that digital photography “does not breathe” in comparison with bright colors, crystal sharpness of film photographs. Thanks to the availability of special equipment, knowledge of color, painting and magazine retouching, the picture comes alive, acquiring the necessary colors and shades, which are the essence of the whole cadre as a whole.

Intelligent selection of images and comparison. The production and creation of innovative new work takes a lot of time. The selection of photographs – is the search for that masterpiece from the raft of the entire footage. It is more like looking for a needle in a bundle of hay.

How to find a needle in a haystack? The simplest answer is with the help of a magnet. A haystack will need to be sorted by hands, while driving with a magnet. So the magnet for the photographer is his creative visual vision and a set of skills to see and show.

The sixty-four-thousand-dollar question: Who determines which image is better? Photographer? Client? Or a mixture of both?

The answer: a subtle combination to please the client and the photographer at the same time.

Clients hire a photographer after analyzing of their high end retouching before after, knowing that the photographer has a photographic look with the addition of a special touch of vision and ginger of editorial photography skills.

The process of selecting an image for a wedding album design is different from the image selection process for a portfolio model, whose photos will participate in various contests. Magazine editors choose their favorite photos according to how they will promote the mission of the magazine, increasing circulation. Judges of photo contests choose images that they have never seen before, etc.

In the end, the common denominator as an art form makes us feel.

The high fashion photo editing – is the task not for newbies

Post-processing is a combination of art and illusion, and is also a backing vocals for a photo artist.

The main goal of retouching is to pay close attention to all the little things, to keep the foundation, but to tastefully remove all the drawbacks without leaving a noticeable trace behind.

What is the difference between a “deep” retouch and a “general” retouch?

Professional development, retouching of photographs, magazine portrait retouching is the creation of a smooth skin, correcting the grain, an appropriate prioritizing, harmonizing of the complexion, as well as strengthening the expressiveness of the face; for all that, preserving the natural texture of the skin. Throughout the retouching phase, a professional graphic tablet is used.

Color rendering is for the photographer almost the main task, to eliminate all possible attempts of different devices to distort the color rendition. Also, color correction is created for further correct color transmission without distortion on different devices. The final preparation of photographs – is for printing and Web publishing.

Post processing and retouching is the most important stage, which can last several dozen times longer than the time spent on the photo shooting, and this photography editing is the most expensive. In the first place it differs by the method of processing and the amount of time. On one cadre of professional post-processing can take from 4 to 6 hours where all the work is done very carefully and painstakingly.

 Portrait high end fashion photo editing – is used for magazine publications, commercials, as well as for high-quality private collections: individual studio filming, wedding portrait photography and others. Therefore, the result looks very realistic and the person remains similar to himself, as if it was taken.

In the end result, you get a high-quality and exclusive finished product in the field of retouching fashion photography art.

What styles of photo processing are there?

Here is our review of the main types and styles of processing photos in Photoshop programs with examples.

The first in our group will be very fashionable, glamorous and similar to each other ideas and options for processing photos, but they also have significant differences.

• Glamour

Brilliant and luxurious style – is for placement in a personal photo album of a fashionista, and for publication in an expensive glossy magazine. All the best of the model in the photo is usually effectively emphasized, and all the flaws: scars, moles, redness, wrinkles and wrong proportions – are hidden by skin retouching online tools. Very similar to the style of “Fashion”.

• Fashion

These are photos about fashion and for fashion. That's why the main task of Fashion photos is to highlight and show on the photos clothes, accessories and other objects related to fashion. This style of retouching fashion photography is used to create a sophisticated image. Delicate pastel shades, glare, light natural gamma of shades, etc. The value of fashion photos is that not only clothes and accessories are shown, but also the overall image of the model: poses, facial expressions, makeup, hair, emotions and belonging to the era and time of creation. Very similar to the style of “Vogue”.

• Vogue

Basically, this is a picture made for the cover of a fashion magazine. Soft colors and shades emphasize the femininity and beauty of the model. Men in this style are almost never taken. The style of “Vogue” is very similar to the style of “Beauty”.

• Beauty

This is a close-up photographing, in which special attention is paid to the eyes and lips, mainly on the makeup of the model. The main difference between such a portrait and a portrait is the gloss, which must necessarily be present. It is widely used models to create their portfolio.

• High Key

There are special techniques for processing photographs, leading to a gentle gradation, almost aerial photographs. These images almost entirely consist of “white” with very light gray halftones. In this style of processing, bright areas of photos should far exceed the dark ones.

• Low Key

In the photographs taken in this manner, usually a lot of black tones, and details in the shadows often completely disappear. Light in these pictures is very small. These works, as a rule, are very contrasting. They often emphasize only the silhouette and the brightest places in the photo.

Next, we highlighted the most modern and popular types of photo processing.

• Instagram

Distorted colors in the photo are the “stock-in-trade” of this style. Using a mass of color filters allows you to give different shades to these pictures. Style of processing Instagram is a trouble-free reception, helping to make from any bad picture the original one.

• Grunge

This is the style of photography with a “rebel spirit”. The emergence of this style direction in photography is mainly associated with rock music. For such pictures are characterized by soft, muted hues, blurred contours, dirty textures and background. These spectacular techniques make the photo more expressive, stylish and original.

• Swag

Swag style is usually suitable for working with young people. This is incredibly luxurious and vivid images that highlight not only the style of clothing, but also gold jewelry, outfits from the most famous designers, luxurious cosmetics and expensive perfumes. These photos remarkably convey the mood, they are literally provocatively saturated with movement and emotions.

• Club style

Photos in the club style are bright and positive. Often these are photos from parties and nightclubs. Superposition of special effects perfectly conveys the atmosphere of a noisy holiday.

• Pop-Art

Style Pop Art is a stylized work of famous artists who worked in the style of popular art. The image is deprived of small parts. The focus is on color spots and large details – this method emphasizes the main idea of a photograph.

• Esquire

Basically, these are portraits. They have become the calling card of the magazine for successful gentlemen. Just that this magazine gave the name to the new style of “Esquire”. A small blur, glare in the light, reflected in the pupils, unusual shades make the photo different from the others. In the portrait they try to distinguish the iris of the eyes to give volume, brilliance and expressiveness.

To gain greater insight into “Esquire” effect read the article “Esquire magazine – extraordinary style of High End photo editing” 

The next group in our review goes to unusual styles of photo processing or “semi-antique”.

• Pin-up

This is the best method for working with women's portraits in the style of popular once-long postcards Pin-up. After correction, the photo gets a completely new look.

• Retro style

This is a stylized image under the antique. They have soft colors, often black and white gamma or sepia, the presence of small scratches and harmoniously located artificial spots that make the picture look like an old one.

• Vintage

This is nostalgia for the past, a fashionable and very specific direction in the processing of photographs, which is based on a revival of certain trends of past generations and entire epochs. This style is usually characterized by the presence of elements of romance and exquisite luxury, such as: elegant hats, lace and unusual antiques. The vintage style is increasingly popular with celebrities and top models.

• Golden photo

The style of this editing is to give a photo of a gold or bronze hue. The whole picture looks like a single piece in the gamut and color, but with clear halftones and shadows.

• Black and Red

It was a very fashionable editing of the processing of photography. This is a black and white photo in which some elements are highlighted in red or scarlet. For example, a black and white photo, on which the scarlet petals of a rose are highlighted, or the outlines of the lips are emphasized, gives the photo a greater expressiveness.

• Noir

When processing photos in this style they are made in black and white. In them the main criterion of expressiveness is the play of light and shadow. Examples: water on glass, autumn rain in an old black and white film, contrasting reflection in water, contours of old buildings in cloudy weather. It is mainly used in landscapes.

• Sunlight

The opposite of the Noir style. Light, golden sunny shades, dawning morning, watercolor.

• Dunhill

The essence of this type of processing photos is in the “texture”, the volume, the use of coffee colors. The basis for them is the atmosphere of autumn and rain.

• Deep Blue

The using of water, cold shades when processing photos. Sea, north, diving.

• Pencil drawing

This is processing photos in the style of “pencil drawing”, artistic style sketches and outlines.

There are still a lot of different and interesting photo processing styles of high end fashion photography that are not included in this review, but we hope that we could help you a bit to learn something new and begin to understand these directions.

Magazine retouching or retouch fashion photography

You probably noticed that the models in the photos of the magazines look much better than in real life. This is achieved with the help of high end fashion retouching. What is meant by the concept of “magazine retouching and artistic processing”? In fact, this is digital processing, allowing you to bring any photo closer to a technical and aesthetic ideal.

The retouch photos in the style of high end and Fashion, Vogue and Beauty, etc. implies the processing of the subject of photography, it is concentrated on all, without exception, the details of the model. More information about this form you can read on “The complete guide to fashion photography with Photoshop glamour retouching”

This retouch is aimed at a very accurate and thorough treatment of hair, skin, eyes, and body retouch and makeup models. However, apart from all this, the designer pays attention to the clothes and accessories of the subject of the picture, works with the figure and secondary objects, which complete the overall composition and make the processed photo more effective.

Professional retouch fashion does not tolerate an unprofessional approach, so it's worth to trust only experienced professionals and responsible studios with their personal impressive portfolio. Otherwise, there is a risk of losing the liveliness of the photo; the photo will look like a picture, and the model for a doll. Any glossy photo, having passed many levels of processing and applied effects, should preserve its individuality.

The high end fashion photography for magazines and artistic photo processing include technical, pre-print processing, cosmetic and compositional retouching.

Photographer: Terry Richardson

Photographer: Terry Richardson

Technical, prepress processing:

• Cropping – increasing the desired object and cutting off unnecessary fragments of the photo;

• Improved image quality – noise removal, sharpening;

• Color improvement – change of brightness and contrast, change of hue and saturation.

Compositional retouching fashion photography:

• Adding objects (clouds, sunrays, etc.);

• Delete objects (accidentally caught in the frame or distracting attention from the main);

• Build and change the background;

• Overlay of various digital special effects: change of texture, correction of light and shadow, selective color replacement, tone correction, black and white effect, HDR;

Cosmetic retouching:

• Giving expressiveness to facial features, underlining eyes, lips;

• Retouching of the skin - improving its texture and color;

• Adding makeup.

You can order a retouch fashion of any photo taken by a professional photographer or independently, but you should remember that if there is no image, then after retouching it does not appear, retouching is just fixing, improving the picture, not creating it. The photo retouching prices are set individually for each photo, depending on the complexity of the processing.

Glamour retouching of portraits is the professional processing of models for studio photos to high standards, up to the requirements of the journal and advertising industry. Includes color correction (development from RAW), retouching of the skin, face and eyes, plastic of the body, teeth, make-up and, according to preliminary agreement, background. Beauty without flaws, attractiveness and high quality of the photo while preserving the naturalness – this is the result that we strive to give you!

Photographer: Florencia Mazza

Photographer: Florencia Mazza

The up-to-date professional photography is inseparable from retouching. Any cadre after the shooting will not stand criticism without skin retouching and prepress. To perform such processing correctly, to make a quality, spectacular, but natural cadre, without the effect of plastic skin and photoshop traces, can’t every photographer or studio.

We offer professional, glamorous retouching to individuals as well as photographers and studios shooting for catalogs and other commercial purposes. We take projects of any complexity, from single cadres to long series. The hi end fashion retouching of portraits can be supplemented with photomontage, clipping and other types of processing by agreement. We work with any formats and materials and are ready to accept an order from anywhere in the world. With pleasure we will discuss the details and terms of your project or individual photos – contact us in the online chat.