Should I pay to have my digital files edited or retouched?

Photo retouching, editing, effects, and filters. Do I need it if I have photo editing software or apps? Should I pay extra for retouching or edited photos on my digital images?

Photo editing is the changing of images. Some types of editing, such as airbrushing, are done by hand and others are done using photo editing programs like Photoshop. Photo editing is used to remove blemishes and make the model look better. This is usually called retouching, airbrushing or Photoshopping…. Other reasons to edit a photo include fixing errors (red eye, contrast, brightness, etc.).​ From Wikipedia

The answer is yes! Even if you have some editing software at home or the office, you need a professional to make it perfect! I have been working with retouching photos for more than 20 years. As a Photoshop artist I can swap heads or even replace people in photos.

I have so many tricks and techniques to make you look younger and slimmer without changing your true look. I edit each individual image by hand with my digital pen and tablet. We do not just rely on filters and apps that blur the pixels together and let it go. We take our time and make the water and skies more colorful with layers and the result is not over saturated with too vibrant colors or orange skin tones that you often get with apps, effects and filters.

Here is a before and after image. before hair edits and retouchingwe edited out his blowing hair, the sand in his hair, and the red eyes.

Before edits on hair and eyes

hair after edits

After editing his hair out and removing the red eyes

The little boy has sand in his hair and red eye as well as blowing hair. Now you can print out a wall portrait if you like. Maybe you look great already and it is something we could not fix the day of photo shoot, like the weather, bad seaweed in the water, stormy ocean colors, or dark clouds. We can fix them all. 

In this next image we needed to add a girl who was not present for the session. These changes can be made for a fee. Notice how we removed the people and condos from the background and enhanced the sky and water color. This is now a large canvas wall portrait in their home.

Before editing no retouchingBefore photo with people and condos in background before adding person in digitally.

Before Photo

After editing added personWe enhanced the colors and edited in a cousin.

After Photo with added person. 

Before RetouchPhoto with no editing or changes raw from the camera Before

Photo after edits and retouchingPhoto with editing and retouching Finished Photo

So, go ahead...get your digital files edited and retouched. It is worth it!