Fashion Retouching by Freelance Retoucher John Deaville

Throughout my 20+ years as a retoucher, I’ve delved into numerous Fashion Retouching projects alongside a spectrum of retouching niches, encompassing beauty, people, and PR.

My journey commenced in a photographic studio in South London, where I honed my skills as a retoucher and general assistant, contributing to various fashion editorials, advertising campaigns, and private portrait sessions.

Fashion Postproduction entails a distinct approach compared to beauty retouching. While beauty retouching often strives for flawless perfection, fashion and editorial retouching leans towards a more naturalistic outcome.

Just as in any project, client collaboration is key. Typically, clients provide mood boards to steer the direction of the retouching process. Initially, I present a selection of retouched and graded images to ensure alignment with the client’s vision.

Fashion Retouching in practise

In practice, the client furnishes a marked-up version highlighting areas for attention. A typical retouching job may involve:

• Cleaning up skin textures using a blend of frequency separation and dodging and burning techniques, aiming for a natural appearance.
• Selectively removing creases and folds in clothing.
• Compositing subjects and props to make an engaging composition.
• Refining hair and hairlines by eliminating flyaway strands and overlapping hairs.
• Applying creative tonal and color grading to enhance the overall aesthetic.

Moreover, I employ similar techniques in portrait retouching and editorial work, ensuring consistency and quality across diverse projects.

All images copyrighted John Deaville / Photofixer.