Headshots NYC - NYC Headshot Photographer - Union Square NYC
Photo Retouching
Before - Click to enlarge photo
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After - Click to enlarge photo
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Airbrushing photos, photo retouching, or photoshopping all mean the same thing - nobody is perfect. However, for an actor, the actor's headshot must appear natural and not over touched up. I am a photo retouching wiz and I have seen some pretty bad retouched photos so you have to ask questions and be very careful you don't let yourself or your retoucher go to overboard.
There are actor headshot do's and don'ts when it comes to airbrushing photos. Here is a list.
photo retouching do's
1. If you have pimples or bumps that will clear up on there own by all means take them out as they are only temporarily visiting your face.
2. If you have a cut on your face from shaving or a scratch from a rough night with your loved one by all means say good bye to that.
3. If you have chapped lips un-chapp them with a little photo retouching.
4. If you have blood shot eyes make sure you take most of the red out but leave a line or two because the eyes shouldn't appear all white unless that is how your eyes normally look.
5. If you have dry or oily skin and forgot to use a make up artist (big no no) then photoshop it out.
Photo retouching don'ts
1. If you have bags under the eyes (most people do) then you can have them lightened up with an opacity of 20%. Do not take them out completely unless you are 18 years old again.
2. If you have wrinkles I would say to follow number 1 above. Lighten them up but don't remove them.
3. If you have freckles and don't plan to remove them for real then keep them in. If you have 1 or 2 that you can't stand and nobody will notice then have a photoshopping party and take it out.
4. If you have a mole and again don't plan on removing it then it must stay. Who knows you might get hired to play a mole on tv.
5. If you have yellow teeth I would say you could follow 1 & 2 above because it's normal to look great in your headshot but if you have a row of rotten teeth I would take care of that one before you do the shoot.
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There are actor headshot do's and don'ts when it comes to airbrushing photos. Here is a list.
photo retouching do's
1. If you have pimples or bumps that will clear up on there own by all means take them out as they are only temporarily visiting your face.
2. If you have a cut on your face from shaving or a scratch from a rough night with your loved one by all means say good bye to that.
3. If you have chapped lips un-chapp them with a little photo retouching.
4. If you have blood shot eyes make sure you take most of the red out but leave a line or two because the eyes shouldn't appear all white unless that is how your eyes normally look.
5. If you have dry or oily skin and forgot to use a make up artist (big no no) then photoshop it out.
Photo retouching don'ts
1. If you have bags under the eyes (most people do) then you can have them lightened up with an opacity of 20%. Do not take them out completely unless you are 18 years old again.
2. If you have wrinkles I would say to follow number 1 above. Lighten them up but don't remove them.
3. If you have freckles and don't plan to remove them for real then keep them in. If you have 1 or 2 that you can't stand and nobody will notice then have a photoshopping party and take it out.
4. If you have a mole and again don't plan on removing it then it must stay. Who knows you might get hired to play a mole on tv.
5. If you have yellow teeth I would say you could follow 1 & 2 above because it's normal to look great in your headshot but if you have a row of rotten teeth I would take care of that one before you do the shoot.
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Click to enlarge photo. I just woke up and set up the camera for a quick photo of myself. Bags under the eyes. Puffiness. Redness. Stains and a whole lot more of imperfection.
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Click to enlarge photo. I photoshopped out some of the bags, oil, and redness. I took out the stains along with some freckles that were on my arm. I also popped out the color on my face and darkened around my face for an effect.
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Click to enlarge photo. This is a metallic black and white effect with creative shadowing and blue eyes. It's amazing that I had just woken up.