Photo editing and retouching: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What photo editing and retouching is

An editor adjusts color, exposure and cropping, and removes distractions or blemishes from your photos, delivering polished files in the formats you agreed on. People hire an editor when they have photos that need work, such as a product line, a family archive or a set of images for a business.

Signs you need it

  • You have a set of photos with uneven color, exposure or cropping
  • You want distracting objects, marks or blemishes removed from your images
  • You need a consistent look across a batch of photos from one shoot
  • You need files prepared for a website, a print, a listing or social media
  • You have old family photos that need repair, color correction or restoration
  • You want an editor who keeps the photos true to how they look in real life

What the pro does

  • Asks about the photos, the look you want and where the images will be used
  • Reviews the batch and sets a consistent editing plan for color and exposure
  • Adjusts color, exposure, contrast and cropping for each image
  • Removes distractions, marks or blemishes, with care to keep the photo natural
  • Shares a preview or a sample so you can approve the look before the full batch
  • Delivers the final files in the sizes, formats and naming you agreed on

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Number of images and the editing level for each
  • Whether the job is a simple color correction or detailed retouching
  • Whether restoration of old or damaged photos is needed
  • Whether the editor needs to match a look from a reference set
  • Number of revision rounds included
  • Turnaround time, including rush delivery for a launch or a listing
  • File formats, sizes and naming requirements for each channel

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of images and the editing level for each
  • Editing plan, including color, exposure, cropping and retouching
  • Number of preview rounds and revisions included
  • File formats, sizes, naming and delivery method
  • Turnaround time and any rush option
  • What happens if an image cannot be repaired or is too damaged

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Can I see before and after examples of photos similar to mine?
  • How many revision rounds are included, and how do you handle changes?
  • What file formats and sizes will I receive for each use?
  • How do you keep the photos looking real and not over-edited?
  • Can you match a look from a set of reference photos?
  • How do you protect my original files and the copies you work on?
  • What is your turnaround time for a batch of my size?

Red flags

  • They show examples that look heavily changed and unnatural
  • They do not ask how the photos will be used or what file sizes you need
  • They will edit or alter photos in a way that misrepresents the subject or product
  • They keep no copy of your originals or do not say how they store them
  • They will not confirm the turnaround and the revision rounds in writing

What you can do yourself

You can sort the photos you want edited, delete the obvious duplicates and write down the look you want. You can also keep your original files safe in a separate folder before you send anything. Hire an editor for the color, the exposure, the retouching and the export settings, since a consistent batch takes a trained eye and a steady workflow.

Licenses and permits

No state license is usually required for photo editing. Make sure you have the rights to any photo you send for editing, and check any rules that apply to edited images in advertising or listings with your state or local licensing agency.

Photo editing and retouching questions

Does a photo editor need a license?

Usually not a state license. Ask for a portfolio and before and after examples, and confirm the editor will keep your originals safe.

How do I make sure edited photos still look real?

Ask for a preview, set a clear look in writing and approve a sample before the full batch. Avoid edits that change the product or the person's features.

Who owns the edited files?

Agree on this in writing before you send the photos. The contract should say who owns the edited files and how you may use them.

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