CONVERSATIONAL RETOUCHING BASICS

Conversational Retouching Basics is an exclusive, proprietary approach to retouching by Orange County Headshots. Lorin Backe coined the phrase “conversational retouching” in 2005 when illustrating how to apply post-production edits to fellow photographers best.

Though it is universally understood that retouching is an essential component of any professional headshot, it’s equally important to recognize the actual goal of retouching. Expertly applied retouching is NOT intended to make the face look perfect but rather conversational.

That is, an appropriately retouched face appears as if viewing their face while in a “conversation.”

It’s you and your best day. Let’s explore further.

Have you noticed that we do not see every detail of their faces when interacting with others? Sure, you have, but do you know why? The answer is as simple as our peripheral vision.

When we converse with others, our peripheral vision is fully activated. Instead of hyper-focusing on every facial feature and imperfection, our attention is distracted and divided among many visual inputs.

However, when we view the same face in a photograph, suddenly, our peripheral vision is deactivated. Rather than seeing the face in its “natural” state (i.e., in an admiring, diffuse recollection), we quickly notice every detail as if scrutinizing it in a vanity mirror. Subsequently, features and blemishes are exaggerated, blunt, and unflattering.

Therefore, since the unretouched, “natural” face is anything but “natural,” judicious retouching is essential.

Accordingly, a greater degree of retouching is not intended to alter one’s character but rather to restore one’s facial features to how others remember them –conversationally.

EXPRESSIONS ARE FLEETING

Yet another reason retouching is so vital to one’s professional headshot is that expressions are fleeting – this is especially relevant to the smile.

The quintessential difference between the painter and the photographer is that the latter seizes the moment. While the painter’s brush reflects an idealized interpretation of one’s expression, the camera permanently freezes facial features in piercing detail.

Though the painter can opt to omit from his canvas the dark circles under the eyes caused by a passing smile, the photographer has no choice but to capture every eye-bag crease, line, wrinkle, furrowed brow, squinty eye, blemish, and imperfection. It’s the nature of photography and cannot be avoided. It’s also never more observable than in a portrait, where its design and purpose are called a “head” shot!

In other words, the only way to reduce and soften the negative consequences of the captured moment is by sensible and skillful alterations of the photographed face.

Therefore, the objective of retouching is to render the face as others think or recall one’s face, conversationally – not how it actually appears in stark reality. A face frozen in time by a camera and lens, with every distorted, harsh, and uncomplimentary imperfection that our faces express, is not the same face we see or remember about our friends. It’s also the reason why the best approach to rendering the face naturally and professionally is found in conversational retouching.

ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL

Orange County Headshots does not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to retouching. While automated retouching software has become the norm for the one-size-fits-all headshot studios, Lorin Backe provides a personalized retouching application for each face.

There is no one approach to retouching that is the same for everyone. Retouching a face is not only a subjective matter of how one wishes to be portrayed but can be directed by its intended use. That is, while a CEO typically has latitude in enhancing their features, a savvy actor knows to stay close to a more “natural” depiction of their face.

Therefore, the level of retouching anyone might choose is entirely at their discretion. Though we have yet to photograph a face that did not require touching-up beyond our base level, we allow our clients to choose what degree of retouching is most relevant to them.

Keeping with our tradition of personalized service, we offer three retouching options and an additional one that features background customization. You can view examples of our looks/retouching options in our gallery of Before and After Headshots:

Express – Standard: $0
Prime – Radiance: $75
Pro – Complete: $150

Please note that our four Before and After Headshots gallery options are not seen as Good, Better, or Best. They are instead a practical approach to meeting the individual requirements of every face. There are no good, better, or best – only options that are most beneficial to your specific needs. One size does not fit all…

Determining the degree of retouching best suited for your face is primarily a function of listening to your concerns and attending to your specific requests. Many clients ask Lorin to proceed according to his aesthetic appraisal. Regardless of which approach is best for you, we guarantee our retouching for the life of your image. We are also happy to tweak your headshot until you are thoroughly delighted.

DIGITAL BACKGROUND REPLACEMENT

BACKGROUND REPLACEMENTS are offered in two modes:
Simple – when requesting a SIMPLE color background or STOCK image to be substituted.
Tailor-Made – when requesting a unique, one-of-a-kind creation by Lorin Backe.

SIMPLE: $50

Simple background replacement is ideal for those requiring a specific background color or a stock photo. This might be as simple as matching your clothing choices or selecting a background color to correspond to your website.

Tailor-Made is an exclusive feature of Lorin Backe’s Headshot services, which is the design of a digital background to complement any number of design considerations. It’s the ideal choice for those looking for a unique image and who want to Stand Out From the Crowd.

Should you like to discover more about Conversational Retouching Basics:
CONVERSATIONAL RETOUCHING HISTORY

As always, should you have questions regarding any aspect of professional headshots or the basics of Conversational Retouching Basics, no concern is too small.

Lorin Backe