The Three Levels of Retouching at Oliver Doran Studios
Retouching gets a bad rap. For some, it conjures images of over-smoothed faces, plastic skin, or a person so altered they barely recognise themselves. But that’s not what we do here.
Some of our clients want to embrace every line, freckle, and feature exactly as it is. Others want a gentle polish. And some, particularly in commercial work, need pixel-perfect imagery with the kind of finish you’d expect in a global ad campaign.
This is where our three levels of retouching come in:
Level One – Minimal Retouching (Real & Raw)
For campaigns like “No Apology” and “Real” where authenticity leads the way
- No airbrushing. No beauty edits.
- Includes tonal correction, cropping, exposure balance, and house colour grade.
- Natural blemishes, texture, and lines are left untouched.
- Ideal for personal empowerment campaigns or documentary-style portraits.
“You, as you are. Lit well, edited lightly, and completely unapologetic.”
Level Two – Standard Studio Retouching
Included with all portrait sessions unless otherwise requested
- Our signature house colour grade
- Blemish removal (temporary spots, redness)
- Skin softening with texture preserved
- Eye brightening, teeth whitening (subtle!)
- Flyaway hair cleanup
- Background clean-up and straightening
- Wardrobe touch-ups if needed
This level is clean, polished, and true to life—with just enough finesse to make your portrait sing. Think magazine-ready, without looking retouched.
Level Three – Commercial Beauty Retouching
Quoted separately – for advertising, editorials, and branding campaigns
- Advanced skin work: frequency separation, micro dodge & burn
- High-detail retouching for makeup, hair, and wardrobe
- Precision eye and iris enhancement
- Professional-grade colour grading to suit campaign style
- Consistency across a set of final images
- Output optimised for print, digital, or billboard
Ideal for high-end clients, brand campaigns, and anyone needing that elevated, editorial finish. Not included in standard portrait pricing.
Sample Images
Here’s where you can see the difference:
What’s Right for You?
That’s where we come in. Every session starts with a conversation—about what you want to see, how you want to feel, and how you plan to use your images.
Whether you’re after raw honesty, classic polish, or next-level refinement, we’ve got the tools—and the taste—to deliver it properly.
Glossary of terms
SKIN
- Skin Softening (Natural Look)
Instruction: “Please soften the skin slightly, but retain texture—especially around the eyes and smile lines.”
Translation: Clean and polished without wiping out pores or realism. Think GQ, not glossy brochure. - Blemish Removal
Instruction: “Remove any temporary blemishes—spots, redness, or shaving nicks.”
Translation: If it’s gone by next week, it goes today. - Even Out Skin Tone
Instruction: “Balance uneven skin tones—especially around the jawline, neck, and chest.”
Translation: Bring everything into the same visual postcode. - Mattify Shine
Instruction: “Reduce shine on forehead, nose, or cheeks.”
Translation: Slightly less ‘studio light’, more ‘red carpet glow’.
EYES
- Brighten Eyes
Instruction: “Subtly brighten the whites of the eyes and enhance iris colour.”
Translation: Fresh, alert, and maybe just back from holiday. - Remove Redness or Veins
Instruction: “Clean up any visible veins or redness in the eyes.”
Translation: Clear-eyed and camera-ready. - Tidy Under-Eyes
Instruction: “Soften dark circles or puffiness under the eyes.”
Translation: Late night? What late night?
HAIR
- Tidy Flyaways
Instruction: “Tame or remove distracting flyaway hairs, especially around the hairline.”
Translation: Wild but not unhinged. - Fill Hairline Gaps
Instruction: “Fill in any sparse patches in the hairline if visible.”
Translation: A subtle bit of volume confidence. - Extend or Balance Hair Ends
Instruction: “Even out uneven hair ends or patchy volume.”
Translation: Symmetry for the win.
LIPS & TEETH
- Whiten Teeth Slightly
Instruction: “Subtly brighten the teeth.”
Translation: Natural white, not neon billboard. - Even Lip Colour
Instruction: “Balance any uneven lip colour or dry patches.”
Translation: Tidy and tonal.
BACKGROUND / COMPOSITION
- Clean Background
Instruction: “Remove any distractions from the background—plugs, marks, shadows.”
Translation: Nothing pulling focus from the star. - Straighten Image
Instruction: “Check vertical lines—ensure image is level.”
Translation: Unless it’s a Dutch angle, it should behave. - Crop and Centre
Instruction: “Ensure subject is centred (unless otherwise styled).”
Translation: Give it balance, or a reason not to have it.
COLOUR GRADING
- Apply Warm Tone
Instruction: “Apply a subtle warm tone to enhance skin tone.”
Translation: Glowing, not toasted. - Apply Cool Tone
Instruction: “Apply a light cool tone for a modern, fresh feel.”
Translation: Editorial edge. - Match Skin Across Frames
Instruction: “Ensure consistent skin tone across all selected images.”
Translation: One face, one tone—no surprises.
BEAUTY RETOUCHING FOR COMMERCIAL USE
For editorial, advertising, or luxury branding work—where perfection and polish are the brief.
This level of retouching goes beyond “natural polish” and into the realm of high-end refinement. Ideal for campaigns, billboards, or brand imagery where every pixel counts. It involves a higher level of time, technique, and attention.
Pricing is quoted separately for this level of retouching.
ADVANCED SKIN WORK
- High-End Frequency Separation
Instruction: “Please perform full-frequency separation for advanced skin texture control.”
Translation: Clean, dimensional skin without flattening. Texture is even, but real. - Pore-Level Cleanup
Instruction: “Remove uneven texture or impurities while keeping pores intact.”
Translation: A flawless face that still looks like skin—not vinyl. - Dodge & Burn (Micro-Level)
Instruction: “Apply dodge and burn to even tone and sculpt face shape naturally.”
Translation: Think subtle contouring with light, not a makeup brush.
MAKEUP & DETAIL ENHANCEMENT
- Enhance Makeup (Lips, Eyes, Brows)
Instruction: “Sharpen and clean up makeup edges, boost colour where needed.”
Translation: As if the makeup artist followed the subject into Photoshop. - Whiten Eye Area and Teeth (Advanced)
Instruction: “Precision whitening—no blown-out whites.”
Translation: Clean but not radioactive. - Iris Detailing
Instruction: “Sharpen and enhance the iris pattern subtly.”
Translation: Eyes that mesmerise without looking fake.
HAIR & WARDROBE POLISHING
- Stray Hair Cleanup (Strand-by-Strand)
Instruction: “Remove individual stray hairs—especially across face or clothes.”
Translation: Precision over quick fixes. - Fabric Retouching
Instruction: “Smooth out wrinkles, folds, or bulges in clothing.”
Translation: That one stubborn crease in silk? Gone. - Symmetry Adjustments
Instruction: “Subtle corrections to posture, shoulder height, or garment alignment.”
Translation: What the stylist would’ve fixed on set—done quietly in post.
COLOUR GRADING & FINISHING
- Professional Colour Grade
Instruction: “Apply custom colour grade to match brand tone or editorial brief.”
Translation: It’s more than a preset—this is tailored colour artistry. - Skin Tone Unification (Across Campaign)
Instruction: “Ensure consistent skin tone and colour grading across all campaign images.”
Translation: Cohesion from billboard to mobile screen. - Sharpening for Output (Print vs. Web)
Instruction: “Optimise sharpening for final use—high-res print or digital.”
Translation: Razor-sharp where needed, but never overcooked.
