Start with the portfolio
A good portfolio shows before-and-after pairs, not only finished images. You want to see what the original looked like and what the retoucher did to it. Look for work that matches your type of photo: skin, product, apparel or jewelry are different skills.
Zoom in. Check that skin still has pores, that edges are clean, that logos are intact and that colors look believable.
Seven red flags
1. No before-and-after pairs, only polished results. 2. A price far below everyone else with no explanation. 3. Vague answers about revisions. 4. No clear way to reach the person during the job. 5. Reluctance to do a small paid test. 6. No answer about privacy or what happens to your files. 7. A request to pay or communicate outside the platform or process you agreed on.
One flag is a reason to ask more questions. Three or four is a reason to walk away.
Questions to ask
Ask how many revisions are included, how fast you will get a reply, how the quote is built and what is quoted extra. Ask which file formats you receive, whether layered files are available and what they cost. Ask whether a real person reviews every image and whether AI is used at any step.
At LightHouse Retouch the answers are: revisions are included, we reply within 12 hours with a personal quote, extras (rush, layered files, NDA) are quoted upfront, and every image is retouched by hand.
Run a small paid test
Send two or three of your own images that represent your hardest work, with a short written brief. Pay for the test so the retoucher treats it as real work, and so you are comparing real quality.
Judge the result at 100% zoom and at the size you will use. Did the skin keep its texture? Are the logos and edges clean? Did the retoucher follow your notes? Was the communication clear and on time?
How to decide
Choose the retoucher whose test result and communication you trust, not only the lowest price. A reliable retoucher saves you hours of corrections and keeps your deadlines safe.
If you would like to test us, send a few photos with your brief and we will reply with a personal quote within 12 hours.
Ready for Uncompromising Editorial Quality?
Hand retouching with real skin texture and revisions included. Starting at $40 or $50 per photo, with commercial and jewelry projects quoted within 12 hours.
