In this introductory module, students will engage in meaningful discussions about the role of portrait retouching in today’s digital age. We will touch on ethical considerations, such as the balance between enhancement and misrepresentation, and the societal impact of image retouching. Furthermore, we will familiarize ourselves with the Adobe Photoshop interface and basic tools, understanding the functionalities of layers and masks, and how they form the building blocks of efficient and non-destructive editing workflows.

By laying a solid theoretical foundation and ensuring practical familiarity with Photoshop, we set the stage for more complex retouching techniques later in the course. Students will also gain an appreciation for the power and responsibility that comes with image retouching, understanding that our work can significantly impact perceptions and narratives.

The goal of this section is to learn techniques for enhancing skin texture while preserving its natural appearance. Students will get hands-on experience with various tools and methods for removing skin imperfections like blemishes, wrinkles, and uneven pigmentation, ensuring to avoid over-smoothing that can lead to an unrealistic “plastic” look.

In addition, we will delve into techniques for improving skin tone and lighting, bringing out the best features of the subject and creating a fresh, youthful, and healthy look. By the end of this module, students should be proficient in basic skin retouching techniques that can greatly improve the quality of portrait photos.

This module focuses on tools and techniques that can transform an image in realistic ways. We will cover distortion tools for making adjustments to the subject’s shape and posture, retexturing methods for changing the appearance of materials and surfaces, and color blending techniques for adjusting the overall tone of the image.

Through practical assignments, students will learn how to use these techniques to subtly enhance a photo while maintaining its realism. The key here is to understand the balance between transformation and authenticity – making significant changes to an image without making it look unnatural or heavily edited.

The art of bridal portrait retouching involves a delicate balance of enhancements to create an image that is flawless, yet authentic. In this module, students will learn how to refine a bride’s skin, accentuate her makeup, and enhance the overall mood of the image. This includes lessons on how to adjust lighting and shadows, add glow and shine, and bring out the colors in the bridal dress and accessories.

Additionally, we will discuss the emotional aspect of bridal portraits – how to bring out the joy, excitement, and beauty of the bride through retouching. Students will work on real bridal portraits, applying their learned techniques to create photos that the couple will cherish forever.

In this module, students will learn specific Photoshop techniques that mimic cosmetic procedures for better facial symmetry. This includes lessons on how to define jawlines, perfect facial symmetry, and reshape noses. The goal is to create a balanced and pleasing image, subtly enhancing the subject’s features without changing their unique identity.

Moreover, we will focus on the principles of beauty and aesthetics, teaching students how to apply these principles in their retouching work. The focus here is on enhancing the subject’s natural beauty rather than changing their appearance. Students will learn to create realistic, subtle edits that make a significant difference to the overall image.

This module introduces students to the liquify tools in Photoshop, teaching them how to shape the subject’s body in a proportionate and tasteful manner. We will understand the nuances of body proportions, learning how to maintain a natural look while making changes to the body shape. This includes techniques for slimming, elongating, and creating curves where needed.

In addition, we will discuss the ethical considerations around body sculpting, including the impact of unrealistic body images in media. Students will learn how to make changes that enhance the subject’s confidence and attractiveness, without promoting harmful body standards.

While much of retouching focuses on female subjects, in this module, we’ll concentrate on refining techniques for male images. Here, we’ll enhance muscle tone, redefine facial hair, and work on overall ruggedness without overdoing it. The objective is to reflect a natural, believable masculinity while accentuating the subjects’ best features.

Also, students will learn to balance softness and harshness, light, and shadow, maintaining the integrity of the male form while ensuring each image tells a compelling, dynamic story. As with all our modules, we’ll place a strong emphasis on ethics and authenticity, recognizing that men, too, are subject to unrealistic standards of beauty.

In this exciting module, we’ll explore techniques for introducing drama into photos. This includes learning how to create fake bokeh for that appealing blurred background effect, and adding golden light for a magical, warm atmosphere. Students will learn how to subtly manipulate light and focus to draw attention to the subject and enhance the mood of the image.

Moreover, we’ll study some famous dramatic portraits, understanding how the photographer used light, color, and focus to create an impactful image. By the end of this module, students will be able to inject emotion and drama into their photos, taking their retouching work to a new level.

Tired eyes can detract from an otherwise perfect portrait. This module will arm students with techniques to reduce eyelid puffiness, brighten irises, and adjust pupils for more vibrant, expressive eyes. We’ll delve into the subtle art of eye retouching, mastering the delicate balance between enhancement and over-editing.

Furthermore, we will explore the psychology of perception – how people read and interpret facial expressions, and how you can use this knowledge to guide your editing decisions. By the end of this module, students will be proficient in eye retouching, able to bring life and energy to any portrait.

A genuine smile can light up a portrait, but capturing it in a photo is not always easy. In this module, we will learn how to subtly adjust facial features to create the impression of a warm, sincere smile. This involves techniques for brightening the eyes, raising the corners of the mouth, and adding a touch of rosiness to the cheeks.

Students will practice these techniques on a range of portraits, learning how to bring out the joy and positivity in each subject. By the end of this module, students will be able to transform a good portrait into a great one, using the power of a genuine smile.

In this module, we’ll explore the sensitive topic of augmenting the bust area. While it’s essential to respect natural proportions, subtle changes can create a more pleasing hourglass shape. We’ll focus on techniques that ensure your edits do not appear overly artificial and maintain the subject’s realistic look.

With hands-on practice and instructor guidance, students will learn to strike a balance between enhancement and authenticity, understanding that the aim of retouching should always be to empower the subject and increase their confidence in their image.