Retouching: What's your process and fees?

This may not be in the right place but I have a question regarding retouching, in particular for something like portraits, business portraits, etc.

When you let a client proof, do you

1. just do basic exposure adjustments and put them ALL up, let them pick and then do things like skin retouching, etc AFTER they have chosen

or

2. Pick the best few, retouch them and then just put only those up.

I generally do #2, but I have a client who wants to see them ALL! I was advised to put them all up and then let them pick and advise them they are not retouched yet. Client has some skin issues and foreseeing the next possible question: "Can you retouch them all", I figured I had better nail down how I want to handle this in the future.

So thinking ahead, what is your process? I don't mind switching my method and not retouching them and letting the client choose from all the images (even though they are all more or less the same and I picked the best 2 of each pose), but then what would you say if they asked you to retouch them so they could make a choice?

Do you specify that you retouch them once and anything extra is a fee?

Anyone who cares to share I would greatly appreciate your method of operation regarding this. I have not run in to any issues regarding my retouching but I want to be prepared in advance. Thank you in advance.

I do all final edits before they see anything. I also tell them to let me know if they want something in a different look like B&W or if there is a blemish they want removed to email me and I'll do it free of charge.

I'm only semi-pro though.

My fees and packages include retouching for deliverables but not proofs. I don't proof everything I shot but I do proof everything that doesn't get culled out for one reason or another. Retouching all proofs would waste a lot of my time, as most packages only include 5-10 finished images out of maybe 100-200 proofs and the other 90-195 images would never see public eyes. Most of my clients are teenagers with acne so it can be a challenging, time consuming process to retouch even the few they order.

This was my initial thought, and this is why I do what I do. However I took over 100 with this group. One thing I struggle with is all the pictures are fundamentally the same! If we change pose I provide a proof of the best of that pose, retouched. But if I take 5 or so shots of a pose, I don't provide them all, b/c they are all the same.

In this event, I showed them the images on the camera, they selected what they liked, and those are what I edited. Now 1 does not like his b/c he looks "too stern".

I have a hard time with older folks in particular b/c they are getting a hangup on "all the files" even though I explain "the are all the same".

I'm not sure which is the best way, but I do think retouching every single file is overboard.

So when you show them the final edits, how many options do you show them? Every picture? Or if you take say 5 of a pose do you select the best 2 or what is the process on that?

Thank you for your reply.

Retouch one or two as an example of what to expect;
Show the client the unretouched proofs - including the "before" of the retouched example(s);
Have the client choose a small number of final picks to be retouched. The exact number of finals should have been decided before the shoot.

All the proofs get basic batch editing - exposure correction, white balance, etc.

I don't "retouch them all" unless that was included in the original agreement, and I'm getting paid for that time.

Further thoughts:
It's up to you whether to "show them all." Certainly don't show any of the culls - blinks, missed focus, etc. But sometimes you can show two or three of the same pose - even though they look the same to you - just to satisfy the particular client who feels that they need to be in control of what they receive.

I think cdifoto has said in the past that he doesn't show any retouching examples for specific clients; he's got plenty of examples on his website/portfolio, and clients know what sort of retouching to expect.

I should say I took so many b/c the last group picture we did was them interacting live, talking, etc. So we had to hit a lot of those b/c inevitably someone had their eye closed in one pic or another.

I took prob 10 portraits of each person, showing them the pictures with their approval before moving on. We might have changed the pose 1 or 2 times. I selected the best 1-2 of each pose, assuming there was no eyes closed out of focus, or just something "weird" in the pose.

nathancarter wrote in post #16408976
Retouch one or two as an example of what to expect;
Show the client the unretouched proofs - including the "before" of the retouched example(s);
Have the client choose a small number of final picks to be retouched. The exact number of finals should have been decided before the shoot.

All the proofs get basic batch editing - exposure correction, white balance, etc.

I don't "retouch them all" unless that was included in the original agreement, and I'm getting paid for that time.

Thank you and yes the final deliverable was decided up front in terms of how many they get (directly stated in contract). I wasn't sure if you were commenting on that being decided up front or are you saying I should also say how many proofs they get up front. like "30 proofs and you may select the 5 best"

In that case I did not specify # of proofs, only # of final delivered. I simply shoot, show them a preview, if they are satisfied with the shots taken we move on, if not we reshoot.

abbypanda wrote in post #16408972
This was my initial thought, and this is why I do what I do. However I took over 100 with this group. One thing I struggle with is all the pictures are fundamentally the same! If we change pose I provide a proof of the best of that pose, retouched. But if I take 5 or so shots of a pose, I don't provide them all, b/c they are all the same.

In this event, I showed them the images on the camera, they selected what they liked, and those are what I edited. Now 1 does not like his b/c he looks "too stern".

I have a hard time with older folks in particular b/c they are getting a hangup on "all the files" even though I explain "the are all the same".

I'm not sure which is the best way, but I do think retouching every single file is overboard.

So when you show them the final edits, how many options do you show them? Every picture? Or if you take say 5 of a pose do you select the best 2 or what is the process on that?

Thank you for your reply.

Heck I delete all duplicates right off the bat after checking for the best one from a technical standpoint. If you delete them you can tell the client you already deleted them, and the discussion is ended. I don't understand why anyone would clutter up their hard drive with these huge files that are useless.

Having people choose from your camera LCD is a BAD idea. Put them in a gallery where people can view them properly.

I don't have "versions" of edits. I don't instagram my photos with filters and silliness like that. Retouching is retouching. It's done and it's done. They have B&W options but there are no variables.

Do it long enough and you'll eventually have what's called Professional Expertise. They'll trust you.

I let them know how many photos they can expect within a range and that I have final say on which get to see the light of day.

I only retouch the ones I want to deliver. I don't let them pick which photo they like of themselves the best. They might pick one that is not critically focused or not as well composed. I don't want that photo out there.

People usually pick their favorite photos for the wrong reason, often due to some minor self conscious issue like a slightly crooked tooth or big ears or something when no one else but them see it that way.

Come to think of it maybe that is a better solution. To specify # of proofs and # of final images, instead of just # of final.

facedodge wrote in post #16408998
People usually pick their favorite photos for the wrong reason, often due to some minor self conscious issue like a slightly crooked tooth or big ears or something when no one else but them see it that way.

I kinda have a problem with this line of thinking.

Don't show them proofs if focus is missed or there are other critical errors. Aside from that, deliver the ones that make the client happy.

cdifoto wrote in post #16408997
Heck I delete all duplicates right off the bat after checking for the best one from a technical standpoint. If you delete them you can tell the client you already deleted them, and the discussion is ended. I don't understand why anyone would clutter up their hard drive with these huge files that are useless.

I do that. On the guys portrait in particular (women's look awesome) we took a few poses, me showing him and getting approval with each one, which he and his female partners liked (viewing on the camera). I showed him the best of them via online gallery, but a few I left out. Personally his body posture overall the whole time was very unconfident and "slouchy" and my husband picked up on it big time the day of. The fact that he thinks he looks too stern is a bit odd to me. But in a few of the pic the way he stood my husb felt he looked unconfident and like he had to go to the bathroom. So I didn't put those up, but they are up now b/c he asked! I did delete a lot of them up front, but I save a few in case I need them for something.

So if you delete all the duplicates then you are showing them 1 proof of each pose correct?

nathancarter wrote in post #16409008
I kinda have a problem with this line of thinking.

Don't show them proofs if focus is missed or there are other critical errors. Aside from that, deliver the ones that make the client happy.

nathan carter and dodge you have both hit it on the head. I didn't show any proofs with missed focus or technical issues but i left out some that I felt the body posture was way off. I have a creepy suspicion that those will be the ones he wants……

nathancarter wrote in post #16408976
I think cdifoto has said in the past that he doesn't show any retouching examples for specific clients; he's got plenty of examples on his website/portfolio, and clients know what sort of retouching to expect.

Yeah I posted a somewhat worst case scenario on my website with a hoverable before/after with explanation. She was beautiful but exhausted from school sports and activities the week and day before and very much looked it. The after has her looking fresh faced with things like rouge added.

Using round numbers here... If I take 100 photos, I will delete 75 of them, Process 25 of them, touch up 15 and deliver 20.