Retouching

I think that a great photograph is comprised of proper equipment, experience, a good artistic eye, and seamless retouching. Part of what makes an average photograph into a great one is retouching. I would estimate that the typical real estate photograph that
I take is only about 80% complete before retouching. I believe that the images from the camera are only raw material and are not a finished product until proper retouching has been done.

Sometimes the retouching is only minor adjustments of brightness and contrast or replacing gray, leafless trees outside a window with green foliage. Sometimes retouching is extensive, like removing telephone and power lines crossing the exterior and balconies of a building, and turning a dreary winter day into a summer solstice. 

On portraits, retouching may be as simple as removing a blemish, or as complex as subtly removing years or pounds from a subject to give them the ultimate portrait. That's what they do in magazines, and that's why it's called magazine quality photography.

I have hundreds of before retouching / after retouching examples. Below are a few of my favorites. By the way, the gentleman in the white shirt is a good friend and my best-man
in 1982. I think he looks better in his "after" photo than he did way back then!

Before Retouching:

After Retouching

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

Before & After: (animated)