:) Since we are sharing... my work in progress site can be viewed at http://www.brianak.com/retouching.html
My name is Briana and I am a student at Brooks Institute of Photography. I have an assignment to interview pofessionals in my desired field and I am having a very difficult time getting them to call me back... I was hoping some of you guys could help me out if you have a minute... My questions are as follows:


1. Did you attend school for photography/retouching? If not, where did you receive your training?
2. How did you get involved in digital retouching?
3. About how long did it take you to establish yourself as a professional?
4. What steps were crucial in elevating yourself to where you are today?
5. What do you think was your most effective marketing technique?
6. What do you think was your least effective marketing technique?
7. What was the smartest thing you've done to help further your career?
8. What do you enjoy most about your job?
9. What do you enjoy least about your job?
10. What software programs, besides Photoshop, do you utilize the most?


Thanks for your time, and have a great day!

Tall order to fill in all the blanks in your outline but having hired any number of brooks grads over the years, I'll confess to being trained by the military - 4 years in the Air Force in exchange for a life time career - definitely worth it!

Regardless of the school you start in, the best of everything will come your way if you NEVER drop out! There is not a day that I don't pick up on something new ...and that part of the education is going on six decades now.

Jim Conway
Timemark Photo Conservators

1. Did you attend school for photography/retouching? If not, where did you receive your training?
I'm actually an art director/graphic artist with a BFA in Visual Communications and an AS in Commercial Art. I am predominately self-taught as most are, but my degrees came from Jacksonville University for the BFA and Indiana University for the AS.

2. How did you get involved in digital retouching?
Doing graphic design you often end up manipulating images to suit the look or theme you're trying to create. I began doing just that, then one day someone asked me to do a modeling retouch.

3. About how long did it take you to establish yourself as a professional?
Depends on which career. Graphic Artist, I was a professional the first day I took a fulltime job. Freelance Retoucher, I've been doing it for many years now, but I just now got my occupational license and DBA. My next step will be leaving my crutch as Art Director and going fulltime freelance.

4. What steps were crucial in elevating yourself to where you are today?
Definately my education. It is not exactly what I learned, but that little piece of paper that opens doors.

5. What do you think was your most effective marketing technique?
Word of mouth.

6. What do you think was your least effective marketing technique?
Website banners.

7. What was the smartest thing you've done to help further your career?
Taking online business classes, keeping up-to-date on software and technology.

8. What do you enjoy most about your job?
The creativity and being my own boss.

9. What do you enjoy least about your job?
With being my own boss, it is my responsibility to tell people "no". I don't like saying "no".

10. What software programs, besides Photoshop, do you utilize the most?
Photoshop is my main. I also of course use web browsers and email. During my dayjob, I utilize Quark the most w/ a touch of Illustrator as well.

1. Did you attend school for photography/retouching? If not, where did you receive your training?
There is no such school specialized in this area, I did a school for advertising and photography was a small part of it, retouching non-existend. I did some airbrushing and learnd the digital at a colourlab.

2. How did you get involved in digital retouching?
By accident, I was at the right place at the right time, I did conventional retouching first (brush & airbrush) and the company went digital so I sat at the front row.

3. About how long did it take you to establish yourself as a professional?
Working for the boss for 8 years and now freelance almost 7 years

4. What steps were crucial in elevating yourself to where you are today?
Being a maniac :)

5. What do you think was your most effective marketing technique?
Doing your work very well

6. What do you think was your least effective marketing technique?
Sending direct mail by fax

7. What was the smartest thing you've done to help further your career?
Starting free lance

8. What do you enjoy most about your job?
The freedom & money you make

9. What do you enjoy least about your job?
the administration

10. What software programs, besides Photoshop, do you utilize the most?
web browsers

Good luck!