Hi everyone

We are looking for a specialist in retouching architectural photography based in London. Would anyone have any recommendations on where we should start searching/advertising? Any ideas on salary level to pitch at for a professional retoucher/artist? Everyone here seems to be quite freelance oriented, is that because of the nature of the industry. We would be looking at employing someone on a full time basis, with very good conditions. For examples of our work please check out www.hayesdavidson.com

Any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks, Fiona

Well, I had a look at your website and what I would suggest is to look for retouchers in LeBook.com which is the premier contact book in the fashion industry. Although your firm isn't associated with fashion there are many retouching firms in this book. There is a European version and a North American version. I'm sure this is someplace to get started. Perhaps you could elaborate further on what exactly you would like as far as skills for a candidate?

Also, there is mediabistro.com where firms post jobs.

If I think of any others I'll post them.

Fiona,
I have been a professional architectural compositor/retoucher for 7 years. I can tell you that there are not many dedicated arch retouchers out there. It's all I do 10+ hours a day in Photoshop. I am one of only a few here in the states that I know of. Most are freelance retouchers covering a variety of different forms of photography (i.e. fashion, advertising, fineart, arch etc). I think the reason maybe the somewhat unpredicable nature of architectural photography. I would hit every forum and job board you can.
You might have to settle for someone whos expertise lies in a different area but is willing to do dedicated arch retouching. You want someone who has a famialiarity(sic) or experience in architecture first off. It helps if they like the work. Next would be excellent masking/compositing skills, and reconstruction retouching with good knowledge of perspective control. Color correction with knowledge of how to control local contrast and luminance ranges of parallel and offest surfaces as well as setting the mood of a space overall through these techniques. Most retouching can be daunting but architecture poses unique problems sometimes and architects and designers can be quite nitpicky.
You might want to put up an ad in New York and Chicago as there is a great number of Architectural firms and Arch photographers in these areas. Retouchers like cattle follow the work. I hail from Chicago. Most of our clients are Chicago based arch firms, construction companies and designers but we have national clientel as well. There is a lot of work here. Incidentally, depending on experience highend retouchers can fetch pretty good coin. Anywhere between $35,000 to 60,000 USD and higher. In my case I fall into the latter range with 10 years experience in digital production, 7 years of pro arch Photoshop work.
Good luck with your search.

Thanks very much for both your replies.

MBPhoto I would be interested to see examples of your work if that was possible - do you have an online portfolio?

Best, Fiona

Sorry for the late response Fiona. I don't check this forum often. We are currently trying to get are Web site up and running. But lately we have been severly inundated with work so it has gotten pushed to the back burner for now. Give me your email and once we get it up I can shoot you a link to it.

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Feng

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