For a general retouch (not glamour) would you straighen and fix a person's teeth without their request? How much retouch is too much? I removed the bags under the eyes, removed the lines around the eyes and mouth, and lighened the teeth and eyes, but that's it. Comments...

I think you've done well as I wouldn't personally make any actual changes to their appearance without specific instructions. ;)

For a general retouch (not glamour) would you straighen and fix a person's teeth without their request? How much retouch is too much? I removed the bags under the eyes, removed the lines around the eyes and mouth, and lighened the teeth and eyes, but that's it. Comments...

Since my primary job is not in graphics and retouching (though I plan to in future if I ever get good enough) I discuss with persons whose photos I'm tinkering with what THEY want done. I will ask them pertinent and pointed questions (like the teeth straightening bit) and will get direct answers.

Maureen :cat:

I usually don't spend more than 5 mins for this kind of retouching. I tend not to remove the eye bags and crow's feet. I just soften the effect with the stamp tool with the mode set to Lighten. Here's a list of things that I'd look for when doing this kind of work.

-Remove blemishes
-Reduce shines
-Reduce eye bags and shadows
-Lighten/whiten teeth a bit
-Remove obvious flyaway hair

The method is destructive. That's why I keep it quick so I don't over retouch and keep the subjects as natural as possible. Anything that'll alter their appearance is done upon request.

Hope this helps.

My experience tells me :
Never assume you know what a customer wants retouched.
Never ask questions that imply retouching is needed.
A better plan would be to include a list of your standard retouching services when discussing print sales and options.

I agree with Vikki, however, I just recently had a retouch and just made the slighest change to one tooth. She didn't notice, or didn't say anything, and neither did I! I think just that little touch made a differnece in the whole photo. The client was more than happy with the retouch and that was all that counted.

~Nancy~

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www.PhotoArt123.com

Well, working digitally and hard drive space being limitless, you could save a version of retouch-lite, retouch-more, teeth done, etc.
Or just have certain things on layers that you could show a client: teeth on, teeth off.

Never ask questions that imply retouching is needed. ...
Things are a bit easier around here (Brazil).
Retouching is the first thing the client wants to talk about - Straighten this, remove that, hide the other etc.. etc.. etc..

Probably a regional difference, but when someone says "retouching" it is immediately linked with Playboy et al....
So, unless the client has insisted (and some do), the norm is to deliver a somewhat "optimized" version of the original.

..But none of this applies to you - so just follow Vikki's advice.

Rô
(BTW "Restoration" means - photo taken yesterday)

Most people want the skin smoothed a little (not maxim glow), double chins mellowed (not gone), blemishes erased, a little teeth and eye lightening (not white), (everything done but not noticable) It should look like that person could have looked a week ago. Anything that somebody could notice, a mole removal or nose reduction or ears pined back should be discussed...I'd fix a chipped tooth.

Lasa

These are the teeth. Lipstick is true to color. Maybe I whiten the teeth too white...maybe. As far as the teeth I left them alone, so I gather from your feedback I did the right thing. If she did want the teeth fixed, how would one start?

I just did some minor cloning and a little whitening.

Ro, i found your post interesting. normally, around here, if there's no specific instructions for the retouch, some like 'just clean it up' or 'make it a bit better', that tends to mean dont alter any of the permanent features, like freckles, teeth, eye color, moles and so on. pimples, fly-away hair, bad lighting, color correction and all that are all fair game. so, i find the regional differences interesting.

normally, if you're not talking glamour, a retouch is of the kind you might do to a school photo. you dont alter the permanent features. pimples and bags under the eyes are not considered 'features' but rather abnormalities and are therefore fair game. wrinkles and crow's feet tend to be reduced but not eliminated. double chins are the same as wrinkles, but be careful with those. some folks find it insulting if you retouch something they didnt ask for and are a bit self-conscious about. teeth can also be that way. some folks are very self-conscious about their teeth. and never, ever ask if they'd like an ear tuck or a nose job or to lose 20 pounds :) if they want those, they'll usually ask outright.

I do like Vikki's response...provide the client upfront what services you can provide and then let them choose. In my case, I did not do that. All they said was make me look good. I did ask about lines in the face (I knew this person) and they said remove them. Like you said, a person's teeth can be a sensitive subject so I didn't ask and I didn't touch.