I did a search but to no avail. I am very interested in learning how retouchers achieve the 'pastel' look so often seen in high fashion magazines. An example: http://community.livejournal.com/foto_decadent/1641978.html#cutid1
Any advice, thoughts, or what not is greatly appreciated!
~Nate

I'm just sharing my opinions here so: First light and makeup plays a big part here in the pictures you show! makeup is probably the key factor! Giving the models instructions on different types of looks or they are experienced enough to find out from themselves...

Thank you. This look seems to be pretty common in high fashion. Another photographer I see use this alot is Klinko, and sometimes Paolo Roversi, Craig McDean.

do you have any good picture links to show off? would love to see some of them...:D

heres Natalie Portman by McDEan: http://www.natalieportman.com/gallery/mags_2004_craig-mcdean/another_magazine_08_hi
and a group of Pics by photographer Patrizio Di Renzo, in particular his photos of Chloe Sevigny, his 'BANSHEE' set, and his 'HONEYMOON' set.: http://community.livejournal.com/foto_decadent/1641198.html
I agree, lighting and makeup play a huge part of this look, however this 'pastel' look is global to the backgrounds as well.
Again, any thoughts or comments on how this 'pastel' look is achieved would be appreciated.
Thanks, Nate

The lighting and the production are high end and great stylist who have put the looks together .
Id believe the look to be grain . Although if the scans are straight from the magazines it would include the paper that is printed on (e.g the Natalie Portman link )

Thats my spin on the photo's

Hi, I agree with the other guyz replies but I think there is also a little bit of desaturation on some tones. The shots are not so saturated.

This is an image adjusted with Imagic Photo. The color filters could also be set for increased red and yellow to give it a more sepia tone if you like. The saturation slider in Imagic removed the color level while leaving just a hint to give it the look you are trying to achieve.

when i used to scan images for Vogue, that "look" was already in the prints, makeup and lighting should be your 1st priority...

thanks! pixelzomie, Im jealous!!

Chris...do members on this site get a discount for Image Photo?

yes, it is true that lighting and make up and even styling account for the pastel look as shown in the photos shared here. but it's more than just that. take a look. it's really obvious that photo retouching was employed here and copiously relatively. lighting and make up can only do so much on the subject but not on the end result. mga bobo!