Types of retouchers

[Hamburger Image]

Does anyone work for a retouching house? If so, how much do you make? I know it varies, I just would like YOUR feedback. I know in my region freelancers and houses range from 150-250/hr, but I'd like to know what the people within the houses make. Also, if you're a freelance, what do YOU typically charge an hour? Also if you are an in-house retoucher for a photographer, what do you make?
Thanks

[zganie]

This is a really loaded question.
1)rates are all over the scale depending where you live your skill level and even to some degree if you work inhouse how good that is.

[Benny Profane]

Money is not very important in life. You should be happy in what you do every day, and if you have people around you who love you.

[Hamburger Image]

Just because I don't want to be taken advantage of doesn't make me obsessed with money. I want to be educated in industry standards. I'm looking to others to give me examples and help, not criticism on life.

[pixelzombie]

the rate will vary even within the same location depending on your skill level and your tenure at the company...

[HughSteenk]

I make around $135,000 a year retouching in NY. What should you make? Beats me. Can't see anything on your website. You are fresh out of school with no experience. Brooks is a school for photography and doesn't give you a degree in retouching. You are in CA where retouching, from my experience is greatly discounted compared to NY. CA is full of wannabee everyones. Take 36k a year, work hard, pay attention, learn beyond what you'll learn at work and definitely beyond anything you might learn on the internet. It's a hard time to make a living as a retoucher starting out these days because there is no low end or mid end anymore. Everyone thinks they can do it, most suck, no matter how much they purport to know. Any half assed photographer can do what you do - and does. As stated, rates vary greatly from state to state, shop to shop, client to client, country to country. The best will get paid top dollar. Pay your dues. You'll get stuck in some prepress or factory retouching shop and learn a little, but get out or you'll never learn anything more or even how to do stuff right with real time, budgets and real clients.

[HughSteenk]

there is no 'taking advantage of you' now or anytime, but especially now.

[Hamburger Image]

I am still in school doing an independent study in retouching as well as interning for a house. I am just trying to get others experiences to learn from. Thanks for the advice.

[diggnikon]

HI Hamburger ,Hugh has got it in the bag for sure .I work in London for 2 portrait studio's which is good but its not going to take me to the next level.I have spent 2 years cleaning up dirty looking shots -bad exposure ,ripped backdrop's,more wrinkles than i care to remember .Pay wise for retoucher's in the UK range from £12,000 for a private studio(paths and mask's 100 a day on average) Portrait retoucher's £16-25,000.Advertising retoucher's £35-50 .Top agency retoucher's make around £65,000 a year after 10yrs in the business here in the UK . Hope this ball park helps for full time rates .
Freelance rates on average for inhouse £90-150 a day .

Advertising per hour £100-150 per hour

The list goes on and on .Long term youll be sweet if you do the hard graft and master your skill's in the business.It cant just happen over night like so many expect it to - it's a 45-60 hour week and alot of learning.

[smak]

>>>>>>>> Money is not very important in life.

Bob Dylan is a multi-millionaire; Jim Morrison had a couple of million too, but was happy when he was broke as well.

[Hamburger Image]

It's amazing how a straight forward question gets only 1 straight answer. Thanks diggnikon. I know rates vary region to region, experience counts, the type of client counts, and I'm not looking to get rich quick. I just want to pay off student loans and have a house one day. Most of all, I want to make one of the things I enjoy most in life, retouching, my profession. Which means I am curious about what other people are doing.

[Benny Profane]

So....you honestly expect everyone to jump and tell some stranger on the internet how much they make? What world are you from?

[Hamburger Image]

I guess it was naive of me to ask questions at a place where your supposed to share and learn from each-other. Silly me. I don't expect everyone to, but those who are excited about what they do usually are happy to share with other people. They are secure enough in their own lives not to be threatened by giving knowledge.

[Benny Profane]

Hey, if you came to learn how to a "Dave Hill" look, or make little girls look like dolls, you're in the right place. But asking people how much they make is rude. Besides, they're just going to lie to you too. Just as if you asked them how large something else, um, they, um, carry around, you know, on them...selves............

[Hamburger Image]

If a client asked how much your rates are it's not rude, but a fellow retoucher it is???? Doesn't make sense to me.

[moonberry]

does your school offer a career office, where perhaps they can offer you some guidelines as to what the starting salary range to expect is, for someone with your qualifications?

[Benny Profane]

Originally Posted by Hamburger Image

If a client asked how much your rates are it's not rude, but a fellow retoucher it is???? Doesn't make sense to me.

You're right, I'm sorry to confuse you. I was a little cranky because the Porsche wouldn't start and the landscapers cut the grass a little short.
I make 180,000 a year with free use of my firm's Aspen ski house and St. Lucia beach house. Free breakfast, lunch, massages as I work. They give me a new Mac every year. But, somehow, I want more.

[sonny7]

You earn what you deserve. It’s all a sliding scale. If you are still in school it seems insane to ask what people earn, you will get a million answers which mean nothing to you at your stage of your career. I have been the industry for around 20 years. I earn what I deserve with my skill sets, and I admire those you make more and encourage those you make less. Get your head rapped around your talent and not around money.

[Benny Profane]

Originally Posted by sonny7

You earn what you deserve.

Gotta call you on that one. I've worked with a lot of people who really lucked out. Usually in a soft, corporate environment. When you get out to the real world of freelance, yeah, water finds it's own level.

[sonny7]

Truth be told and I agree. I have been on both sides and agree.

[zganie]

You have to be able to do what the company wants ,which means know the software and be comfortable working with it.
A lot of times its not just photoshop .
I think you need to ask around and see how and/or what people use/want,it probably varies