"What do you do? Im a RETOUCHER. What is that??"

[Boneappetit]

The term retoucher is too vague, using it alone don't mean anything. So, the question, what is that? is correct. hehe

[Solstice]

A - What do you do?

B - I work in post production in the photography industry.

A - Oh okay! What does that mean?

B - Do you know how movies say "in post production"? That is what I do, but for photography. Essentially it implies making everything right before releasing the images to the public.

[Janko]

Anyone in the industry would know what a retoucher is. Or at least they should.

If you're talking to someone outside the industry that doesn't know what retouching is then all it takes about 10 seconds of explaining to get people to understand what it is. Coming up with silly names and titles for yourself is an easy way to make yourself look like an amateur/hobbyist.

[Boneappetit]

My point is that some people treat the term retoucher as a title or career and it is not. It is just part of a work. The question is valid because you can be a Painter, a Photographer, a builder, or even a car repairman and as part of your job do retouching.

As a recording engineer one can "retouch a mix down" to make it "sound better", and this has nothing to do with photography or painting. On the other hand if you say, I work in Photo retouching, or in post production in the photography industry as Solstice mentioned above, then it makes sense.

[Solstice]

Originally Posted by Boneappetit

My point is that some people treat the term retoucher as a title or career and it is not. It is just part of a work. The question is valid because you can be a Painter, a Photographer, a builder, or even a car repairman and as part of your job do retouching.

As a recording engineer one can "retouch a mix down" to make it "sound better", and this has nothing to do with photography or painting. On the other hand if you say, I work in Photo retouching, or in post production in the photography industry as Solstice mentioned above, then it makes sense.

Indeed, the term 'retouching' can be very generic as even the music industry uses that term as mentioned. We take it for granted because we are in this industry, but in fact the full term is photo retoucher. When doing taxes with my tax preparer, they have a career position listed as photo retoucher. I was kind of shocked to see that.

[Boneappetit]

Originally Posted by Solstice

Indeed, the term 'retouching' can be very generic as even the music industry uses that term as mentioned. We take it for granted because we are in this industry, but in fact the full term is photo retoucher. When doing taxes with my tax preparer, they have a career position listed as photo retoucher. I was kind of shocked to see that.

Now, that is something a tax retoucher LOL !

[Solstice]

Originally Posted by Boneappetit

Now, that is something a tax retoucher LOL !

Haha! No, no. What I meant was, when doing taxes, they ask you what you do for a living. And one of the positions listed when filing your taxes was photo retoucher. She showed it to me and I was surprised.

[Boneappetit]

Just kidding Solstice, hehe...

[eraanexact]

Originally Posted by Boneappetit

My point is that some people treat the term retoucher as a title or career and it is not.

It is indeed a title and a career. I've been doing it professionally for ten years. Retouching only, not a photographer who does their own retouching or a hobbyist. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just saying.

I think people know what a retoucher does moreso these days than they did a decade ago. Most people that ask me don't need an explanation.

[Nanls]

I started a new job a few years ago. There were employees (ie: staff) and also lots of contractor at the company. I met a knew person who asked me what I did and replied I was a "staff retoucher." He laughed and said, I would drop the "staff" before someone calls HR. :-)

[Quantum3]

Who knows what he meant, but it sounds funny ^^ Probably a grammar joke or something like that

[bobcooper]

Yeah I get this all the time, my girlfriends a photographer so I just say... "She takes the pictures... I make them look good" With a smug grin!

Bob