Becoming a retoucher...

[Matt84]

Hi all!

I'm often asked how did I become a retoucher and a recent interview I did for Image Source answers this and a few other questions about retouching!

You can read the interview here and see my work here!

Would love to hear your thoughts on the questions asked and how yours would differ to mine...

[creativeretouch]

Nice work, Matt ...

[Boneappetit]

I like 'em... Nice works !

[mcdronkz]

Hi Matthew, very cool interview and you are doing some great work, thanks for posting!

You were saying this:

The things I was learning you just can’t get from a book or a tutorial.

I read this all the time. Can you elaborate a bit more on this? What kind of things did you learn that you wouldn't have learned if you weren't working in a studio?

[Matt84]

Cheers guys!

mcdronkz: I was mainly referring to the stuff that goes on 'behind the scenes'. Like project management, dealing with clients and just general work practices working in the industry... I also picked up a load of tips and tricks but this is like in any job, once you get 'hands on' you will only then start to learn the best ways of doing things, find out the pro's and con's of situations, ways to streamline your workflow etc etc... It is great to read up and work through tutorials but what i'm saying is: you just cant beat being in a studio and socking up all the knowledge first hand...

Hope this helps?!

Cheers

Matt.

[mcdronkz]

It sure helps Matt, thanks for taking the time to reply!

[iop]

hi Matt

great work on the Carlsberg campaign! Cool concept. Nice colors. the "Live every last drop" is just amazing.

I had to smile reading about you getting each photoshop book. I remember my first book ... 1000 pages about PS5. A few years later I got a 1000 page book about CS3. My latest is a book from Scott Kelby.

You said we should be aware of all plugins. So far I did not use plugins. Do you want to share, which one you use and find essential for your work?

greetings
Dani

[daygraphics]

You also can't beat the high volume, constant demand and expert, results expectations placed upon you. After a while, it becomes routine and many jobs seem like deja vu - all over again. You will soon develop a repertoire of available knowledge and ammunition to throw at any project. You will seriously break down a job, assess its needs and develop a game plan for tackling it - almost within minutes. Simply because you have had similar challenges many, many times before.

[chinchillakilla]

Hi Matt I have have come across your site and work before. Stunning graphics mate I would love to take retouching to a level like you have but I have only done my bit with products and glamour shots. All this is just to improve the dexterity of the image but never had the chance to do what you do. I would love to learn this side of things. Great interview too.

[Volcano]

Matt...very good works!
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Retouching Portfolio

[plugsnpixels]

Originally Posted by iop

You said we should be aware of all plugins. So far I did not use plugins. Do you want to share, which one you use and find essential for your work?

As Matt lists the plug-ins he uses you can read more about them here (see especially "Creative image effects" and "Image enhancement" links for categorized directories).