What metrics are important to track when measuring the success of your photo retouching services?

Must be a myriad of ways to enhance your photographic art, without compromising the original composition. Perhaps the original is perfect but you're not completely satisfied. Say, the sun is brightly bursting out from a cloud bank and the brightness is washing out some majestic tree lines A simple contrast filter can be adjusted to thinly balance the two worlds of bright and dim. Go with your gut, if it looks good to you then it should please the majority. Forget the critics! Critics pride themselves in CRITICIZING EVERYTHING!!! Your market is to the majority! Go with your flow, choose quality filters...pull the trigger and don't try to retrieve the bullet...move on to the next project and repeat! Happy Trails Harry

According to my personal experience retouching is good to have on photos if they are done correctly. Now the things what is correct? - Black levels - Saturation levels - and White levels of every photos. We need to check every time either in overcooking process of image not making them clamp.

I have found it helpfull to ask colleagues for critisism. Sometimes a second or even third person will be able to look at the image differently and pickup "mistakes" etc

Quality is the one of the most important things in any business. In photography it makes or breaks a photo. Different Photo's call for different paper weight types depending on the image you want projected.

Mastering the art of retouching involves a nuanced understanding of quality. It's about enhancing images without compromising their naturalness, realism, and consistency. Utilize tools like histograms, curves, and color checkers to monitor exposure, contrast, and color balance. Seek feedback from clients, peers, and mentors to assess and elevate your retouching quality continually.

Algo muy útil si has de entregar trabajos con mucha rapidez y todas las fotos son del estilo, crear presets y procesar las fotos con estos. El tiempo es fundamental para el cliente pero también para el fotógrafo. No siempre se invierte el mismo tiempo en una foto que en otra, ejemplo: paquete de fotos de un evento, se pueden procesar en conjunto y así poder proporcionarlas lo antes posible, en cambio una foto que ha de servir para un uso especial, único y particular, se suele invertir más tiempo en ella.

Efficiency is a crucial metric in the realm of retouching. How quickly can you deliver high-quality results? Leverage software tools to record time spent on each image, ensuring a balance between speed and precision. Timely completion not only affects your turnaround time but also influences client satisfaction and, consequently, your hourly rate.

Todo depende de que es lo que se está retocando y para que se va a usar, el retoque como tal es muy genérico, no es lo mismo procesar y revelar una imagen RAW que una jpeg...

Ah heeeeeeeelll no, Quality comes or Speed comes. Otherwise hurry up and make the Ai do all the jobs. “Clients” should stop complaining about Time if they can’t do it themselves. Time is Money, and Time + Money = Quality and that means PAY THE ARTISTS PROPERLY, otherwise don’t push as if people are Slaves. If you rush, you’re risking quality, and contractors under pressure makes bad judgement, bad quality of outcome and heightens the risk of errors or problems. “Productivity” and “Efficiency” shall be reserved for Machinery and Robots. Y’all people expecting such term from Humans clearly proves your Lack of knowledge and talent to Operate machinery, technology and robotics. Go to Pre-School. Engineers and Technicians run this game. Zippppp.

In my experience, you could be the best at taking photos and videos but not unless you can cut editing time in half it's hard to keep true to your word when deadlines come and go. One needs to know their capabilities, turnaround timetables, contracts, etc...so what you love doing is actually a lucrative business for you. Adding to that, what makes a true professional is how to create quality retouches in a short amount of time. Yes, Ai is very close but a human eye who has years of experience in digesting what the client wants and needs will always dispense better work every time. Hence, they become teachers for the next generation. For now, Ai dispenses a hit-or-miss scenario and can never teach the next generation to do better in life.

It's important for the photographer and retoucher to build a close relationship. The retoucher will need to learn the client's style. That will involve a lot of back and forth, particularly in the beginning. The retoucher must be open to meeting the needs of the photographer. The photographer has a lot of different clients who want different degrees and styles of retouching. The retoucher must be adaptable to the needs of the photographer's different clients.

Client satisfaction is a pivotal metric that gauges the success of your retouching services. Utilize surveys, testimonials, and reviews to collect valuable feedback. Monitor metrics like repeat business, referrals, and ratings to assess client loyalty and your reputation in the industry. A satisfied client base contributes significantly to your word-of-mouth marketing, online presence, and overall customer retention.

The success of a photo retoucher is often measured by client satisfaction. Explore strategies for effective communication, understand client preferences, and go beyond expectations to build strong, lasting relationships. Satisfied clients not only return but also become advocates for your services.

In your photo retouching biz, client happiness is key. Why? Happy clients mean repeat business and referrals, boosting your income. Their feedback is a goldmine, helping you sharpen your skills and improve. Satisfying clients isn’t just about quality work; it's about meeting their expectations, showing you've got what it takes. High satisfaction scores also make you stand out in a crowded market, potentially allowing you to up your prices. Plus, tracking client satisfaction helps pinpoint what’s working and what’s not, leading to smarter, more cost-effective operations. In short, happy clients = a thriving business.

Hoy dia importa más lo poco que cobres y la competencia desleal esta a la orden del día, no se valora nada, ni los tiempos ni la calidad de los trabajos y la gente regala su trabajo con tal de figurar y que los nombre... O tagueen

Si es importante y hay que tener en cuenta todos los costos, hardware, software, computadora, tiempo empleado en el proceso, costos de alquiler, electricidad etc etc

Doesn’t this depend on “Market Standard”? I think it’s a no-brainer but there’s a thing called “Street Price” that determines “Market Price” which makes you bound to “Quality v Deliverance v Your Price”. I was able to (when I WAS a pro retoucher) rack up a band in a week easily due to the market’s Demand v Quality. But with the advance of automation, people’s expectation in the industry bipolated and shifted the market. At that point I kind of detached myself from taking normal clients so I have no further knowledge of the industry. Although, in every industry I go, market price is pre-determined and from there you build up your own price. Personally I’m gonna be Super Real and say that race is a big part of money money bang bang. Go figure

Muy necesario ya que de esto depende nuestra supervivencia. Crear y tener en cuenta el valor de los trabajos. ?En cuantas ocasiones nos han dicho…? “solo apretar el botón y ya”. No, el material de trabajo, los tiempos de formación, desplazamientos, tiempo delante del ordenador, etc. Fundamental, saber dar valor a tu trabajo.

El aprendizaje es importante obviamente, pero la práctica es la que hace al maestro y saber ya que hacer de antemano al ver un trabajo y por donde empezar, ver trabajos de otros y aprender de ellos es también importante

I developed my own system and tested scientifically (just those data numbers you actually get to see). Then further tested out with legendary photographers such as ehem ehem name drop Lynn Gilbert, David Turnley and Dahlen to make sure I have legendary photographers’s approval. Otherwise I shall not approve anything I do. I’m not a “legendary” photographer. Im at best a failed photographer who is proficient in data and technology. These super super number one artists can tell you if you’re 1% Off. My daily accuracy in color is usually at 2% range and at best 1.5% Off. But from field experience I CAN REALLY say that Legendary Photographers are Super Accurate, and they are still better than Robots. Human Rocks. Period. We are better than them

Continually maintaining skills and combining with the best software solutions is absolutely key to being top of your game for quality service and value. We are blessed to have so many options with software solutions that continue to get better and to understand how to maximize them requires continuous education and training. It is not just about retouching an image or comping elements together to create a believable image anymore, I believe it goes much further now and we need to help our clients with the metadata and ensure Alt text, descriptive titles and optimized image formats are all part of it.

Je précise, je ne suis pas retoucheur de photo, mais photographe technicien artisan d'art. La veille technologique et la montée continuelle en compétences, même et surtout sur des techniques anciennes comme l'argentique est non seulement capitale, mais extrêmement épanouissante.

Quality is paramount; investing time in perfecting skills & utilizing tools like Lightroom or Photoshop sets high standards. Speed is crucial, but never at the expense of quality. Understanding clients is an art, some with a clear vision, others needing guidance. Communicate effectively, ensuring client comfort for potential repeat business. Effective financial management includes issuing a well-drafted invoice, securing an advance, & receiving the remainder upon satisfactory job completion. Dedicate time to continuous learning, exploring new techniques, following trends, and engaging with the community. Growth benefits both your skills and success. Mastering this balance of artistry & efficiency ensures skill growth and business success.

Les retoucheurs Photoshop que je connais ont tous une cha?ne de vidéos sur laquelle ils montrent certains de leurs travaux, et bien entendu l'étendue de leurs connaissances; il me semble qu'actuellement c'est un excellent moyen de promotion, à savoir partager les compétences pour appater les prospects.

Il faut aimer sincèrement son travail et lui donner beaucoup, et il faut aussi et surtout aimer les gens qui poussent la porte de votre atelier pour vous confier des travaux qui sont le plus souvent importants pour eux. Je numérise souvent de vieux négatifs et je restaure les images qui sont issus de ces scans pour le compte de clients qui me demandent au final de mettre encore un peu d'amour sur la photographie d'un proche disparu... D'une manière générale, la photographie artisanale devrait se pratiquer par amour pour les autres et par amour pour notre mémoire collective.

Remember that the specific metrics and degree of retouching can vary based on the photographer's style, the purpose of the photo, and the preferences of the client or audience. Striking the right balance between enhancement and maintaining a natural look is key to successful photo retouching. ??