Most likely, the majority of images that you\’ll be working with will not require a great deal of retouching. Since you have complete freedom in choosing which models you work with, you\’ll likely be shooting women who are already very attractive and a good fit for the particular style of pics you want to take. That being said, there are a few basic retouching tasks that can be used to benefit many images:

MINOR IMAGE IMPERFECTIONS
These are very small imperfections visible on an image (in this case, I’m not referring to any imperfections regarding the actual model). Among others, these imperfections can include small dust marks, lint on a piece of wardrobe, or a mark on the floor caused by a heal scuff. Typically, this is the first task I do when embarking on the retouching process.

MINOR SKIN IMPERFECTIONS
This category refers to small blemishes that may be present on the model’s skin. As with everything in post-production, you’ll need to make subjective choices regarding what changes to make. Two examples of small blemishes are pimples and small scars. Slight imperfections such as these may not be visible to you while you’re shooting the pics. However, when later viewing the images, they may become readily apparent.

It’s a fairly simple process to get eliminate these types of blemishes. The choice you must make with each individual image is how far you want to take the process. If you’re trying to create a virtually flawless photograph (a Playboy centerfold, for example) you’ll probably want to make the model’s skin appear nearly perfect. On the other hand, if you’re shooting images for the “Amateur” market, you’ll want to keep the model looking fairly “real”. In this case, it’s a good idea to keep some, or all, minor skin blemishes visible

STRAY HAIRS
No matter how well a model’s hair may look during a shoot, there will inevitably be a few stray hairs visible when the resulting images are looked at closely. Retouching stray hairs can be done relatively easily. However, be careful not to remove every strand of hair that may be just a little out of place. If you do, you’ll run the risk of making your model’s hair look like a helmet (which is rarely a good look). You’ll have to use your judgement to determine which stray hairs detract from an image and which do not.

WHITENING EYES AND TEETH
This is a simple way to enhance the impact of nearly any photograph that includes a person. Making the “whites” of the eyes brighter can have a very dramatic effect on how the photograph is viewed. Believe it or not, even when looking at a picture of a nude woman, the viewer’s attention will first be drawn to the model’s eyes. The effect of “brightening” the eyes can be easily accomplished with any post-production software. Additionally, changing the color of the eye itself is a simple task. For example, it’s quite easy to turn brown eyes into blue eyes; or blue eyes into even bluer eyes.

In addition to the eyes, it can also be a good idea to make the teeth of a model appear whiter and brighter. Though I don’t find myself working on teeth nearly as much as I find myself working on eyes, there are definitely situations when brightening a model’s teeth is exactly what an image needs. However, be careful to not go too far with this technique – it’s very easy to make the teeth appear so white that they end up looking very unnatural. Keep in mind, subtle changes can make a big difference.

I discuss this topic in more detail in my ebook, “Money Shots: The Insider’s Guide to the World of Nude & Erotic Photography (available for purchase and immediate download at http://www.moneyshotsbook.com).

Author Bio: Michael Charles is a professional photographer based in Los Angeles, California. He is the author of \”Money Shots: The Insider\’s Guide to the World of Nude & Erotic Photography\” (this book is available for purchase and immediate download at http://www.moneyshotsbook.com). For over a decade, Michael has shot exclusively in the world of nude, erotic, and adult-oriented photography. His work has been featured in hundreds of national and international publications and appears on a wide variety of prominent websites. For a complete course on the techniques, styles, moneymaking secrets, and amazing fringe benefits of nude and erotic photography, visit http://www.moneyshotsbook.com.

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