Retouching…
How much is too much?
The only things I think should be retouched are pimples, temporary redness, fly-a-ways and stuff that happens to crop up the morning of your shoot. Softening lines and under eyes is fine too because those things can be distracting and when we see you in real life they don’t draw focus, but in a photo, they can seem to stand out.
It would seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many people want me to straighten teeth, change eye color, cover bald spots (men) and take away all fine lines and wrinkles. I have had to give people’s photos virtual face-lifts, botox and filler. I used to try to talk actors out of this sort of thing, but they never listen and so I just do it now, if requested, while cursing.
Seems crazy to me to get a current photo taken where you look fantastic at your age and then make it look like we took it 5 or 10 years ago. DON’T over-retouch your photos. It may get you in the room for a role you want, but you won’t get the part and you usually won’t be called back to that casting office. Harsh, but true. You do yourself a disservice if you don’t represent yourself truthfully.
On a more fun note…check out my biography page to see some of my photos that have been featured on the Ellen DeGeneres show.
Some great places for retouching and reproductions are