With the entry into the actors headshots market of lots of new headshot photographers who have come through the ranks of creative/digital artists rather than the usual assistant photographers route there is a ever inreasing tendancy to try to ‘create’ a headshot rather than ‘make’ it together.

What I mean by this is the practice of photographers using Photoshop or other image editing software to redeem or save a poor photo.  I have no problem at at with the use of Photoshop to add to an already good shot. Below I’ve included an example of what enhancement can do to make a great headshot stand out even more. In the next post I’ll show you a deliberately poor example of retouching and explain why the retouching isn’t helping the actor in the headshot.

Left image as captured, Middle normal retouch, Right a nice funky retouched headshot that stands out from the crowd.