“Let’s fix it in post.”
It happens on every shoot. I’ve been there and have heard the words spoken by every crew member. Sometimes this is absolutely the right decision - producing the best results and saving the crew time. In other cases, just a quick investment of time on set saves on a fix in retouching, that across the span of a set of images, could cost hundreds or even thousands in retouching costs. One of the most overlooked ideas in photo production is bringing in a Retoucher on set. In fact, to many teams I’ve talked to, the idea hasn’t even occurred to them. Here are four ways having a retoucher on set can be a total game changer.
1. Bringing the Concept to Life
Flipping the script and getting post production involved early increases the efficiency of the project. I’m a huge advocate for meeting pre-shoot. Giving your Retoucher eyes on the shoot deck and production plan gives an opportunity for a post production expert to call out best practices during the shoot. Having a Retoucher there to advise on when to shoot on color backgrounds vs. black/white/or gray for composited elements is crucial.
2. Capture Assessment and Coverage
Having a Retoucher’s eyes on shoot day can erase big costs for post production fixes that could be simply solved quickly on set. This can be the case in spotting problematic wardrobe, hair styling, blemish and cleanup solutions. Frequently, some minor fixes can be solved quickly in photoshop but increase the scope of the project greatly over the span of a big group of images. When I’m on set, I will often ask for additional coverage - supplemental environment excluded from the crop, further model poses or hand positioning, or perhaps an extra wardrobe look. Having these options available after the shoot always pays huge dividends, as more often than not, these changes are requested later and are a tremendous savings on scope.
3. Comping and Visualization
Probably the most exciting use of a Retoucher on set is to explore comping. For final works that require multiple image blending, having a Retoucher on standby to piece together the composite moments after capture is a powerful tool. It aids in both visualizing the end artwork and is an invaluable way to make sure the captured imagery works well together. A quick check of perspective in comping can let the team know if a subtle change in camera height is needed. Background and environment changes can be seen in real time, 3D elements can be brought in - the possibilities are endless!
4. File Prep, Handling and Best Practices
Having a Retoucher coordinate with the digital tech or photographer on shoot day ensures that exactly the right files are prepared for retouching in an expedited manner. This can cut down tremendously on hand off time from the capture team, which can otherwise take up hours or days when the deadline clock is ticking. It also eliminates the chance for any confusion for team members who are not familiar with the needed file formats and handling practices.