Process Overview

Note: we have two ways we can go:

         •  Either: You can send over shots you have taken of your project whether on a camera phone or more advanced kit.
         •  Or: You can also send your professionally commissioned images for specific additional retouching requirements which your photographer may prefer to sub-contract (please ensure that he/ she is happy to enable this).

          • Initial Zoom Call: the first time we work together it can sometimes be helpful to start with a zoom call. You will be able to share your screen with me and this can make it easier to discuss any retouching work together, plus you can get a feel for what sort of refinements are possible. It will also help me to provide you with a fixed quote for any adjustments.

          • Supplying Images: When you are ready to send over images, you can simply upload them to my Hightail droplink without needing an account of your own. High resolution JPEG files are perfect, but if you wish to send over in other formats such as .tif that is fine (if in doubt, please ask!)  Ideally for retouching work, a clear description of what you would like altered is helpful. For more complex work, there are apps available (example>>> ) which will enable you to mark up and make notes directly on a copy of your images. Or you can even make a screen recording outlining your requirements, using the mouse to highlight problem areas. 

          • Fixed pricing and Quoted work: For many operations (e.g. socket and cable/ small item removal),  I can provide a fixed per-image fee, while more complex work (e.g. removal of large items against complex backgrounds/ dropping in of artwork) will be quoted for in advance based on my hourly rate (billed in minutes) so that you know exactly where you are.

          • What I will do: detailed retouching out of distracting items, plus, if required, other image optimising such as straightening vertical lines/ reducing extreme wideangle foreshortening, correcting exposure and colour issues etc . Please see the gallery of examples>>> for more. 

          • Online reference galleries: Your optimised and retouched images will then be made available for assessment and individual download in a password-protected gallery which I will guarantee to host for three months. Any additional “tweaks” can be made to images and, once carried out to your satisfaction, a convenient batch download link to the “high resolution” or “high res” images will be supplied. These will be your master set and should be used for any hard copy media such as brochures/ submissions to magazines or PR agencies.

           • Web ready set of images: To assist you further, I will also produce a set of images specifically optimised for web usage : these are known as “low res” or  “low resolution” images: please note that “low resolution” does not imply low quality! Images to be viewed on PCs and mobile devices need to be specially prepared so that they are smaller in overall file size than high res images and therefore load very efficiently when viewed on the web: they also need to be specially sharpened to look their best. All these images will be easily distinguished from your high resolution set as they will have the suffix -web added to their filename. Use this set for all online use.

           • Turnaround times: these can vary with the time of year, but I generally aim for 48 hours from receipt of images for standard editing, while more complex retouching will take longer: it’s best to advise at time of submission if you need images for a particular deadline, such as competition entry, magazine print deadline etc, and I will do my very best to accommodate your requirements. I currently do not request a fee for rush work. 

           • Payment terms: I request payment for all work, via an emailed invoice, either within 30 days of date of invoice, or on publication of images to the web, whichever is sooner. In other words, as soon as you make commercial use of any images, payment is required.

           • Payment Options: I can accept payment via bank transfer and currently via Paypal (which will incur a small percentage surcharge) . I will shortly be offering credit card payment options. 

           • Monthly Accounts:  for higher volume users, and to simplify accounting, I am happy to offer monthly accounts with 30 days credit from final day, so effectively 60 days credit maximum on some assignments. 

           • Confidentiality statement:  All images will of course remain your copyright property at all stages (whatever additions I perform). And your images will of course be treated with the greatest discretion at all times. None of my photo editing or retouching services are outsourced: your images will not be shared with any third parties or published in any context whether online or in hard copy.

          • Image Release for my marketing In some cases I may request your permission to use both your supplied images and my reworked versions in my own marketing avenues, generally to illustrate before and after case studies on Instagram and possibly Youtube tutorials. This is of course at your discretion and your written release (and, by extension, that of the owner of the property in question) will be required.