You are not the only one whose skin isn’t always perfect. But you could get that feeling from looking at the magically pore and blemish-free images we’re bombarded with on billboards and in magazines. One photographer inadvertently let us in on the process. Watch the miraculous transformation in our video.
Here is the photographer, M. Seth Jones, on his process:
In these selected images, you can witness first hand the impact that retouching has the potential to make on a single image. Every image presented to me has an ideal state, that I’m attempting to reach; retouch is so completely subjective, that it is likely that no two retouchers will approach an image in the same manner, or reach the same finished outcome. At this stage, it’s clear to see that retouching, at least the way I approach it, is not so much about tapering necklines and re-sculpting facial structure; but rather, sculpting light, and the way it falls on the subject, as well as clarifying the distinctions between the individual colours of the image’s palette. This ensures that every element sits harmoniously within the final frame, enabling that ideal state to be presented to the viewer with little-to-no visual distractions.
He offers retouching lessons via Skype! You, too, can spread the gift of impossibly perfect skin.
Rollovers [M. Seth Jones]



















Jon
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 1:27 PMRetouching photos for advertising and fashion purposes should be illegal.
If not illegal, every retouched image should at least be forced to identify the image as ‘retouched’, and include a web link to the original image that people can visit if they choose.
JT...
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 3:27 PMhere here. It just makes a lot of females even more self conscious about their looks to which they plaster even more makeup on which in turn irritates the skin even more.
Unfortunately though we live in a society that praises what looks good rather than what is actually good. “Our sight blinds us.”
Mike
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 3:41 PMOnly if they’re selling skin products or something along the lines.
uncommon sense
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 6:37 PMWhy should it be illegal? I don’t want to look at ugly images, I see that all the time in reality. Conceptions of beauty change all the time, the last thing we need is a politically controlled censor to hinder that natural evolution.
Da Vinchi touched up his subjects, Bernini didn’t give his sculptures cellulite. We all know that advertising and fashion are telling us stories or fantasies. We’re not stupid, why should we assume that we need protection?
Bern
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 6:56 PMIt really goes to highlight how out-of-touch with reality modern fashion is, when “retouching” photos so they bear only superficial resemblance to the actual model is considered the norm.
Personally, I thought some of the models looked much better in the non-retouched versions.
Alex K
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 9:37 PMMeh. Don’t be so oversensitive.