Digital Photo Retouching: Beauty, Fashion and Portrait Photography

Overview

As an award winning retoucher, photographer, and digital artist, Julia Kuzmenko McKim is considered one of the best in the business. You may remember her from our recent interview. Her dedication to her craft and teaching others has made her a sought after educator. She has also created an impressive collection of educational materials based around professional retouching for those who cannot make it out to learn from her in person.

One of these books, Digital Photo Retouching: Beauty, Fashion and Portrait Photography has become a staple in my collection of educational materials. In fact, this is the eBook I find myself referring to the most often.

Review

This book is teaming with information and techniques that you can immediately apply to your retouching workflow. If you purchase the eBook version, you will also receive links and a full video workshop. The detailed retouching tools and techniques for face, skin and hair retouching, alongside the photography tips help guide you through the process of creating stunning images from set-up to print.

Throughout the book you will find gorgeous full-color tutorial images, lighting and photography tips, helpful resources, and additional reference tutorials. The book is also full of gorgeous inspirational images, EXIF data included, giving your eyes a pleasant rest between the educational materials. Some of the images will even change from before/after when you scroll over them. Each sample image also exemplifies how beauty and fashion retouch can be used in your own portfolio, whether you are a fashion photographer, a conceptual artist, or specialize in portraits or boudoir.

File Contents

I decided to get the eBook, partly because I enjoy the extra goodies that come with it as well as the fact that I tend to learn best through video/text combinations.

Download File Size: 188.7 Mb
File Format: PDF + Good Bag with .atn (PS Actions) + .abr (PS Brushes)
Page Count: 97
Mac & PC compatible (can view on tablets and smartphones)
Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced

Along with the PDF file, the download contains a folder with new Photoshop brushes and an action set. The eBook itself is opened easily on multiple platforms and links to video tutorials placed throughout the book.

Goodie Bag – Brushes and Action Sets

Along with the Digital Photo Retouching: Beauty, Fashion and Portrait Photography eBook, you will receive a Goodie Bag file that consists of several art brushes and action sets that you can use as you work through the training tutorials. It is always great to use the same settings when working alongside an educational system and I would suggest downloading and setting them up first.

(You may notice another set of actions listed – those are from Julia’s Creative Retouching Essentials in a Day collection.)

Video Tutorials and Reference Guides

Depending on your learning style, whether you like to read detailed instructions, watch tutorial videos, or a mix of both – in my opinion, the eBook version is the best way to go. When viewing on your computer or iPad, there is a full video workshop included that links to exclusive YouTube content as well as several links scattered throughout for additional resources.