What needs retouching?

Short answer: just about everything. The devil is always in the details. You can get an idea how many details there are by reviewing the 'Portfolio' and 'About Retouching' pages on this site. If you don't know what your image needs, don't worry. It's my job to figure that out.

How do you begin?

Simply email your image to me. If it's really big, reduce it so the longer side is around 800 to 1000 pixels. I'll examine your picture and let you know what I can do to improve it. In many cases I'll send a partial retouch so you can see the possibilities. There's no charge for this, and you're not committed to go any further.

What'll it cost?

I charge $60 an hour (prorated, of course, for jobs that take less than an hour). Before I do any work, I'll estimate the time required and offer you a flat fee based on my hourly rate. We can chat by email about how much you want done. In any case, you'll know the cost beforehand. No surprises. When the job is finished, I'll send you a downsized proof for your approval. If the job is simple or if it's for a good cause, I might do it for nothing and wish you happy trails. You just never know.

What about prints?

I only do retouching and work only with digital images (no scanning or printing). But if you want me to arrange for professional printing, I'll gladly do that and charge only the actual cost of printing and shipping. I use mpix.com for my own printing, and I highly recommend them. They're fast, reliable, and affordable.

If I arrange for printing, I'll have mpix.com (or a different lab if you prefer) ship your print directly to you. If you'd rather handle this part, I can make sure your image has the correct color profile embedded for the print lab you use.

How do you pay?

I accept Paypal. At the appropriate time, I'll email you a request for payment. This will include a link where you can pay.

Who am I?

My name is David Thomasson. I live in Washington, D.C., and make my living as a freelance writer. I allow plenty of time for digital retouching, which I find even more satisfying than writing. I use Photoshop CS3 for image editing. You can also find me hanging out on Internet retouching forums, usually under the screen name "Peano."