Job sheet

retoucher: profession, missions and salary

Roles and missions of the retoucher

Retouchers play a crucial role in the production of professional-quality photos. They help design and implement retouching techniques to improve the aesthetics of images. Here are some of the main duties and responsibilities of a retoucher:

Develop artistic concepts and retouching techniques to improve the visual appearance of images.

Take photos, retouch and modify them according to requirements and specifications.

Use retouching software to create unique visual effects and modify image colors and lighting.

Research and find sources of inspiration for the project.

Design and create special effects for images.

Use digital tools to retouch images and adjust their quality.

Modify images to make them more striking and suitable for broadcast media.

Work with photographers and clients to understand their ideas and needs.

Ensure compliance with professional, moral and ethical standards.

Preserve and archive retouched images.

Participate in shooting sessions and collaborate with team members.

Retouchers are also called upon to provide advice and recommendations to photographers and clients, in order to promote quality artistic production. This requires a thorough knowledge of retouching techniques and quality standards.

Salary and career development for retouchers

The salary of a retoucher varies considerably according to their level of experience and the type of work they do. The gross annual salary in France can be as follows:

0 to 2 years: between 20,000 and 25,000 euros.

2 to 5 years: between 25,000 and 35,000 euros.

5 to 10 years: between 35,000 and 45,000 euros.

10 to 15 years: between 45,000 and 55,000 euros.

Over 15 years: between 55,000 and 65,000 euros.

Retouchers can also specialize in a certain type of work and make it their career. Here are five possible career paths for a retoucher:

Graphic designer

Illustrator

Art director

Graphic designer

Photographer

Advantages and disadvantages of retouching

Advantages

Create images of the highest visual and aesthetic quality.

Use of modern technologies to enhance and perfect images.

Opportunity to work with talented artists and photographers.

Working on their own, retouchers can be flexible with their time.

Opportunity to work from home and enjoy greater freedom.

Disadvantages

Retouchers can spend a lot of time perfecting an image, which requires a great deal of patience and extra time.

Retouchers may have high demands from customers, which can lead to additional pressure.

The level of technical skill required can be daunting.

The work can be repetitive and boring over the long term.

Touch-up workers may lack social contacts due to long working hours at home.

The latest job offers from retoucher recruiter