Photographic Retouchers and Restorers Career

Why Choose a Photographic Retouchers and Restorers Career?

There are traditional careers that most people know about and prefer to follow; there are also some niche careers that are not in the general public domain and therefore, these are not practiced by large numbers. The career or work profile of a Photographic Retoucher and Restorer is one such. As the name suggests, it relates to the field of photography but the work performed is very special and particular to a certain set of skills. The job involves retouching or restoring photographic negatives and prints in a manner that will accentuate the desirable features of subject; for this, various tools are used such as pencils, watercolors, or airbrushes. Does this sound interesting?

Photographic Retouchers and Restorers Career Requirements

While an interest in photography is essentially a background requirement, the profession of a Photographic Retoucher and Restorer requires certain specific abilities in the aspirant ,that are not gained through an online degree, not even a campus school degree,such as:

• Visual Color Discrimination
• A firm/steady hand
• Nimbleness of the fingers to do fine work
• Ability to visualize and think creatively
• Excellent near vision
• Being exact, accurate and perfect in work
• Ability to work indoors and sit in a single position for long hours
• Being particular about task in hand

Online Degrees for Photographic Retouchers and Restorers

While the major portion of the job of a Photographic Retoucher and Restorer is learned in an on-the-job mode as an apprentice or assistant, some vocational schools and colleges do provide certifications or bachelor's degree in this line of work. A Major in any of the following also serves as a good starting point for this career:

• Photography/Graphic Arts
• Imaging/Photographic Technology
• Graphic Design/Photography
• Graphic Design/Technology
• Video Technology

An educational program invests aspirants with the related technical knowledge and skills required to operate and maintain camera and lighting equipment. Students also become familiar with the production of finished still, video, and film products as they learn under the guidance of photographers, directors, and editors. Coursework includes instruction in some or all of the following:

• equipment setup and maintenance;
• lighting;
• power supplies;
• studio and film set tasks such as camera operator, grip, and best boy;
• plate and negative handling and development;
• laboratory procedures; and
• digital software applications.

The duration of such courses vary from institute to institute and may be from one to two years. Classroom instruction is usually followed by one or two years of training involving both on-the-job practice as well as informal training with qualified workers.

Photographic Retouchers and Restorers Career Fields

The job of a Photographic Retoucher and Restorer relates widely to improving pictures and photographs. Seen in detail, it comprises the following activities:

• Shading negatives or photographs with pencil to smooth or improve facial contours; cover up blemishes, stray hairs, or wrinkles; and reduce highlights.
• Trimming edges of print to augment appearance by using a pair of scissors or paper cutter.
• Critical and careful analysis of drawings, negatives, or photographic prints to determine coloring, shading, accenting, and any other changes that may be required to be retouched or restored.
• Cutting out masking template, using shears, and positioning these templates on the picture to mask selected areas that do not have to be worked on.
• Painting negatives with a retouching medium or ensuring retouching pencil will mark surface of negative in the desired manner.
• Applying paint to retouch or enhance negatives or photographs; this may require use of an airbrush, pen, artist's brush, cotton swab, or gloved finger.
• Wiping excess color from portrait to make sure a specified shade is achieved; this may need the use of cotton swab.
• Mixing ink or paint solutions, according to color specifications and color chart to achieve desired color or consistency.
• Inking borders or lettering on illustration; this may be done with a pen, brush, or drafting instruments.
• Rubbing eraser or cloth over the photograph for different purposes such as reducing gloss, removing debris, or preparing specified areas of illustration for highlighting.

Employers give preference to persons with prior experience so that the work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is already present with the incumbent and time is not spent in training. Experienced personnel are usually adept at thinking creatively; quickly identifying objects, actions, and events that need to be addressed; inspecting and using equipment, structures, and material effectively; and liaising with peers and clients to obtain the information necessary for successful completion of task. It is very important that a Photographic Retoucher and Restorer should be exact or accurate, make sure all aspects are taken care of, and be aware of consequence of error; in fact, the profession demands that there be no room for error in the job done.

What Degree Do I Need?

• Graphic Design
• Interior Design
• Photography
• General Studies
• Graphics & Multimedia