What Should an Actor Look for in a Headshot Retoucher?
A.J. Jhaveri Owner, Argentum Photo Lab, Los Angeles The most important thing an actor should look for is a professional retoucher who also does headshots. Look for people who specialize in headshot retouching, because they see hundreds and hundreds of headshots every week. They know the headshot has to represent the actor, so they know the right amount of retouching needed. When actors walk into an audition, they must look like they did in the headshot. Performing-arts retouchers usually know what to do, what to remove, what not to remove, how far to go, unlike a higher-level retoucher, who might overdo it. For instance, someone who works primarily with fashion won’t make it look like a headshot. The result might look great, but it won’t help actors if they walk into an audition and look different from their headshot. Also, don’t use a friend, a roommate, or someone who happens to have Photoshop. Owning Photoshop does not make you a retoucher, the same way owning a car does not make yo
