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 Shooting Set F*ckups: What Can (and Can't) Be Fixed in Retouching


No matter how perfect the mood board is or how experienced the team is, sh*t happens on set. Models blink, stylists miss wrinkles, and someone always forgets to dust off the product. But don't panic — that's where retouching comes in to save the day... or at least try to.

Let's break down what common shooting mistakes can be fixed in post — and what will haunt you forever.

✅ What Retouching Can Fix:

  • Skin Imperfections: Acne, redness, bruises — no big deal. Temporary skin issues are the easiest to fix.

  • Wrinkles on Clothes: That silk blouse nobody thought to steam? Photoshop is your best friend.

  • Background Garbage: Stray cables, random water bottles, or even that one crew member who accidentally photobombed the shot.

  • Color Issues: Weird lighting making everything too yellow or green? Consider it fixed.

  • Flyaway Hair: Stray hairs floating in all directions — gone with a few brush strokes.

🚫 What Retouching Can't Fix (or Will Cost You Your Soul):

  • Bad Lighting: Flat, harsh, or uneven light will never look like a Vogue cover, no matter how many hours of retouching you throw at it.

  • Out-of-Focus Shots: If it's blurry, it's blurry — no magic here.

  • Terrible Poses: No, I can't make the model look like they actually want to be there if they were dead inside during the whole shoot.

  • Missing Parts of the Image: If half of the shoe is cropped out, I won't be painting it back like Bob Ross.

  • Overexposure: Blown-out highlights = lost information. There's nothing left to recover.

Pro Tip 💡:

If you think "we'll fix it in post" — don't. The best retouching happens when everything is prepped properly on set. But if something slips through the cracks... well, that's why retouchers are both magicians and therapists.

Got any horror stories from set that retouching barely saved? Drop them in the comments — let's suffer together.
Oh, and by the way — I'm the retoucher who can turn your set f*ckups into flawless images. Let's make some magic!

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