Jodie & Rod discuss the wide world of retouching and image-manipulation.

"As image-makers, retouching is just part of our job. It can make or break an image, and is a seriously underrated skill for this reason.

From our viewpoint, we use it as artistic expression, in the same way any artist would in their own media. It allows us to hone in on our unique voice & style. For us, it is just another part of the creative process, which is why we prefer the term “image-maker” as applied to “photographer”. It essentially lifts away any constraints that are considered within the boundaries of “photography”. However, there also seems to be a growing hard reliance on it for some.

A lot of people believe that image manipulation no longer has a place in our modern world, but with the rise of ‘do-it-yourself’ retouching apps, the exact opposite is making its way to our fingertips. The ability to manipulate our frames & faces is no longer limited to the professionals in the retouching suites, it is now available to anyone with a smartphone. With 73% of teenagers now owning a smartphone, we could well have a problem on our hands. It is important that we are educated that most imagery we see today is edited in some form. Tell us your thoughts.