Retouching Policy: What Is Included and What Costs Extra

A retouching policy is a short written statement of what edits are included in your price and what costs extra. The simplest version defines three levels, light, standard and heavy, says which one every package includes, and prices anything beyond that per image or per hour. Clients then know what to expect before they ask.

Without it, retouching is where good relationships go sour. Either you do hours of unpaid work to keep someone happy, or you refuse a request that the client thought was reasonable.

Levels of retouching

Name the levels so you and the client use the same words. A common split:

• Light: global corrections. Exposure, white balance, colour, crop, straightening. Removing a temporary blemish or a stray hair.
• Standard: everything in light, plus basic skin smoothing, removing small distractions (a bin, a sign, a cable), tidying flyaway hair and brightening eyes.
• Heavy: time-intensive edits. Changing a background, removing people, combining frames, reshaping clothing, liquifying features, extensive skin work.

You do not have to use these names. Use whatever your clients will understand, and make sure each level has a short plain-language description and one or two examples.

Included

Decide what every package includes, and be generous where it costs little. Most photographers include light retouching on every delivered image because it is part of finishing the photo. Many include standard retouching on a limited number of hero images, for example portraits chosen for the album or the print.

Example (change for your business):

• Every delivered image: light retouching.
• Up to 20 images per wedding: standard retouching, chosen by the couple.
• Headshot sessions: standard retouching on the final selected images.

Keep the limit in numbers, not adjectives. "Up to 20 images" is clear; "some retouching" is not.

Extra fees

Anything past what the package includes can be an add-on. There are three common ways to price it:

1. Per image. A set fee for a standard retouch and a higher one for heavy.
2. Hourly. Better for complex, unpredictable work. Give a quote after you see the image.
3. A bundle. For example, ten extra retouched images for a fixed amount.

Time yourself on a few real examples before you set prices. If a standard retouch takes you ten minutes and your working hour is worth 50 in your currency, that is around 8 per image before you add overhead. These are example numbers. Use your own.

Offer retouching as an add-on in your proposal so it is chosen up front rather than negotiated afterwards. See photography add-ons that sell for ideas on presenting extras.

How to say it

Put the policy in the contract or package details and mention it before the shoot, not after the gallery arrives. Keep the tone plain and friendly.

Every image is colour corrected and finished by us. Selected images receive standard retouching, such as skin tidying and removing small distractions. Larger changes, such as removing people or changing backgrounds, are quoted separately. Please send your retouching requests in one list within 14 days of receiving the gallery.

A few additions that save trouble:

• Say that you edit to your own style and reserve the right to decline changes you are not comfortable making.
• Say that retouching requests after the deadline may be charged.
• Say that natural features such as scars and birthmarks are not removed unless the client asks.

Examples

A portrait client asks for more. A client wants a smoother jawline and slimmer arms. Your policy places that in heavy retouching. You reply: "That falls under our heavy retouching, which is quoted per image. The first image would be 25 and each further one 15." The client can decide without feeling refused. (Example prices.)

A wedding couple sends a long list. They send 40 requests across four emails. Your policy says one list, one round. You reply with the policy, offer to do the first 20 as included and quote the rest.

Product and brand work. Commercial clients usually want consistent results across a set. Define retouching per shot in the estimate and agree a revision limit, as you would for scope changes.

Keeping time honest

Track how long retouching takes on a few jobs. Compare it with what you charged. The result shows up in profit per job, and most photographers are surprised by how much time goes on small edits nobody paid for.

If you use ClickBook, you can add a retouching add-on to the proposal so the client chooses it with the package and it appears on the invoice. You can see how that looks in a demo.

Reviewing the policy

Look at the policy again after a few months. Note which requests came up that it did not cover, and which clients found it confusing. Add an example for each. Check that your prices still match the time retouching takes, because editing speed improves with practice and software changes. A policy that gets a short review twice a year stays honest and keeps both you and your clients comfortable with it.

If you have an editor working for you, give them the same levels and examples so the whole team applies the policy the same way.

Mistakes to avoid

• Having no policy and deciding per client, which feels unfair to everyone.
• Describing levels in vague words like "minor" and "major".
• Allowing unlimited rounds of changes.
• Sending a sneak peek with heavy retouching that sets expectations you cannot repeat across the whole gallery.

Frequently asked questions

Should retouching be included in every package?

Basic corrections such as colour, exposure and removing small temporary blemishes are usually included. Heavier work such as body reshaping or compositing is usually priced separately.

How do I price extra retouching?

Many photographers charge per image, or per hour for complex jobs. Time how long a typical heavy retouch takes you and price from your hourly rate.

Can I refuse retouching requests I disagree with?

Yes. Your policy can say that you reserve the right to decline edits that change a person's appearance in ways you are not comfortable with.

When should clients request retouching?

Ask them to choose images and list requests in one round, with a deadline. Several rounds of small requests are what cost you time.