Professional Portrait Retouching Techniques for Photographers using Photoshop

Scott Kelby has come out with another book for Photoshop - yet this is probably his best for Portrait Photographers and Retouching. This book covers everything you need to make your images stellar. If you are looking to do any one thing in retouching your portraits, this book is laid out to find a solution and to do it quickly. If you want to brighten the eyes, see Chapter 1 pg 24. Each chapter is a portion of your portraits: Chapter 1 -Eyes, Chapter 2- skin, chapter 3 Face (sculpting) Chapter 4 - Hair, Chapter 5 Lips, Chapter 6 Body shaping.  You can find it all quickly. And the final Chapter is how to set up 5, 15, and 30 minutes retouch sessions to move through many images quickly, depending on what you need to get done.  

Being a NAPP member (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) I got to catch the hour webinar on the book and some of the techniques in the book. This clued me into some things to go further with my images without spending the time. The book retails for 49.99, but as a NAPP member it was only $28. I have seen it online for 30 something. I say this is the best book I have purchased in my library of Photoshop books. If you are not Photographing people, then don't get this book, but if you are and want people to look their best, do!  

Though not required, they recommend using a tablet. I have had a tablet for years, and use it on and off. I have been recently been doing a lot of  corporate photo sessions and find myself using most of the time., as you have so much more control. They recommend a Wacom Intuos 4 Medium for photographers. This is a great unit with quick buttons to get through tools you use a lot.  

Another great thing is they give some great tips in this book that are so true. Like just the fact that we often tend to tune things out when we photograph, but they all pop out when we look at the images back on our computer. Makes me take a little more time to set up shots. And also tell how you never show people their before picture, after you retouch their image and why. (I have experienced this first hand)

So I recommend checking out the book. If you are not a NAPP member, I recommend becoming one, as it's a wealth of information. As a member you get a subscription to Photoshop User, and I believe they are giving this book to people joining NAPP for free, for the time being. Use promo code RETOUCHBK online or by phone. Click on the NAPP link on the right to get your subscription.