Reply To: The Art of Photo Retouching

[Bill]

I have a realistic question for you all. How many actually use a retouching service for their work? I know there are some that swear by it and some that would rather cut off an arm than to let someone else touch their work.

I always wondered, how the retoucher interprets how the final image should be from what was shot, or is this communicated by the photographer? Is there any artistic freedom from their end? I have no clue, since I have never used a service.
I actually won a voucher for retouching service for $250 or $500, not sure for what amount, when I attended a seminar over the summer. It sits here still, on my desk, unused.