Meet the Jury

How did you find your way into retouching, and what has kept you in it?

I studied a photography course back in Cape Town, South Africa. An alumni from the university, who was now a fashion photographer, posted on a forum looking for someone he could train as a retoucher. I responded, did a test, and he hired me. I worked with him closely for four years which set the tone for my career.

How long have you been working in the industry, and what phase of your career are you in now?

I have now been editing solely for 13 years. I am now a full-time freelancer and have a collection of clients predominantly in the fashion industry.

What kinds of projects or environments have shaped your standards the most?

Early in my career I was hired by a stock photography company. The turnaround time was quick and all images had to be to a high standard. You never knew what batch you could receive day to day, so I learned to edit to a high standard across many genres under tight deadlines.

What made you want to be part of the Retoucher of the Year jury?

I feel that retouchers are the unsung heroes of the creative industry. So many great images are only great because of the editor, but we very rarely receive the credit we deserve. Any opportunity that presents itself where the editor can be acknowledged will always have my support.

Beyond technical ability, what really determines whether someone builds a sustainable career?

Retouchers need to be excellent communicators as we are often the people interpreting what the client or photographer needs into technical skill in Photoshop. We also have to help clients understand what is possible and sometimes manage expectations.

We also have to understand photography too - many of the best retouchers I know are also excellent photographers. The industry really does go hand in hand with one another, so I think it is important to have a background in photography so you can collaborate effectively on projects.

When working on major campaigns compared to smaller projects, what truly changes?

Overall quality. I notice that in smaller teams the quality is spread out across all departments, whereas larger corporations can sometimes cut corners and production or art direction goes unmonitored - usually resulting in more work for post-production.

When you open a new file, what do you look at first before touching anything?

I usually start with what I can notice about the image that doesn't look right and wasn't discussed in the brief. I start by collecting questions that may cause issues in the future. For example - is this image supposed to be out of focus? Do you want all blemishes removed or just a slight tidy up? The shoes don't fit - shall I amend?

I usually don't do more than what's explicitly briefed, but I will ask questions based on my own interpretation before starting.

When working at scale, how do you make sure nothing is missed?

I always factor in quality check time into my delivery scopes. I generally dedicate a day to this where I will look at the images on a different screen, at different zoom levels, to see how they read across multiple platforms.

Beyond technical ability, what really determines whether someone builds a sustainable career?

Building connections is your most valuable skill. Most of my clients come from recommendations from others.

What do you think this industry needs more of right now?

Specialization. Too many retouchers have had to broaden their skills in order to get work, but then we lack specialty artists.

What is one insight you wish more retouchers understood early in their career?

Make friends with the right people - managers, producers, and so on - and show you are not afraid to sit in the dirt with them. Pick up that image nobody wants to touch. Offer your services overtime to help push a project over the line. Recommend people you've worked with to them if you know of anyone good.

Connection is what will get you far. People will remember you for your consistency and reliability.

A final note from us

Sarah's path into retouching - through a forum post, a test, and four years of close mentorship - is a reminder of how much the right connection at the right moment can shape a career. It is fitting, then, that connection is the value she champions most. Her directness, her sharp eye for quality, and her belief in specialization make her a strong and considered voice on this panel.

We are delighted to welcome Sarah Nagel as a member of the jury for Retoucher of the Year.

About Sarah Nagel

Country: United Kingdom

Years in the Industry: 13

Primary Specialization: Fashion and Campaign Retouching

Main Expertise: Skin, Compositing, Reconstruction

Website: sarahnagelportfolio.com

Instagram: @sarahnagel

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarah-nagel-2b206827