Creative Direction | Chromatic Dreams

Contemporary haute couture editorials where photography becomes an art form rather than documentation.

We’re looking for photographers who aren’t afraid to experiment.

Not with Photoshop. With photography itself.

We encourage fearless experimentation. Let movement become part of the composition, blur become emotion.

Light become paint, colour become atmosphere.

Whether your work explores fashion, portraiture, self-portraiture or conceptual storytelling is entirely your choice.

What matters is your ability to create a cohesive visual world.

A world built through colour. Light. Atmosphere. Movement. Emotion.

Imagine you’ve been commissioned to create the next avant-garde fashion editorial.

Photography becomes more than documentation.

It becomes visual poetry.

We’re looking for photographers who are willing to push beyond conventional image-making.

Experiment with intentional motion blur, long exposure, painting with light, multiple exposure.

Projection, smoke, coloured lighting, diffusion, unexpected colour combinations.

Whether photographed outdoors or inside a studio, we want images that already possess a distinctive atmosphere before any colour grading begins.

Give us RAW files filled with possibilities.

Unlike our other categories, these images will not be retouched in Photoshop.

The official competition files will be developed exclusively using Adobe Lightroom or Capture One.

This category celebrates the artistry of RAW development.

We want to demonstrate how far colour, light and atmosphere can transform an already extraordinary photograph without relying on compositing or extensive retouching.

Create the kind of RAW file another artist can’t wait to interpret, a cohesive series of 8 final images connected by one artistic vision.

Rather than individual photographs, think of your submission as a visual journey where every frame contributes to the same emotional world.

How Your Photography Will Be Used

We're looking for photographers to create the official competition images for the Colour Grading Category of one of the Retoucher of the Year regional competitions.

The selected series will become the official competition images that talented colourists from around the world will interpret throughout the competition using Adobe Lightroom and Capture One.

Beyond the competition itself, your images will continue to be shared through judging, interviews, educational content, social media, winner announcements and future Retoucher of the Year publications, always with full credit to you and your creative team.

Submission

Series Length
Submit a cohesive series of 12–16 final images.

Final Selection
8 images will be selected from the winning series and become the official competition images.

Submission Deadline
6th of September 2026

Before You Submit

We want your photography, not your retouching.

The selected series will become the official competition files for Retoucher of the Year, where talented colourists from around the world will interpret your work using Adobe Lightroom and Capture One.

Focus on creating unforgettable photographs.

The colourists will take it from there.

How to Apply

1. Register as a Photographer Collaborator

Start by joining our Photographer Collaboration Programme.

→ Register here:
https://retoucheroftheyear.com/photographers/reg

If you’d like to learn more about the programme, visit:

→ Photographer Collaboration:
https://retoucheroftheyear.com/photographer-collaboration

2. Submit Your Series

To apply, please submit:

• 12–16 high-resolution JPEG images
• A short creative statement introducing your concept, inspiration and vision for the series
  

3. If Your Series Is Selected

If your series is chosen as the official competition images, we’ll invite you to upload the original RAW files together with your brief.

These RAW files will become the official competition files for one of the Retoucher of the Year regional competitions.

What You’ll Receive

Selected photographers and creative teams will receive:

• Full credit for the entire creative team across all competition materials and publications
• The final professionally retouched images for your portfolio and promotional use
• International exposure through interviews, editorial features, social media campaigns and collaboration spotlights
• Visibility across a global community of photographers, retouchers, educators, agencies, studios and creative professionals
• A unique invitation to join the judging panel as a Special Guest Judge for your own image set

As a Special Guest Judge, you’ll select the retouch that best reflects your original creative vision.
Your chosen retoucher will receive additional points towards their final score, and you’ll receive your chosen and final winning retouched images for your own portfolio and promotional use.

More importantly, you’ll become part of an international initiative dedicated to celebrating collaboration between photographers and retouchers, raising creative standards, and recognising the craftsmanship behind exceptional imagery.

Still have questions?
We’re always happy to help. Reach out to us at hello@retouchleague.com.