Meet the jury

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

The first time I watched someone retouch a photo, I was hooked. It looked like real magic - just a few touches and the image was completely transformed. I started learning purely for the joy of it, because I wanted to be part of that magic. A friend eventually pointed out that it could actually be a career, and from there I started working with clients. Eleven years later, that sense of magic hasn't gone anywhere. Neither has the love.

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

My journey has taken me through a lot - from art direction to running my own retouching agency. These days I'm focused on my freelance senior retouching work while deepening my understanding of AI-driven techniques. The role keeps evolving, and so do I.

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

Early on I realized that retouching isn't just about the final image - it's about the entire experience a client has working with you. I've always treated it as both a service and a product, which means seamless communication, clear briefing, and reliable delivery matter just as much as the quality of the work itself. Every client and every project, from every corner of the world, has taught me something about what a truly professional service looks like.

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

It has always bothered me that retouchers are such a vital part of the creative team, yet so often remain invisible - uncredited, unacknowledged, in the background. Retoucher of the Year feels like a real answer to that. It's not just a competition, it's a statement: we are here, we are part of the team, and we are artists too.

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

Honestly? The number of revision rounds. But jokes aside, big campaigns tend to be much better organised - there's usually a clearer vision of exactly what they need from the retoucher, which makes the whole process smoother.

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

Colors first, then a quick read of the brief to gauge the scope of work. Those two things together tell me almost everything I need to know before I start.

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

I work stage by stage across all images at the same time rather than finishing one before moving to the next. It keeps the quality consistent across the whole project. And I have my own checklist - after all these years, a good system still beats trusting memory alone.

Retouching is just one skill. Beyond technical ability, what really determines whether someone builds a sustainable career?

The way you communicate, the smoothness of your process, and whether clients actually enjoy working with you. A good layer structure helps too - but the human side of it matters more than people think.

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

A stronger sense of community. Retouchers work alone a lot, and that isolation isn't great for anyone. The more we connect and support each other, the better this industry becomes for all of us.

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

That retouching is both a service and a product. The image matters enormously - but so does how you communicate, how you handle a brief, and how you show up for your clients. The technical work gets you through the door. Everything else is what makes them come back.

A final note from us

What stands out most about Yuna is how clearly she sees the full picture - not just the image on screen, but the relationship, the process, and the trust that make great work possible in the first place. Her belief that retouchers deserve to be visible, valued, and credited is one we share deeply, and her experience across every corner of the craft makes her exactly the kind of voice this jury needs.

We are delighted to welcome Yuna Bone as a member of the jury for Retoucher of the Year.

About Yuna Bone

Country: Poland

Years in the Industry: 11

Primary Specialization: Beauty, Fashion, Product Retouching

Main Expertise: Beauty, Advertising, Editorial, Lookbook, Campaign, Product, Interior, Composite, AI

Website: yunabone.com

Instagram: @yunabone

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yunabone