I usually don’t share my creative experiments, but this time, I decided to give you a peek behind the scenes. These images are part of my personal projects, using stock images that I found online and are free to edit. Unlike client work, where there are specific guidelines and expectations, these experiments allow me to let my imagination run wild and have a bit of fun with no boundaries.
Image 1
The first image caught my eye mainly because of the hair. As a hair retoucher, I immediately saw room for improvement. The hair had a good base, but it needed some refining. I focused on cleaning up the stray hairs, filling in gaps, and generally smoothing the texture while keeping the hair looking natural. I also added a bit of shine to bring out its vibrancy.
Beyond the hair, I made a few other adjustments. I fixed some of the wrinkles in the dress to give it a smoother look, but this project isn’t about perfection. It’s all about experimenting, testing new ideas, and honing my skills. That’s why I decided to add a little extra flair to the image—a sparkle to the jewelry and some light rays behind the subject. Is it over the top? Maybe, but that’s the point of these exercises. It’s all about exploring creativity and trying new techniques.
Here is the before / after:
Image 2
For Image #2, I was drawn to the messy, challenging hair and the strong concept behind it. The image had great potential, but I felt it needed a bit more attention in post-production to bring out its best features.
I started with the hair, removing the unnecessary stray strands while preserving its natural flow. My goal was to enhance the look, staying true to what I imagined the hair artist’s original vision to be. After the hair was refined, I moved on to the skin and makeup.
The white makeup above the eye felt incomplete, so I simplified its design and then mirrored the shape in black on the other eye. This added a sense of symmetry that was missing, bringing more balance to the face. I also paid careful attention to the straightness of the line running across the model’s face, making subtle adjustments to ensure it looked intentional and sharp.
Finally, I decided to take it a step further by splitting the background into two distinct halves, mirroring the line across the face. This not only complemented the overall composition but also added a visual layer of interest that helped emphasize the image’s creative intent.
The end result was a cohesive piece, where the details and symmetry helped elevate the original concept.
Let me know what you think about the transformation!
Image 3
This project presented a unique challenge due to the bold and vibrant color palette, particularly the rich red hues in the hair and clothing. The goal was to maintain the vibrancy of the red while ensuring the colors didn’t overpower the overall composition. One of the main hurdles was achieving balance between the model’s hair and the background without the two merging or competing for attention. The background gradient was carefully adjusted to complement the red tones in the hair, creating depth while maintaining a clear separation between subject and background.
Another key aspect was the hair retouching. It required meticulous attention to detail to maintain the smooth, glossy finish while enhancing the dramatic shading across the strands. Each strand needed to stand out with sharpness and definition, especially since the lighting played such a vital role in shaping the overall feel of the image. The shadows and highlights were adjusted to add dimension without losing the natural look of the hair, making it appear sleek and well-polished.
The final step was refining the overall image composition. The subtle background geometric elements were adjusted to add visual interest without distracting from the subject. Blur and light desaturation were used strategically to emphasize the hair and face, subtly leading the viewer’s eye. The motion blur at the bottom was added to create a sense of flow and enhance the visual impact. While the original image presented a good starting point, these enhancements helped elevate the final result into something more polished, dynamic, and ready to captivate a viewer’s attention.
What I enjoy most about these creative experiments is the freedom they give me. There’s no pressure to achieve perfection or meet client expectations. Instead, I get to try out new tools and techniques in a low-stakes environment, which helps me grow as a retoucher. Each project is a learning experience, and even though it’s not about delivering a flawless result, the process helps me improve my skills and keep my creativity sharp.
I hope you enjoy seeing these experiments as much as I enjoyed creating them. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
About the author
Adrian Alexander is a senior retoucher and founder of Ad Retouch Studio, a digital photo retouching and post-production studio. His journey with Photoshop began in the 90s, but it was during his photography years—after purchasing his first DSLR in January 2009—that his passion for photo editing truly flourished. Today, he focuses on running his retouching business and finds joy in teaching others, though his heart remains with perfecting images in Photoshop, his true creative love.