Photo Retoucher

Aquent; Denver (CO); Remote; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent is seeking a skilled Commercial Photo Retoucher to deliver high-end product retouching, image cleanup, masking, and color correction for commercial imagery. The role emphasizes accurate product colors, natural textures, and strong attention to detail, with remote work for the remainder of the month and potential extension.

The position requires expertise in background reconstruction, precise masking for component parts, and maintaining organized layered files.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in commercial photo retouching and product photography.
• Strong skills in image cleanup, object removal, and background reconstruction.
• Advanced masking and selection for detailed product components.
• Expertise in color correction and accurate color matching to references.
• Ability to maintain realistic textures, lighting, and product dimensionality.

Responsibilities

• Retouch product and model photography to achieve a high-end commercial finish.
• Remove dust, scratches, wrinkles, and distracting imperfections.
• Remove background lights, flats, and other unwanted elements from shoots.
• Extend, reconstruct, and clean backgrounds as needed.
• Retouch bags and product details while preserving texture and dimensionality.
• Create precise, clean masks for logos, hardware, straps, and color sections.
• Color-correct products to match supplied references while preserving lighting.
• Maintain organized, labeled layered files with masks intact.

Skills

Commercial retouching

Image cleanup

Masking & selection

Color correction

Background reconstruction

Detail-oriented

Job description

We are seeking a skilled Commercial Photo Retoucher to demonstrate expertise in high-end product retouching, image cleanup, masking, background reconstruction, and color correction. The ideal candidate has a strong eye for detail and can deliver polished, realistic commercial imagery while maintaining accurate product colors, natural textures, and dimensionality. This will be remote for the remainder of the month and will likely extend.

Key Responsibilities

• Retouch product and model photography to achieve a clean, high-end commercial finish.
• Remove dust, scratches, wrinkles, distracting imperfections, and unwanted production elements.
• Remove visible background lights, flats, and other elements from the original shoot.
• Extend, reconstruct, and clean backgrounds as needed.
• Retouch bags and other product details while preserving realistic texture, shape, and dimensionality.
• Perform natural model cleanup without excessive retouching.
• Create precise, clean masks for individual product components, including logos, zippers, hardware, straps, and separate color sections.
• Color-correct products to closely match supplied reference images while maintaining natural lighting and realistic product appearance.
• Maintain organized, clearly labeled, layered working files with masks intact.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in commercial photo retouching and product photography.
• Strong skills in image cleanup, object removal, and background reconstruction.
• Advanced masking and selection skills for detailed product components.
• Expertise in color correction and accurate color matching to visual references.
• Ability to maintain realistic textures, lighting, and product dimensionality.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality commercial standards.
• Ability to deliver clean, organized, and editable working files.

Assessment & Deliverables

Candidates will complete a retouching assessment using two model-and-bag images. Both images should demonstrate the ability to:

• Remove dust, scratches, and distracting imperfections.
• Remove visible production elements and clean or extend backgrounds.
• Refine the bag and model while preserving a natural appearance.
• Create individual masks for the logo, zippers/hardware, strap, and separate color sections of the bag.
• Match the bag’s color as closely as possible to the supplied reference.

Candidates must submit:

• Final flattened images.
• Layered working files with masks intact.
• Files maintained at the original resolution and color profile.
• Clearly labeled and organized layers.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated on overall retouching quality, attention to detail, cleanup and object removal, background reconstruction, mask precision, product color accuracy, natural texture and dimensionality, and working-file organization. Color accuracy is especially important. Final images should match the supplied reference as closely as possible while preserving the product’s natural lighting, texture, and dimensionality.

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