Amount of time to retouch

[ducatiwv]

Hi, I m VERY excited about your DVD, and look forward to the download version ...I do have one question and i know it can vary due the the expertise of the person actually doing the retouch, but on average for a glamour shot, how long does it usually take for a retouch using your method? thanks for any info and best of luck ....Larry

[Nick Saglimbeni]

Hi Larry,

Thanks for the message. That's a great question. When I first started retouching (about 6 years ago), it would take me anywhere from 2 hours to 2 days (!) to retouch a shot (I am VERY particular LOL). So I developed a technique that could reduce that time dramatically by systematic repetition. In short, I can now complete a full retouch (including shots as complex at Shot #3 on my MasteringRetouching Proof samples) in as little as 7-10 minutes.

Now, I will say two things:

1) I think a healthy speed to aim for is 30-45 minutes a shot. At that rate, you can still knock out 10-15 shots in an 8-hour day, and if you take in pride in your photography, that's almost 1/3 of an entire portfolio! If, on the other hand, you are a volume guy, who needs to crank out 100+ shots a day, then you may want to pick and choose which "problem areas" to focus on with your shots, because magazine-quality retouching does take more time than a one-touch blur filter, for example.

2) My retouching speed actually increased about 400% when I got my first Wacom tablet, no joke. The pen is so much faster than a mouse, though every technique taught in the series can be done with a mouse, it will just take a bit longer. (Disclosure: Wacom is a sponsor of SlickforceStudio)

Hope that helps, Larry, and let me know if you need anything else!

[ducatiwv]

Thank you so much for the fast Reply Nick...I've seen your before and after shots and i m completly blown away. I m very anxious to start using your method and think it will take my photography to the next level. I have always been a decent photographer, but not very good at all with the post processing. I think that is the key for a great result, both for me and my clients. I hope by learning this that, I can finally achieve that goal.....cheers and I look forward to being around this forum for awhile...

Oh and will definitely be looking at the Wacom tablet!!

[Matt Timmons]

I'm always one to welcome a Duc owner, what do you ride?

As a new comer to the technique, I'd say I was up and running with it after a single day. Now I'm pretty proficient and I can do a full body retouch in about 20 min, give or take depending on what needs to be done. If your good at photography, then I'd reckon even less time because you don't have to fix photo flaws (like one would if they take bad pictures in the first place and just rely on retouching to fix them, which the technique can and does do too).
I hope that's some helpful feedback from someone who is new to the method. I don't even use filters anymore to fix skin problems, the Slickforce Method is just part of my normal routine now (albeit with my own style and look to how I retouch).

Cheers!

[ducatiwv]

I'm always one to welcome a Duc owner, what do you ride?

As a new comer to the technique, I'd say I was up and running with it after a single day. Now I'm pretty proficient and I can do a full body retouch in about 20 min, give or take depending on what needs to be done. If your good at photography, then I'd reckon even less time because you don't have to fix photo flaws (like one would if they take bad pictures in the first place and just rely on retouching to fix them, which the technique can and does do too).
I hope that's some helpful feedback from someone who is new to the method. I don't even use filters anymore to fix skin problems, the Slickforce Method is just part of my normal routine now (albeit with my own style and look to how I retouch).

Cheers!

Thanks for the welcome Matt.....thats very encouraging to hear about how fast you were able to pick up the technique. I m so tired of using filters that honestly can't be tailored to every shot. I m actually not the greatest at photoshop, but hope that by learning this , I can be more proficient and produce better results without having to do it by trial and error. I m looking for a technique i can use everytime and make it part of my workflow.

Oh and I actually have 3 Ducatis, and several other offbrands, LOL.....2009 1198s, 1996 mostly Carbon fiber 916 and an 08 Hypermotard...I m addicted to that too. I m also a Super Mod on the R1 forum....thanks again ....Larry

[Matt Timmons]

Ahh I'm on there too, but haven't logged in for some time. I'm Adrenaline416. I knew Shane back in '07 from being on the event vendor circuit. He bought some of the apparel I designed (Adrenaline Limit & Rokkit Girl) and gave me dealer pricing on my racing parts. I have two R1's, one '05 full-race and an '07 for out-running cops on the street. There's something about sport bike riders being into photography and digital art, a couple of other guys on here ride too.
Well, once again welcome over here, we have a small but great community here with some really good photogs and we help each other to get better, so post up some of your stuff. If you want to exchange a freeway wheelie or knee dragging story or two that's cool too! Not that I would admit to or condone any of that type of riding on public streets!
You'll really dig the DVD series, I wish I had it 2 years ago when I first started retouching.

[ducatiwv]

Ahh I'm on there too, but haven't logged in for some time. I'm Adrenaline416. I knew Shane back in '07 from being on the event vendor circuit. He bought some of the apparel I designed (Adrenaline Limit & Rokkit Girl) and gave me dealer pricing on my racing parts. I have two R1's, one '05 full-race and an '07 for out-running cops on the street. There's something about sport bike riders being into photography and digital art, a couple of other guys on here ride too.
Well, once again welcome over here, we have a small but great community here with some really good photogs and we help each other to get better, so post up some of your stuff. If you want to exchange a freeway wheelie or knee dragging story or two that's cool too! Not that I would admit to or condone any of that type of riding on public streets!
You'll really dig the DVD series, I wish I had it 2 years ago when I first started retouching.

WOW..its a small world...Shane is on of my good friends....He just moved to Atlanta and is now working for Graves Motorsports.....Hes going to be head of their internet and sales department...Did you meet him at the Indy dealer show? I was there at that time. Sounds like you are a Yamaha guy also , thats great...I ve got 2 custom R1s, that i use mainly as a prop for shoots, LOL...I built a Wr450 Motard and have a R6 for track and street....Oh and we ride at Deals Gap alot, and i always obey the traffic laws...I actually want to specialize in bike photography, with model of course, and also throw in alot of Glam with that. I m starting my own website soon, and am pretty excited about that. I m VERY excited about learning this and i really think it will take me to the next level....Well if i do my part right, LOL....thanks again....Larry

[Corey Jenkins]

Welcome to the forum man! I've always thought those bikes were awesome, so seeing them in some photos on here would be sick!!

[Matt Timmons]

Actually I wrote him a letter when I first started my T-shirt business. He was a cop who quit to start his business and I wanted some advice because I was quitting my career as a commercial pilot to go into the sportbike industry so I figured he would have some advice. We met at Daytona Bike Week in '07 and he remembered me and loved my product and my ads I was running in Super Streetbike magazine. So we just started talking since his booth with McCoy Motorsports was near my apparel vending tents. After that we just emailed through the R1 forums and spoke via phone. We were getting serious about having McCoy distribute my shirts, but just never pulled the trigger. Here's a shot from our last day in Daytona as we were all leaving. Shane, myself, (can't remember the third guy's name) and Earl.



I'd love to come out and ride the tail of the dragon with you guys some time. Tell Shane I stopped doing shirts and I'm shooting billboard and magazine ads now and I wish him the best. But I'm still twisting the throttle and always will!

[ducatiwv]

Actually I wrote him a letter when I first started my T-shirt business. He was a cop who quit to start his business and I wanted some advice because I was quitting my career as a commercial pilot to go into the sportbike industry so I figured he would have some advice. We met at Daytona Bike Week in '07 and he remembered me and loved my product and my ads I was running in Super Streetbike magazine. So we just started talking since his booth with McCoy Motorsports was near my apparel vending tents. After that we just emailed through the R1 forums and spoke via phone. We were getting serious about having McCoy distribute my shirts, but just never pulled the trigger. Here's a shot from our last day in Daytona as we were all leaving. Shane, myself, (can't remember the third guy's name) and Earl.



I'd love to come out and ride the tail of the dragon with you guys some time. Tell Shane I stopped doing shirts and I'm shooting billboard and magazine ads now and I wish him the best. But I'm still twisting the throttle and always will!

That is so wild, I was in Daytona during that time, probably overslept that day, lol.
Shane is a good guy and a hard worker, so i wish him the best also. I ll miss him being around, but i do understand why he left. I ll definitely tell him about you and hopefully you can come out and ride our next convention, its in June again this year. The third guy in the shot is Bart, hes still working for the McCoys....

Welcome to the forum man! I've always thought those bikes were awesome, so seeing them in some photos on here would be sick!!

Yeah Corey , they have some really cool bikes, the last one that Shane designed is my favorite...Kind of like the Spider bike only better IMO...here is a link to my 2 bikes that they helped me with

http://www.tobefast.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=618

http://www.tobefast.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=663