• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

DIGITAL PHOTO MENTOR

Photography tips, tutorials and guides for Beginner and Intermediate Photographers.

  • Start Here
  • Photography Basics
    • Beginner Photography Tutorials
    • Free Photography Basics for Beginners Course
  • Photography Articles
    • Beginner Photography Tutorials
    • Intermediate Photography
    • Photography Challenges
    • Photography Tips
      • Portrait Photography
        • Flash Photography
      • Night Photography
      • Street Photography
      • Travel Photography
      • Photo Editing
      • Landscape Photography
      • Macro Photography
      • Photoshop Tutorials
      • Photography Equipment
  • Online Courses
    • Beginner Photography Course
    • Portrait Photography Fundamentals Course
  • Private Tutoring
  • Workshops
    • Landscape Photography Workshop in Scotland
    • 5 Day Wine & Photography Workshop – Okanagan valley, BC
    • Weekend Photography Workshop in Southern Alberta, Canada
    • All our workshops
  • Login
  • Photography Basics
    • Beginner Photography Tutorials
    • Free Photography Basics for Beginners Course
  • Photography Challenges
    • Photography Challenges E-Book
    • 5-Day Photo Editing Challenge
    • All Our Photography Challenges
  • Photography Tips
    • Portrait Photography
      • Free Portrait Photography Key Concepts Course
      • Flash Photography
    • Night Photography
    • Street Photography
    • Travel Photography
    • Landscape Photography
    • Macro Photography
    • Photography Equipment
    • Advanced Photography
  • Photo Editing
    • Luminar
    • Learn Lightroom
    • Photoshop Tutorials
  • Gallery
  • Resources
    • Free Basics for Beginners Course
    • Free Portrait Photography for Beginners Course
    • Lightroom Presets
    • Texture Pack for Photoshop, Luminar
    • Webinars
    • YouTube Channel
  • Shop
    • E Learning Course
    • Private Tutoring
    • Photography Classes
    • Sky Replacements
    • Texture Packs
    • Shop our entire product line
Home » Photography Tips » Portrait Retouching Using Lightroom in 10 Minutes or Less
Portrait Retouching Using Lightroom in 10 Minutes or Less

Portrait Retouching Using Lightroom in 10 Minutes or Less

by Darlene Hildebrandt | Last Updated: December 8, 2017

Share108
Tweet4
Pin6
WhatsApp
Email
118 Shares

In this portrait retouching tutorial I will show you the workflow I use for editing and retouching a portrait using Lightroom.

I usually spend no more than 10 minutes on a single image, and often it’s less than five. Keep in mind I only do this on final selections for the client or ones I’ve chosen to feature – I do NOT do this to every single image I shoot.

Workflow for Portrait Retouching

Something I get asked about a lot is about my workflow.

The process I go through as I approach each photo when I’m editing.

That’s a really long and hard answer so I thought I’d break it up into little bite-sized pieces that are easier to digest. Workflow includes everything from downloading, sorting, tagging, culling, and processing, as well as a backup strategy.

I’ll try and cover some of those things in a future video but for today we’re going to focus on the photo editing workflow for portrait retouching, and I’ll be using Lightroom.

NOTE: Only do retouching and this degree of editing on final picks. Don’t give yourself more work by doing every single image this way.

Watch the video now to see how I go from this before image:

Before image, straight out of camera RAW file
Before image, straight out of camera RAW file
After retouching in Lightroom
After retouching in Lightroom

To this finished one above. I might take a few more than ten minutes on the video, but I stop to explain a few things along the way. Enjoy the tutorial.

lightroom alternative for photo editing softwareNEW: Adobe has announced changes to their licensing model for their products.

Lightroom Alternative: I've reviewed what I believe to be one of the best lightroom alternatives currently available. I encourage you to check it out before making ANY decisions about your photo editing software choices.

Read: Lightroom Alternative - Is Luminar the Answer?

Until next time, keep shooting and have fun!

Cheers,

Darlene teaches portrait retouching

Share108
Tweet4
Pin6
WhatsApp
Email
118 Shares

About Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene is an educator who teaches aspiring amateurs and hobbyists how to improve their skills through her articles here on Digital Photo Mentor, her beginner photography course, and private tutoring lessons. To help you at whatever level you're at she has two email mini-courses. Sign up for her free beginner OR portrait photography email mini-course. Or get both, no charge!

Luminar AI - Order now

Order your copy of the new Luminar AI photo editing software. Use our discount code DIGITALPHOTOMENTOR during checkout to save some money on your purchase.

Digital Photo Mentor is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate Digital Photo Mentor earns from qualifying purchases.

Luminar AI Now Available

Luminar AI photo editing banner

Order your copy of the new Luminar AI photo editing software, now available. Use our discount code DIGITALPHOTOMENTOR when you checkout.

Photography Tutoring

Get 60 minutes of private photography tutoring for only $75.

Top Beginner Articles

  • Avoid these 9 beginner photography mistakes
  • 7 Tips for Beginner Photographers
  • Top 15 Photography Accessories under $25
  • How to choose the best digital camera for you
  • 5 Photography Ideas for When There's Nothing Interesting to Shoot
  • 5 mistakes beginner photographers make while using a wide angle lens and how to avoid them
  • 9 Tripod Mistakes Ruining Your Images and Putting Your Camera at Risk
  • Long Exposure Photography

Top Intermediate Articles

  • 10 Camera Settings and Equipment Tips for Portrait Photography
  • Best Photo Editing Software Reviewed
  • Lightroom Alternative: Is Luminar the answer?
  • Top 15 Photography Accessories under $25
  • How to Use a Gray Card for Custom White Balance and Metering
  • Night Photography Settings – Guide to Getting the Best Exposure

Learn Photography Basics

Yes, you can learn to take better photos! It’s my passion to help you learn the photography basics and take better pictures. It’s also the same reason I teach workshops, do photo travel tours, and have online photography courses available.

Enroll in our free photography basics for beginners course, or 12-part portrait photography course, also free.

Recent Photography Articles

  • 3 Tips for Creating Better Black and White Photos
  • 6 Tips for Taking Stunning Close-Up Photos
  • Photography Challenge – Create an Image that Represents a Song
  • 8 Photography Myths Debunked
  • Quick Tips and Tricks with Luminar AI Photo Editing Software

Useful Links

  • Beginner Photography
  • Intermediate Photography
  • Photography Challenges
  • Photography Tips
  • Photo Editing
  • Resources
  • Recommended Amazon Products
  • Course Login
  • Workshops
  • Webinars
  • Contact
  • Write for Us

Copyright © 2021 Digital Photo Mentor · Privacy Policy · Cookie Policy · Disclaimer