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In some cases, a photograph may be undamaged, but its image may need to be altered or enhanced for cosmetic or artistic reasons. Paul Baldassini has more than 25 years experience providing top quality retouching services for stage artists, advertising creative directors, and individuals.

Using a professional digital electronic workstation and a sophisticated electronic tool box, Paul is able to accomplish everything from removing wrinkles on a head shot, to altering a background for an ad, to swapping out a facial expression - or an entire person - in a wedding photograph. He is also available to provide instruction in these techniques to design/production/marketing professionals on an individual or corporate basis.

Removing blemishes
and flaws
Paul is able to seamlessly mitigate or eliminate minor (or major) skin blemishes and wrinkles.

Image of monochrome photo of teenage girl with braces circa 1990s retouched including removal of braces, flyaway hair, and blemishes, contrast enhanced, surface flaws retouched, detail restored and sharpened. Click to see larger image. Image of overexposed color bridal photo circa 1990s retouched including silhouette of figure and compositing of new background, retouch blemishes, enhance contrast and color, detail restored and sharpened, crop to oval vignette. Click to see larger image. Image of color photo of father and 3 children on beach retouched including removal of father, cloning water and sand, add shadow to pail, retouch surface blemishes, contrast enhanced, detail restored and sharpened. Click to see larger image. Image of monochrome photo of young mother and baby boy circa 1950s retouched including removal of mother, recreate baby's clothing, add new background, retouch surface blemishes, contrast enhanced, detail restored, sharpened and hand colored. Click to see larger image. Image of monochrome photo of African American grandmother and granddaughter circa 1950s retouched including removal of 2nd child on sofa, cloning sofa, mother, retouch surface blemishes, contrast enhanced, detail restored and sharpened. Click to see larger image. Image of recent color photo of corporate fleet of trucks retouched including removal 0f background trees, power lines, and buildings, removal of parking lot grid, cloning parking lot, retouch all truck defects, overall surface retouch, contrast enhanced, detail restored and sharpened, perspective corrected, cropped. Click to see larger image. Image of recent color group photo of 11 family members retouched including compositing of alternate heads on two figures, removal of background trees, retouch surface blemishes, detail restored and sharpened. Click to see larger image. Image of faded monochrome photo circa 1940s of couple and child seated at banquet table, retouched including removal of child, closing up space between couple, removal and cloning items on table, retouch surface flaws, contrast enhanced, detail restored and sharpened, cropped. Click to see larger image.

Altering color and contrast
Paul's expertise enables him to change the hues (color) of one or more elements of an image, such as an article of clothing, an object, the sky, even the color of a person's eyes. In particular, for advertising and product photography, Paul is able to provide color and contrast correction and adjustments that can turn a so-so image into a standout.

Silhouetting
More complex treatments include isolating or "silhouetting" a person or object(s) in an image in order to replace the original background entirely or eliminating it altogether. Utilizing the latest techniques, Paul is able to blend the silhouette seamlessly with the new background, without that unbelievable "cut and pasted" look.

Wedding photos/corporate photos
Paul is also able to use the silhouetting technique for those instances where it is necessary to blend someone into an existing group shot, alter a person's expression or head pose, or remove someone from a photograph all together. In addition, he frequently uses silhouetting to add drama to a bridal photo by replacing an uninteresting background with dramatic new lighting, enhancing lost detail in a gown, or both.