Photo Manipulation vs Portrait Retouching
Which you need, what each costs, and when a project wants both — photo manipulation compared with portrait retouching.
Last revised
Both sit under Photo Retouching, and clients regularly ask which of the two they actually want. The short answer is below; the rest of this page is how to tell, what each costs, and the cases where a project needs both.
What each one is
- Photo Manipulation Changing photos creatively, from compositing and blending to surreal and conceptual images that could not be photographed directly.
- Portrait Retouching Retouching portraits to look polished and natural, from quick headshot cleanup to detailed beauty and fashion work.
The numbers
| Photo Manipulation | Portrait Retouching | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | From $0.99 per image | From $0.99 per image |
| Services underneath | 3 | 4 |
How to decide
Go with Photo Manipulation when
- The job is specifically photo blending, which sits under this one
- The job is specifically photo collage & frames, which sits under this one
- The job is specifically photo compositing - 2D visual effects & filters, which sits under this one
Go with Portrait Retouching when
- The job is specifically beauty & glamor retouching, which sits under this one
- The job is specifically body retouching & reshaping, which sits under this one
- The job is specifically headshots & face retouching, which sits under this one
When a project wants both
Worth knowing: More often than the question implies — the same job frequently touches both, and one team covers them, so moving between them is a conversation rather than a second supplier. If you are not sure which your files need, that is what the free trial is for. The process is the same either way: whichever you pick, the work runs through the same stages and is checked against the same bar. Photo Retouching sets that out.
Questions we get on this specific choice
Is one of them cheaper?
They start at the same rate, so the choice is about what the job needs rather than about budget. Complexity moves both.
Which is faster?
Much the same, and volume moves the number far more than the choice between these two does.
Can you tell me which one my files need?
Yes, free. Send two or three real files — that judgment is part of the trial rather than something quoted separately.
Can I switch after we start?
Yes. If the files say the other one is the right answer, we re-quote before doing the work rather than after.
Where to go from here
- Photo Manipulation — what it is, in full, with its own pricing
- Portrait Retouching — the same for the alternative
- Photo Retouching pricing — both rates side by side with the US market ranges
- Try it free — 2 images, edited to your brief, and we will tell you which of the two your files need
- Get a quote if the scope is already clear
- Every rate we publish, on one page
