At what point do you charge for retouching photos?

So we all get them, those clients that want their photos retouched up 100 times more than others. Removing this, adding that. I don't mind touch up here and there and not charge for it. But at what point do you start charging additional for retouching?

I have one bride recently who was an absolute pain in the you know what. She hated how her smile was in most photos, asked for me to change her eye color in others, wanted me to "lean" up certain family members of hers in all the photos, it was a nightmare of a job.

How are you adding in retouching work?

I describe the "basic editing and retouching" that is included in my contract, and also state that additional editing and retouching will be quoted based upon the client's specific requests.

The basics that are included would be color/contrast enhancement, very minor skin smoothing, fixing stray hairs, removing distracting objects that I should have avoided in-camera. Removing a facefull of acne, making them look like a supermodel, or shaving pounds of of people would all be additional charges! Same for changing eye color and someone's real, natural smile. (I'll do that no-charge if it's just a few photos, but not if it's any significant number.)

I'll make a few changes, but once they start going overboard, I'll just charge them my normal hourly rate.

rmeyer7 wrote: I describe the "basic editing and retouching" that is included in my contract, and also state that additional editing and retouching will be quoted based upon the client's specific requests.

The basics that are included would be color/contrast enhancement, very minor skin smoothing, fixing stray hairs, removing distracting objects that I should have avoided in-camera. Removing a facefull of acne, making them look like a supermodel, or shaving pounds of of people would all be additional charges! Same for changing eye color and someone's real, natural smile. (I'll do that no-charge if it's just a few photos, but not if it's any significant number.)

Exactly!
Standard post processing is a no charge. But modifications I would tell the Bridezilla that would be extra.

Joves wrote:

rmeyer7 wrote: I describe the "basic editing and retouching" that is included in my contract, and also state that additional editing and retouching will be quoted based upon the client's specific requests.

The basics that are included would be color/contrast enhancement, very minor skin smoothing, fixing stray hairs, removing distracting objects that I should have avoided in-camera. Removing a facefull of acne, making them look like a supermodel, or shaving pounds of of people would all be additional charges! Same for changing eye color and someone's real, natural smile. (I'll do that no-charge if it's just a few photos, but not if it's any significant number.)

Exactly!
Standard post processing is a no charge. But modifications I would tell the Bridezilla that would be extra.

every time I hear "bridezilla" it's still hilarious to me

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not the greatest at photo editing. Are there any good services that will do the editing work for you for an affordable fee?

Joves wrote:

rmeyer7 wrote: I describe the "basic editing and retouching" that is included in my contract, and also state that additional editing and retouching will be quoted based upon the client's specific requests.

The basics that are included would be color/contrast enhancement, very minor skin smoothing, fixing stray hairs, removing distracting objects that I should have avoided in-camera. Removing a facefull of acne, making them look like a supermodel, or shaving pounds of of people would all be additional charges! Same for changing eye color and someone's real, natural smile. (I'll do that no-charge if it's just a few photos, but not if it's any significant number.)

Exactly!
Standard post processing is a no charge. But modifications I would tell the Bridezilla that would be extra.

I agree with you guys.

Basic editing for free = fix colour balance and balance out the exposure... perhaps some cropping. That takes long enough as it is.

Stealthy Ninja wrote:

Joves wrote:

rmeyer7 wrote: I describe the "basic editing and retouching" that is included in my contract, and also state that additional editing and retouching will be quoted based upon the client's specific requests.

The basics that are included would be color/contrast enhancement, very minor skin smoothing, fixing stray hairs, removing distracting objects that I should have avoided in-camera. Removing a facefull of acne, making them look like a supermodel, or shaving pounds of of people would all be additional charges! Same for changing eye color and someone's real, natural smile. (I'll do that no-charge if it's just a few photos, but not if it's any significant number.)

Exactly!
Standard post processing is a no charge. But modifications I would tell the Bridezilla that would be extra.

I agree with you guys.

Basic editing for free = fix colour balance and balance out the exposure... perhaps some cropping. That takes long enough as it is.

that's what I'm saying. There should be a service out there that will do all the editing for us

For the typical retouching, cloning out acne, scars etc.. no fee. However if a client ask me to do what your client ask, I would charge $25 per photo or she can live with the way her smile came out, and her family leaning etc... Stuff happens, and either the client lives with that kind of photo or she pays for the perfectness that she wants.