title: "6 Advantages of High-End Photo Retouching Services (and How They Grow Your Online Sales)" date: 2024-09-03 slug: /advantages-of-high-end-photo-retouching-service word_count: 1750 images: 5
6 Advantages of High-End Photo Retouching Services (and How They Grow Your Online Sales)
Table of Contents
- What Is Retouching, and How Is It Different from Editing?
- 6 Advantages of Retouching Your Product Photos
- How to Retouch eCommerce Photography
- Pixel by Hand Product Photo Retouching Services
- FAQ
A study conducted in 2007 showed that shoppers are three times more likely to convert on websites featuring high-quality images they can zoom in on, compared to lower-quality alternatives. Another study confirmed that superior-quality images help build trust among online customers.
According to a study of eBay listings, conversion rates significantly increase with the number of images per product. Going from zero images to one image doubled conversion rates, and adding another image doubled them again.
But what if you've already taken great product photography? Do you still need to retouch them? Absolutely. Not only does retouching make photos look even better, but it also helps correct imperfections that may turn potential customers away.
In this guide, we'll explore six reasons you should consider a high-end photo retouching service for your eCommerce website — and how a specialist service like Pixel by Hand can help you achieve better online sales.
But first, let's draw a clear distinction between photo retouching and editing.
What Is Retouching, and How Is It Different from Editing?
While these two image manipulation techniques may seem similar, they vary in scope, scale, and overall outcome.
Image editing involves changing the size, colour, orientation, or other elements of an image. This usually doesn't require advanced skills or software and can be done quickly.
Retouching, on the other hand, is a far more detailed and time-consuming process that focuses on improving the appearance of an image. This typically means addressing imperfections such as blemishes, wrinkles, stray hairs, dust spots, and more.
The basics of photo retouching cover a lot of ground — from small adjustments like removing blemishes to completely altering the image by adding or removing objects. For more complex retouching jobs that involve changing a model's appearance or environment, the process can take several hours. This is quite different from standard photo editing, which might take only a few minutes.
Ready to see the difference professional retouching makes? Start your free trial — send us your images and we'll show you what's possible.
6 Advantages of Retouching Your Product Photos
1. Keep Customers Engaged (and Reduce Bounce Rate)
Bounce rate is the percentage of visitors who leave your website after viewing only one page. The average bounce rate sits between 26% and 40%. If you want to keep potential customers on your site longer, it's essential to give them something visually compelling to look at. High-quality retouched images hold attention far more effectively than unedited photographs.
2. Boost Your Click-Through Rate
Click-through rate (CTR) is the percentage of people who click on a link or advert you've placed on another website or platform. A higher CTR means more people are interested in your product, which leads to more sales. With polished product photos displayed on social media or other marketing platforms, you can expect potential customers to be more drawn to what you're selling — resulting in a measurably higher CTR.
3. Create Consistency to Improve Credibility
When you're consistent with the product photos across your website, social media, and marketing materials, potential customers are more likely to trust your brand. Inconsistent imagery — varying styles, lighting, and quality — can reflect poorly on your business and turn people away.
4. Reduce Return Rates
One of the main drivers behind increasing return rates is inaccurate colour representation. If the colours in your product photos don't match reality, customers will be disappointed when their order arrives. Professional retouching ensures your product colours are as close to real life as possible, directly reducing costly returns.
5. Drive Your Conversion Rate
As we've mentioned, great images result in a higher CTR. But once potential customers are on your website, you need to convert them into buyers. According to studies, 67% of consumers say the quality of a product image is "very important" in their purchasing decision. High-quality retouched images directly improve conversion rates.
6. Boost Social Media Engagement
Social media is one of the most powerful marketing tools available today, and great visuals are central to it. Tweets with images receive 150% more retweets than those without. Posts with images on Facebook generate 2.3 times more engagement than text-only posts.
How to Retouch eCommerce Photography
Now that we've covered the reasons to invest in product photo retouching, let's look at the key techniques used by experts like our team at Pixel by Hand.
Background Removal
The first step in many retouching workflows is removing the background. This is typically done using the pen tool to create a precise path around the subject. Once complete, the background can be deleted and replaced.
This is essential for eCommerce photography because you want the focus squarely on the product. Fashion and jewellery photos in particular benefit from background removal, as it makes the subject stand out. Platforms like Amazon and Shopify also require product images to have a white background.
Sharpen the Object and Its Edges
Image sharpening makes the subject appear clearer with more defined edges. This is usually achieved using the unsharp mask filter in Photoshop. The result is a more appealing product image that increases the likelihood of conversion — particularly for cosmetics, skincare, and detailed products.
Model Retouching
For products like clothing that are typically modelled, retouching the models is equally important. This usually involves removing blemishes, smoothing skin, and whitening teeth — making the model look polished whilst maintaining a natural appearance. It also creates uniformity across your product catalogue.
Model retouching can extend to adjusting poses or adding digital props to create a specific aesthetic — such as a tropical setting for beachwear.
Colour Correction and Colour Grading
Colour correction adjusts the colours in a photo to make them more accurate to real life. This is critical for any retailer selling physical products — what the customer sees online must match what arrives at their door.
Colour grading, by contrast, is about creating a mood or atmosphere. This is commonly used in fashion and jewellery photography to make products more visually appealing.
Resize and Save in Different Formats
Once retouching is complete, the final step is resizing and saving in the correct formats. Social media platforms and eCommerce marketplaces each have different size and format requirements, so having multiple versions of each image is essential.
This is particularly important for eCommerce, where product photos appear in different sizes — thumbnails on listing pages, larger views on product detail pages, and full-screen zoom views.
Pixel by Hand Product Photo Retouching Services
Whether you need a single product image retouched or hundreds, Pixel by Hand is the team to trust. With over 10 years' experience and 380+ clients worldwide, we know exactly how to make your product photos look their best.
At our retouching studio, we provide a comprehensive range of services — background removal, image sharpening, colour correction, and much more. We've refined our craft over a decade and deliver flawless results every time.
If you're not happy with the results, we'll work with you until you are. That's our guarantee.
See it for yourself. Send us your images for a free sample edit — no obligation, no credit card required.
FAQ
What is the difference between photo editing and photo retouching? Photo editing covers basic adjustments like cropping, resizing, and colour correction. Retouching is more detailed work — removing imperfections, smoothing skin, enhancing textures, and ensuring the image looks polished and professional.
How much does professional photo retouching cost? Costs vary depending on complexity and volume. At Pixel by Hand, we offer competitive per-image pricing with volume discounts. Start with a free trial to see our quality before committing.
How long does photo retouching take? Turnaround depends on the complexity of edits and the number of images. Simple retouching can be completed within 24 hours, whilst more detailed work may take 48–72 hours.
Can retouching fix poorly lit product photos? Retouching can significantly improve lighting issues, but there are limits. If the original photo is extremely dark or blurry, the results will be compromised. We always recommend starting with the best possible source image.
Do I need retouching if I already have professional photography? Yes. Even professional photographs benefit from retouching — colour accuracy adjustments, background standardisation, and minor imperfection removal all contribute to a more polished final product.