Over the past couple of years, some designers and art directors here have asked me about my experiences working with CGI and digital retouchers. Like yourselves, I've handled most of my own high-res retouching out of necessity (and some level of competence), but when I have had the opportunity to work with truly talented Photoshop Geeks, the resulting work really benefits. My main experiencewas working with a company out of Virgnia called Lot 44, which is now Alice Blue.
Working with these imaging specialists can help you enhance the mood and style of your visual assets, as well as create elements within your visuals that are simply impossible to capture on location or in the studio (due to the reality or scale of the situation or more mundane reasons such as budget, seasonality, or timing).
I've collected a list of other retouching houses that I respect and know do stellar work (some we've even collaborated with during the infant stages of conceptual development on a few Kodak jobs). Check out:
and a new creative imaging firm I just learned of called Hac Job.
To understand how these vendors could help elevate your work, check out the case studies that these companies provide on their sites. In most cases you can see the elements that comprise a shot or simply see the before & after comparisons. Sure, great creative starts with a killer idea — but page personality counts for a lot and the message can often be