Raw to Refined: Advanced Commercial Retouching – Live Shoot & Edit

Michelle VanTine
Specialty & Technique

At a Glance

• Mastering the minimalist setup: High-end commercial lighting with one strobe and a bounce card
• CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) photography: Professional styling, set builds, and industry tricks of the trade
• Controlling complex reflections on challenging surfaces: Glass, metal, and foil lettering
• Advanced Commercial Retouching in Photoshop. Learn high-end post processing to take your RAW images to immaculate, shelf-ready brand commercial pieces.
• Advanced Compositing & AI Integrations

Class Description

This will be a start-to-end class in the production and retouching of a commercial photography image.

In the afternoons our class will work hands on with styling, strategic light placement, and mastering the bounce card. Using CPG (consumer packaged goods) products we will shoot one item a day, ranging from skincare to canned beverages, and you will be guided by Michelle VanTine who specializes in high end commercial photography.

With clients that line the shelves of ULTA, Target, Whole foods and more, Michelle has styled and photographed campaigns that you surely have even walked by or products in your home. She will walk you step by step through the process of a classic one- light strobe setup and many industry tricks from how to make perfect perspiration on a can (it’s not water) to tricky reflections on glass, metals and foil lettering. We will set up, scrim, style, stack, stabilize, and splash.

In the mornings we will take your favorite image from Raw to Refined. You’ll learn how to take a great image and go through the advanced Photoshop steps to transform it immaculate, professional looking commercial images with secrets used by top pros. We’ll also integrate compositing and AI retouching tools—because frankly, a lot of post-production workflow deserves a serious upgrade. #goodbyeto90sretouching.

You’ll leave here knowing how to confidently shoot and retouch a high-end CPG image that’s ready to turn heads. With retouching clients such as Coors Light, Miller High Life, Pacifico and more, having the opportunity to edit with a real-time commercial retoucher will allow you access to ask questions and get feedback about the industry. This class will help you gain Photoshop skills that will help you solve problems you thought were impossible to solve, giving you greater control over your final images.

You’ll learn how to take a great image and go through the advanced steps to make it immaculate, professional-looking commercial images with all the secrets used by top pros. We’ll also integrate compositing and AI tools for your retouching. Being able to work for a week with a real-time commercial photographer will allow them access to ask questions and get feedback about the industry as a whole. This class will help give you photoshop skills that will help you solve problems you thought were impossible to solve, give you greater control over your final image. Warning: May cause obsessive attention to detail- hope you’ll join!

• CLASS INTENSITY: Blue
• CLASS BREAKDOWN
  Classroom instruction & demos: 20%
  Hands-on: 35%
  Post-production: 45%
  • PREREQUISITES:
    Lighting 3: Confident with additive light and OCF. 
    Lighting 4: Strong use of multiple lights and mixed lighting situations.
    Post-Production 2: Looking for guidance beyond image adjustments. 
    Post-Production 3: Can work with layers, layer masks & understand blend modes. 
    Post-Production 4: Digital art & Composite experience. Experience in blending image with brushes.
    Studio Business 1: All Levels

What do these mean? Learn More