Photoshop & Lightroom Retouching Tutorials
Learn portrait and product retouching that looks like the person, not a plastic version of them: skin, eyes, hair, teeth, shape, and clean-up in Photoshop and Lightroom. More than 170 free and PRO video tutorials from Aaron Nace, from a five-minute cleanup to advanced frequency separation.
What You’ll Learn
Retouching is where most editors pick up bad habits, because the tools make it easy to go too far. These tutorials teach the professional standard: remove what is temporary, keep what is permanent, and leave texture alone.
- A fast, clean first pass. Spot Healing, the Remove Tool, and Content-Aware Fill for blemishes, stray hairs, dust, and distractions, plus the new AI clean-up tools in Photoshop 2026 and Lightroom.
- Skin that still looks like skin. Frequency separation, dodge and burn, and texture-preserving smoothing, and how to know when to stop.
- Eyes, teeth, and hair. Brightening without the glow, whitening without the chalk, and taming flyaways with masks instead of blur.
- Shape and light. Liquify used honestly, plus dodge and burn to sculpt light on a face or a product.
- Batch retouching in Lightroom. Syncing masks across a whole shoot, assisted culling, Denoise, and when to send an image to Photoshop for the fine work.
Where to Start
If you have never retouched a portrait, begin with the Retouching Learning Path, which goes from a basic cleanup to advanced skin work in order. Portrait photographers should also look at the Portraits Learning Path, and anyone shooting for clients will get the most from the PRO course Advanced Portrait Retouching.
Free and PRO Tutorials
Free tutorials are complete lessons, not previews. PRO tutorials go deeper and longer, and they include the sample images, RAW files, actions, and presets used in the lesson so you can follow along on the exact same file. A PHLEARN PRO membership unlocks every PRO tutorial on the site, including all of the ones in this category.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to retouch skin in Photoshop?
Start with healing tools for individual blemishes, then use frequency separation to even out tone while keeping pores and texture, and finish with dodge and burn. The tutorials in this category walk through each step on real portraits.
Can I retouch in Lightroom instead of Photoshop?
For light work, yes. Lightroom’s healing, masking, and the newer AI blemish removal handle most everyday cleanup, and they sync across a whole shoot. Heavy skin work, hair, and reshaping still belong in Photoshop.
How do I avoid the over-retouched look?
Zoom out often, keep skin texture, work on separate layers at reduced opacity, and compare to the original frequently. Several tutorials here are specifically about restraint.
Where to Go Next
Retouching pairs naturally with Color & Tone, which is where a finished portrait gets its look, and with Photo Editing for the exposure and color correction that should happen first. For studio and product work, see Tools & Techniques, and for whole-shoot workflows see Workflow & Productivity.
Learn Retouching in Order
The Retouching Learning Path goes from a basic cleanup to advanced skin work, one tutorial at a time.
On This Page
PHLEARN PRO
Every PRO tutorial in this category, with sample and RAW files, plus the full PRO library.
Learn how to help teeth look brighter and whiter in any photograph using these easy Photoshop techniques.
Sample Image Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 PDF Guide
Transform your photos with Frequency Separation! This amazing Photoshop tool lets you retouch images with ease, smoothing out skin and enhancing details. Say goodbye to blemishes and hello to stunning photos that truly stand out!.
Free Frequency Separation Action & Sample Images Included
Learn how to change any facial expression into a smile with Smart Portrait Neural Filters in Photoshop!
Sample Image Included
Join us through four complete edits as we show you how to balance exposure, add subtle color toning, draw more attention to subjects, and help life’s most precious moments last a lifetime.
Lightroom | Photo Editing | Medium | 1 hours
4 Sample Images
Learn how to bend and shape body parts with the Puppet Warp Tool in Photoshop.
Sample Image Included
Learn how to remove dark circles under eyes with some quick-and-easy Photoshop magic!
Sample Image Included
Master the art of dodging and burning in Lightroom Classic. Sculpt highlight and shadow, enhance details, and guide the eyes of the viewer.
Lightroom | Retouching | Advanced | 1.75 hours
4 Sample Images
Learn how to remove facial hair from a portrait while preserving all of the natural tones and texture in skin!
Sample Images
Learn how to create skin texture from scratch in Photoshop using professional tools and techniques and the included free Photoshop Brushes!
Sample Image & PSD Included
Master a complete, professional retouching workflow in Photoshop. From skin smoothing, to dodging and burning, to frequency separation, we cover it all!
Photoshop | Retouching | Medium | 2.5 hours
1 RAW Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD | 1 Photoshop Brush | 2 Photoshop Actions
Learn how to sharpen in both Lightroom and Photoshop! And best of all, we reveal our favorite sharpening method that provides the most flexibility, control, and a professional result.
Sample Image Included
In Day 25 of 30 Days of Photoshop, learn how to add professional sharpening to any image, drawing more attention to the details that matter most.
Sample Images & PSD Included
Day 24 of 30 Days of Photoshop! Learn how to use Frequency Separation to remove blemishes and smooth out skin tones, creating a cleaner image while preserving all the beautiful, natural details.
Sample Images & PSD Included
Day 23 of 30 Days of Photoshop! We all get them; small pimples and blemishes that are here today and gone tomorrow. Learn how to quickly remove them in Photoshop so that your subjects can look their best!
Sample Image
In Day 12 of 30 Days of Photoshop, learn how to use the Liquify Tool to change the shape of clothing, add volume to hair, and protect areas you don’t want to be warped, like the face and body.
Sample Image Included
Learn how to make clothing and fabric look amazing in Photoshop. Remove wrinkles, change color, recover details, add shape and definition, and much more!
Photoshop | Retouching | Medium | 2.5 hours
13 Sample Images | 1 Sample PSD | 1 Photoshop Action
Your time is valuable! Learn how to retouch a portrait quickly and efficiently as we take you through every step of the professional’s workflow. And all in under an hour!
Photoshop | Retouching | Medium | 1 hours
1 RAW Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD | 2 Photoshop Actions
From websites, to Grubhub, to Instagram, food photography is everywhere. Learn how to work with a client, how to photograph food using lighting and styling techniques, and how to bring it all together with retouching in Photoshop.
Lightroom, Photoshop | Photography & Lighting | Medium | 4.75 hours
45 Sample Images | 1 Photoshop Action
See how much a Wacom Tablet can do in Photoshop! From object removal, to Frequency Separation, to creating realistic snow and rain effects, a pen tablet can help you be more creative than ever!
Sample Images, Brushes, and Action Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 30 mins | 1 video
5 Sample Images | 5 Sample PSDs | 1 Photoshop Action | 1 Photoshop Brush | 1 PDF Guide
Learn a professional approach to retouching eyes in Photoshop. Brighten up dark eyes, change iris color, enhance the details with dodge and burn, and more. Picture-perfect peepers, every time!
Photoshop | Retouching | Medium | 3 hours
7 Sample Images | 2 Photoshop Brushes | 2 Photoshop Actions
Learn how to create beautiful, soft portraits in Photoshop! Join us as we walk you through a maternity photoshoot before diving into the post-production, covering dodging and burning, frequency separation, and more!
Photoshop | Retouching | Medium | 5.5 hours
2 RAW Sample Images | 2 Photoshop Actions
The Liquify Tool is powerful, but it can be tricky to get realistic results. Get valuable tips while learning how to smooth out curves and lines in clothing!
Sample Image Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 PDF Guide
Learn professional hair retouching in Photoshop! Learn how to rescue details, remove flyaways, add volume, and enhance the definition of hair in any photo.
Photoshop | Retouching | Medium | 4 hours
12 Sample Images | 1 Photoshop Action
Learn how to create beautiful product images for e-commerce! Master the tools and techniques professionals use to change backgrounds, retouch products, and export multiple formats for the web, banners, and ads.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 5 hours
28 RAW Sample Images | 2 Sample PSDs | 2 Photoshop Actions
Master the art of professional beauty retouching in Photoshop! Learn advanced skills like dodging and burning, frequency separation, and sharpening–all for creating beautiful portraits with commercial appeal.
Photoshop | Retouching | Advanced | 4 hours
4 RAW Sample Images | 1 Sample PSD | 2 Photoshop Actions | 1 Photoshop Brush
Frequency Separation is one of the most powerful and most difficult techniques to master in the art of retouching. Using our exclusive set of Photoshop actions, you can create beautiful, realistic skin in a fraction of the time.
Photoshop | PRO Photoshop Actions | Easy
5 Sample Images | 4 Photoshop Actions | 1 PDF Guide
Instantly enhance the eyes in any portrait with these easy Photoshop Actions. Create more intense colors, bring out details, and add sharpening in a click!
Photoshop | PRO Photoshop Actions | Easy
5 Sample Images | 4 Photoshop Actions | 1 PDF Guide
Bring your photos into focus with sharpening in Photoshop! You can instantly sharpen an entire image or help bring more attention to a subject. Pro-level sharpening has never been easier.
Photoshop | PRO Photoshop Actions | Easy
5 Sample Images | 10 Photoshop Actions | 1 PDF Guide
This is our most comprehensive Photoshop tutorial, and the perfect place to start learning. Improve your photos, help people look their best, and share your ideas with the world.
Photoshop | Tools & Techniques | Easy | 13.5 hours
50 Sample Images | 4 Sample PSDs | Beginner’s Guide PDF | 2 Photoshop Actions
Professional retouching is a valuable skill and a great way to improve any photo. Learn how to remove skin blemishes, smooth skin tones, clean up flyway hairs, fix exposure, and make subtle adjustments for an all-natural look.
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 8.75 hours
21 Sample Images | 1 Photoshop Brush | 1 Photoshop Action
Learn the fundamentals of skin retouching! Aaron demonstrates how to remove small and large blemishes, recover skin texture, and even out skin tones in Photoshop.
Sample Images Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 PDF Guide