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 to help eyes look their best by enhancing highlights with Curves, enhancing and adding color with Solid Color Fill, and by applying professional level sharpening with Unsharp Mask.
Sample Images Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 PDF Guide
Learn how to use Curves Adjustment Layer to quickly and easily dodge and burn any photo. Add more dimension and draw more attention to your subjects!
Sample Images Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 PDF Guide
Create smooth, vibrant skin tones with natural texture and details with Frequency Separation in Photoshop. Learn how to separate frequencies, edit the details and color independently of one another, and use our Photoshop action to work faster.
Photoshop | Retouching | Advanced | 6.75 hours
7 Sample Images | 2 Photoshop Actions | 1 Photoshop Brush
Dodging and burning is a staple technique for professional photographers and retouchers. Learn how to sculpt highlights and shadows to add dimension, remove blemishes, and guide the eyes of the viewer to the most important parts of a photo.
Photoshop | Retouching | Medium | 5 hours
16 Sample Images | 1 Photoshop Brush
Join Ross Floyd and Aaron Nace as they walk you through 10 product photo edits from start to finish. Learn to cut out objects, remove blemishes, reshape products, and master advanced techniques like frequency separation and dodging & burning.
Photoshop | Retouching | Medium | 13.25 hours
31 Sample Images | 2 Photoshop Actions
Learn how to color correct skin using Selective Color Adjustment Layers to isolate and adjust individual color channels to dial in the perfect look for your portraits.
Sample Images Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 30 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 PDF Guide
Color correct skin in Photoshop by matching a reference photo with a Selective Color adjustment layer, then easing it back for natural, even skin tone.
Photoshop | Color & Tone | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
3 Sample Images | 1 PDF Guide
Take any design and transform it into a realistic tattoo! Learn to use Filters to add natural variation to lines, follow the shape and form of a body using the Liquify Tool and Smudge Tool, and add realistic shading using our exclusive custom brush!
Sample Images Included
Photoshop | Compositing | Easy | 30 mins | 1 video
2 Sample Images | 1 Photoshop Brush | 1 PDF Guide
Give your photos a professional finish with sharpening in Photoshop. Learn to enhance details, create contrast, and prepare your images for print, web, and social media.
Photoshop | Tools & Techniques | Medium | 3 hours
18 Sample Images | 1 Photoshop Action
With so much natural variation, hair can be one the most challenging things to style and recreate in Photoshop. Not anymore! We break down some simple techniques that will help you shape, fill in, and paint new, realistic hair in minutes.
Sample Images Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 30 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Photoshop Brush | 1 PDF Guide
Dodging and burning is an incredibly useful technique to add contrast, depth, and definition to your photos.
Learn to dodge & burn in Lightroom with the power of RAW!
Sample Images Included
Lightroom | Selections & Masking | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample RAW File | 1 PDF Guide
Sharpening is an important last step when finishing an edit. In this tutorial, we show you when and how to sharpen an image using our tried and tested method.
Sample Images Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 PDF Guide
Having a soft, out-of-focus background is an extremely effective way of drawing the viewer’s eye to your subject. This is best done in camera, but we’ll show you how to do it in Photoshop.
Sample Images Included
Photoshop | Photo Effects | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 PDF Guide
From adjusting red, blotchy areas to cleaning up dry, flaky skin, we’ll walk you through some newborn retouching techniques that anyone can learn to help capture memories that will last a lifetime.
Sample Images Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 PDF Guide
In this tutorial, we break down an easy process for reducing the dark circles that can often appear under eyes in a photo.
Sample Images Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 PDF Guide
Hair will always be one the most challenging areas to retouch and enhance. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to increase the volume of hair using the Liquify Tool and color it with one of Aaron’s favorite methods, a Gradient Map.
Sample Images Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 PDF Guide
Join us as we demonstrate how to work with clients and shoot in a professional studio environment . Afterwards, we take you through Lightroom and Photoshop where you’ll learn retouching techniques like dodging and burning and blemish removal.
Photoshop | Photography & Lighting | Medium | 7.25 hours
9 Sample Images | 1 Photoshop Action | 1 Photoshop Brush | 1 Photoshop Gradient
A portrait doesn’t need to be all clear skin and perfect hair. But whether you want to remove distractions from an everyday photo, or smooth skin until it’s flawless for a studio portrait, these 5 tools will make your life easier.
Sample Images Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 30 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 PDF Guide
Add volume to eyebrows in Photoshop to achieve that trendy perfect brow. Start with shaping and then create a custom brush to add hair.
Sample Images Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 30 mins | 1 video
2 Sample Images | 1 PDF Guide
Realistic Dodging & Burning just got a little easier. Create stunning shape and definition on your subject with this exclusive PHLEARN tool.
Free Brush Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 30 mins | 1 video
1 Custom Brush
In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through how to create your own custom Photoshop Brush to add realistic freckles to any portrait in Photoshop!
Sample Images Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Easy | 30 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Photoshop Brush | 1 PDF Guide
Dodging and Burning is an extremely powerful technique that can sculpt, contour, and enhance the details of your subject. Our Actions are designed to speed up workflow for retouchers of all skill levels while helping beginners understand the method.
Photoshop | PRO Photoshop Actions | Easy
5 Sample Images | 23 Photoshop Actions | 1 PDF Guide
Sometimes there is not enough information in the image for the Clone Stamp Tool or the Healing Brush Tool to work effectively. This is where knowing how to make the most out of the brush tool comes in handy!
What makes a great photo? In this comprehensive series, we take you from beginner to post-processing professional. Learn to make quick, subtle, and basic edits then level-up to making an all-out fully retouched composite.
Lightroom, Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 20.75 hours
139 Sample Images | 1 Photoshop Action | 1 Photoshop Brush
A masterclass in high-end photo editing. See how the pros remove blemishes, clean up wardrobe and environments, dodge and burn, and then combine it all while completing a detailed composite image.
Lightroom, Photoshop | Photo Editing | Advanced | 7.5 hours
23 Sample Images | 1 Photoshop Action | 1 Photoshop Brush
If you’re familiar with the fundamentals of photo editing but want to brush up on skills or step up your game, this tutorial is for you! Learn how to color correct and color grade, change composition, dodge and burn, subtle compositing, and see the photography process unfold!
Lightroom, Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 9.75 hours
46 Sample Images
Combine the power of Photoshop compositing and retouching! In this tutorial, we show you how to remove a subject from a background, composite multiple images together, and perform high-end retouching on skin and wardrobe for athletes.
Photoshop | Compositing | Easy | 2.25 hours
11 Sample Images
Retouching hair can make a huge difference in a photo. Messy hair results in a messy image. Learn three powerhouse techniques to retouch any type of hair. Don’t forget to download the sample image, and upload your version below!
Sample Images Included
Photoshop | Retouching | Medium | 30 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 PDF Guide
Learn full body skin smoothing, body shaping, how to remove distractions, how to correct exposure, how to add hair and more! We also cover our exclusive methods of frequency separation and dodging and burning.
Advanced | 1.75 Hours | 6 Video Tutorials
We have delivered the most comprehensive and easy-to-follow retouching tutorial ever published. Master blemish removal, dodging and burning, and frequency separation. We’ll also cover how to retouch specific areas like eyes, hair, lips, and mouths.
Photoshop | Retouching | Medium | 30.5 hours
49 Sample Images | 3 Photoshop Actions | 2 Photoshop Brushes
Recreate that classic pinup look with the magic of Photoshop. Learn to retouch and shape the body, match highlights and shadows, dodge and burn, color correct, and add background textures.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 2.25 hours
6 Sample Images | 2 Photoshop Brushes