Wabi-Sabi and the Art of Retouching
When I retouch a portrait, my goal isn’t to create perfection—it’s to preserve truth.
The most challenging retouching I’ve ever done is with young people. There’s a razor-thin line between enhancing and distorting, and it’s easy to cross without realizing it. Even the most delicate, refined machine-assisted retouching can unintentionally erase the subtle nuances that give a face its authenticity.
That’s why I keep a Japanese aesthetic principle in mind: Wabi-Sabi. It’s the idea that beauty lives in imperfection, that the small, natural variations in texture, tone, and symmetry are what make something—someone—feel real.
It’s easy to create textbook “perfection.” With patience and a steady hand, you can remove every stray hair, every faint shadow, every micro-expression. But when you do that, you’re not just editing flaws—you’re removing character. You’re erasing the tiny elements that make a person unique and compelling.
True artistry in retouching is about balance. It’s about removing distractions without sterilizing the image. It’s about refining a person’s appearance in a way that honors who they are, not replacing them with an idealized version that never existed.
In this portrait of Cassie Arietta, the goal was to present her polished and professional while keeping her natural warmth and presence intact. Cassie’s expression, the gentle texture of her skin, and the sparkle in her eyes all communicate something essential about her. To lose that in pursuit of “flawlessness” would have been a disservice.
Perfection may impress at first glance, but authenticity leaves a lasting impact. And in portraiture—just as in life—that’s what matters most.
