08/17 Retouch & Chill: Beyoncé-Inspired Edit Start to finish, Business Cards, and BTS Sauce

⏱️ Tech + Time Check:
Kicked off the session knowing my laptop had about 90 minutes before it started acting up. Game plan was simple — knock out one photo edit in 20–30 mins, then move into designing business cards. Those shouldn’t take more than 30–40 minutes… unless I get caught up digging through Pixieset for photos (which I did).

💳 Business Cards Setup:
Making three types:

• Studio card

• Grad card

• Regular headshot card
  Y’all helped me choose which photos to use — appreciate the input.

🧢 Merch Update:

• Still got hats — around 30 left after 5 recent orders.

• Browns are the only ones I’ll have on hand for a minute since overseas shipping takes a while.

• Reminder: If you cop, tag me and send pics in the hats. Still no model shots yet.

🎁 Pre-order Gift Drop:

• Brown/cream hat = exclusive pre-order gift

• Even threw a few in random boxes as a thank you

🎬 Editor Update:

• Finally found someone solid.

• Sent a test clip to multiple people, and one guy stood out — already works with photographers and videographers, and he gets the vibe.

• Turnaround was fast, pacing was clean, and if the price stays solid, I’m cranking out all the BTS edits soon.

• Might bring on a second editor to help lighten the load.

📸 Retouch Breakdown:

• Photo was inspired by Beyoncé’s “B’Day” album cover.

• My client (my girl’s bestie) wanted that look for her birthday shoot.

• She didn’t want her mouth open like Beyoncé’s, but we recreated the lighting and feel.

• Background enhanced with Topaz AI.

• Full retouch in Photoshop with Wacom tablet:

  • Frequency separation (advanced, not basic)

  • Dodge and burn for those cheek highlights

  • Used generative fill to clean up hair in the eyes

  • Took extra time on blending shadows, light balance, and getting those colors to pop

  • Whole edit = ~30 mins, and I recorded BTS for the exclusive members

💻 Tech Stack + Tips:

• Photoshop > Evoto for detailed beauty edits

• Using Wacom tablet (medium size from Best Buy)

• Topaz AI for upscale and cleanup

• Mixer brush and clone stamp > patch tool for me

• Retouching raw over JPEG to preserve skin texture

💬 Real Talk (aka Storytime):

• Told the wild Valentine's Day shoot story with the client who got... extra comfortable — 😅

• Talked about keeping personal life off socials (no couples content, no relationship drama)

• Shared thoughts on trade-for-photo (TFP) work: it’s cool if the vibe is right, but boundaries matter.

💰 Business Moves:

• Talked pricing for recreation-style edits — usually an extra $100–200 unless it's for someone close

• Lens talk with Mondo — if you’re not doing cinematic video, go sell that anamorphic and grab something you’ll actually use

• All BTS edits gonna be funded from the YouTube budget stack — price was fair, just at the top end of the range

📢 Content Tips for Creators:

• If you’re trying to level up and make more $$ — focus on client-based content

• Educational + helpful = trust

• “I should’ve booked with you” energy always comes from someone who picked the wrong shooter and learned the hard way

• Posing videos and BTS still hit — keep it clean, quality, and consistent