PROFESSIONAL PIXEL PUSHER:
MULLENLOWE BOSTON: 8 YEARS | Planit agency BALTIMORE: 4 YEARS | DIGITAL ARTIST & CREATIVE RETOUCHER
There’s a clear distinction between traditional retouching and creative retouching. Traditional work typically involves requests like ‘fix this’ or ‘adjust that,’ with specialists handling precise tasks like hair refinement, beauty enhancement, clothing corrections, and balancing light and color. Mastery of these technical skills is foundational—without them, the creative side can’t thrive. But the creative side is where the fun's at. The challenge to elevate visuals beyond expectation, pushing them to a level that surprises and surpasses the original vision... that’s the part I love.
With over 12 years of agency experience, I’ve worked with a diverse range of clients and industries. This is what's kept me so adaptable. With that, I can't confine myself to any single niche—whether it’s skin, fashion, or product retouching, I’ve tackled it all. At the end of the day, a pixel is a pixel, but it’s how we push them that makes the difference.
My journey began the moment I set foot on the creative floor at my first agency. I knew then I wanted to create key art. I remember looking at new business pitch walls like they were masterpieces in a gallery. From there, I sought out the agency’s top Photoshop artist and learned everything I could from him. Within 3.5 years, I went from an entry-level studio artist to leading the agency’s first dedicated retouching team.
While hard work propelled me forward, my potential was often underestimated. I wasn’t the fastest, and I was frequently overlooked by producers and seasoned veterans—which only fueled my drive. Speed and efficiency came with time, but what truly set me apart were the countless hours I invested outside the office.
As Malcolm Gladwell put it, 'Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.'
Beyond client projects and deadlines, I stay immersed in personal exploration. Nearly 50% of my portfolio consists of unpaid, passion-driven work. AKA PLAY while you're here visiting. Despite balancing a full-time job, being a husband, and raising two amazing little girls, I make time to experiment and push my creative boundaries. From movie posters to product scenes, my personal projects allow me to break free from typical constraints. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to meet the demands of some of my biggest client jobs, nor would I have earned the trust for the high-level work I’m doing today.
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